News + Updates

The Women in the Global Battery Industry (WGBI) made a significant impact at the recent European Lead Battery Conference (ELBC) 2024 in Milan, showcasing the organization's growing influence and commitment to supporting women in the battery industry.

Women in the Global Battery Industry (WGBI) is pleased to count Clarios as one of its sustaining sponsors for 2024.

Clarios is the world’s leading manufacturer of automotive batteries with a portfolio of evolving technologies for all types of vehicles. With 50+ facilities worldwide, 16,000 team members, and 100+ countries served, Clarios solutions are available nearly everywhere. 

In the following interview, Clarios provides some detail on its work with WGBI as well as its internal efforts to foster diversity and inclusion to build a best-in-class workforce and support the future of energy storage.

Women in the Global Battery Industry (WGBI) is pleased to count Stryten Energy as one of its sustaining sponsors for 2024.

Stryten Energy is a U.S.-based battery manufacturer with advanced lead, lithium and vanadium energy storage solutions that power everything from microgrids to submarines, to forklifts, cars and trains. Its 2,500 employees across North America provide 14 GWH of annual capacity to keep supply chains running and people on the move.

In the following interview, Stryten provides some detail on its work with WGBI as well as its internal efforts to foster diversity and inclusion to build a best-in-class workforce and support the future of energy storage.

Ashley Pizzino, project portfolio manager for East Penn Manufacturing, and valued member of WGBI, led this month’s Energizing Conversation on how to be an effective leader and inspire team members. The well-attended virtual session kicked off with a short clip from the end of a TED Talk on the transformative power of classical music, in which we were asked: Who am I being that their (my team’s) eyes are/are not not shining? What a great question to consider when working with a team! This introduction to the topic, along with the article that was assigned ahead of the call, were instrumental in setting up the robust conversation that followed. Participants openly shared their experiences and thoughts on how to be a good leader, whether it be leading by authority or leading by influence. Thank you to all the members who attended, The Energizing Conversations are always a great way to connect with and learn from other members and to share important career experiences and goals.

Our next Energizing Conversation will take place on November 1 and will be facilitated by Irina Spiry of Hollingsworth & Vose. The subject of that event is Transitioning from Individual Contributor to Manager. The reading material(s) for that Energizing Conversation will be circulated soon.

As a proud supporter of women in STEM education, WGBI is pleased to report that BCI’s second Annual Poster Research Showcase is now open and accepting submissions. WGBI’s STEM subcommittee is working closely with the Poster Showcase Committee and will award a female entrant at the WGBI event at the 2024 BCI Convention.

The contest is open to undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral level researchers and assistants and will be hosted in person at the 2024 Battery Council International (BCI) Convention & Power Mart Expo in Fort Lauderdale, FL from April 21-24, 2024. The poster showcase is intended to support researchers in university, governmental and commercial settings in building awareness about the scientific opportunity and objectives of careers in battery technology and to share cutting-edge science and technology across this critical industry. BCI is soliciting research posters that will bring forward scientific work on Pb and other battery types.

If you or anyone you know is currently doing research in this area, please pass along this information to them. BCI’s Annual Convention is a great arena for researchers and students to connect with representatives from the leading companies in the battery industry.

To submit a poster for consideration, or for more information, please click this link.

For the first time since its inception, this month WGBI attended the 2023 Asian Battery Conference (ABC) in Cambodia to meet more women in the industry, specifically women from the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, and work to expand WGBI's network throughout the globe. WGBI's president, Julie McClure, and director, Susan Bernard, were in attendance and hosted a networking reception during the conference.