By Cortney Piper, President

At the end of July, I had the privilege of attending the Tennessee Valley Women’s Policy Summit on behalf of the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council. Despite seven flight delays and poor weather conditions, I was beyond thankful for the opportunity to hear from industry leaders alongside a diverse group of women.

The event brought business and community leaders, local and federal policymakers, and Tennessee Valley Authority officials together to discuss energy, environmental stewardship, and economic development. The group included representatives from the state, the Nature Conservancy, the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association (TVPPA), and other notable organizations.

We heard from several compelling keynote speakers and panelists, including Gayle Manchin, the Appalachian Regional Commission’s federal co-chair, and Jeannette Mills, TVA’s executive vice president and chief external relations officer. Both women have spoken at previous TAEBC events. 

One talk personally stood out to me and left a memorable impact. The co-host of the Political Climate podcast, Emily Domenech, is a former committee staffer who has worked on energy policy for the past decade. Her insider perspective of policy-making reminded me of how complex policy decisions are. She helped us understand the practicalities behind them—what’s possible, what’s not, and how to bridge that gap. 

Championing diverse perspectives and voices 

The event underscored the vital role of diverse perspectives from many individuals. Events like the Tennessee Valley Women’s Policy Summit are crucial for TAEBC as they bring together advanced energy leaders from all corners of the state, fostering economic growth and job creation in the energy sector. Your unique perspectives and experiences are integral to our collective success. 

At TAEBC, we take a technical approach to advanced energy and champion it as an economic development and job creation strategy. To do all those things, you need to be able to hear, accept, and understand various perspectives to execute a plan that works for all parties.

Getting outside everyday routines enables intentional, meaningful conversations 

While the programming was insightful, the trip primarily helped me reconnect with others in the advanced energy space outside our regular routines and bubbles. There’s something very different about having people in the same room with you and an intimate audience, where they are immediately accessible if you have a question or a comment. Being face-to-face with people I frequently interact with via email or Zoom was refreshing. 

It felt ironic that we all had to get on a plane and travel for this meeting when there was a high chance we would run into one another back home at some point. I will admit that there’s something to be said for having the opportunity to engage in meaningful, undistracted conversations. 

For instance, I had the chance to reconnect with Erin Gill, someone I have a tremendous amount of professional respect for. We caught up throughout the flight delays and reflected on her days working in Knoxville’s sustainability office. 

Erin’s approach to her job and handling challenges and opportunities is genuinely inspiring. Her ability to see the bigger picture is essential in the sustainability sector. In hindsight, I am thankful our flights were delayed; otherwise, I would have missed the opportunity to catch up with her. 

I hope TVA will continue creating spaces for these vital conversations about where we stand and what direction we want the industry to go. Whether we’re dealing with delayed flights or policy challenges, one thing is clear—perspective is critical. The more we come together, share our experiences, and listen to one another, the better positioned we are to drive the energy industry forward. Because at the end of the day, those meaningful, intentional conversations create real change.