Blackness is my Superpower: An Interview with Grace Ipanga

We interviewed a vital member of our team- Grace Ipanga, our Global Operations Manager- about what its like to work for Janikin Energy.

What do you enjoy about working at Janikin Energy?

There are so many things. The biggest joy for me is that we are very forward thinking, and are constantly encouraging each other to be our best professional selves.

What is your role at Janikin Energy?

I am the Global Operations Manager.

What does that involve?

Foreseeing risk, implementing a compliant processes and project management.

What do you find most rewarding about your job?

When I am the go-to person and I am able to solve someone’s compliance problem and achieve a deal as a result then, that feels rewarding. Also, I find it gratifying to be able to map out a candidate’s journey, predict any obstacles and develop a solution.  

What is it like being a black woman in the workplace?

Prior to working at Janikin Energy, I would consider my hairstyle before attending an interview and avoid showing my natural hair out of fear of being judged. Since then, I’ve grown into a person who never compromises her blackness. Unfortunately, as a black woman working in the corporate world, I always need to consider how I am being perceived. Yet at Janikin Energy, I don’t hesitate before having difficult conversations out of concern of being dismissed as aggressive or disruptive. My colleagues see me as an equal, a right that not all black women experience in the workplace.

As a recruitment company, how does Janikin Energy encourage diversity?  

At Janikin Energy, we have a diverse workforce with a range of perspectives.  The “inclusion conversation” is not one that needs to be had but, its one we want to be continuously engaged in. The need has changed into a want: we want to invite hard conversations and ensure our candidate pool is diverse. It is more than fulfilling a quota.

Do you feel as if you need to educate your colleagues about your blackness?

No. I do not think it is my job to educate grown adults about my history. There is more than enough literature out there to self-educate. However, I am happy to answer constructive questions. Unfortunately, I will always need to lead by example because I am black but, I do not feel as if that is a limitation: it’s my superpower.

Why do you think the engineering industry needs to become more diverse?

It is always a shock to see a woman in engineering and rarer still to find a black woman in engineering. And so, until that shock becomes the norm, we are a long way from where we want to be. When people ask, “why should we be pushing female hires in the engineering field?”, I point out that their question, their “why” is at the route of the problem: there should be no why, it should just be the case that more women are hired. We need to deconstruct this perception that an engineer is a man wearing a Hi-Vis vest brandishing a spanner. There are innovative women creating things every day. We need to see this visually in job adverts, campaigns and in general media because only then will we believe that our little girls can be engineers too.

What would you say the biggest barrier is for black women entering the engineering industry or more generally the corporate world?

Room. They have not made room for us yet. We fill quota gaps and are represented by statistics but there is no room. Diversity for many companies is just a marketing strategy rather than an ethos. Before your business releases an opportunistic article on race, ensure there are black people in your boardroom making decisions.

How has Janikin Energy supported your career goals?

There is no glass ceiling for me here at Janikin Energy. I am constantly being pushed and encouraged, time is invested into my career development and am given room to grow.