Powering Gender Equality

Damilola Ogunbiyi embodies what it means to be an Impact Executive, driving action toward energy for all and, more specifically, energy for economic growth. 

As CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, she is exceptionally driven and does not take her eyes off the goal. She believes it is essential that leaders look beyond their needs and have laser sharp focus on goals beyond themselves.  

Access to energy happens to be a tremendous catalyst, Ogunbiyi explains. The faster we achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7, which calls for universal access to sustainable energy by 2030, the faster we can achieve the other Global Goals. It is important for people to recognize the interconnectedness of sustainable energy to health and equality.

“We cannot have equality without access to energy,” she says.

Access to energy specifically affects women. Ogunbiyi believes we cannot see women as the beneficiaries of energy; women are enablers.

There is a 59% chance that women with access to energy earn more than women without. Sustainable energy is the quickest way to recover and build back better, and Ogunbiyi is making it happen. 

You can watch the full discussion here.