(And yes, I told myself it was “research”. Mostly, it was an excuse to avoid writing.)

The internet, ever helpful, was full of people asking their children profound questions like: 

“What made you feel proud this year?”
“What did you learn about yourself?”

My teenager looked up from her phone, unimpressed: 

“Mum, I only remember yesterday’s ice-skating experience.”

Fair enough.

So we tried it ourselves. Not for wisdom. Just to remember.

We scrolled through our photos.

And suddenly — there it was.

Not grand events. Not milestones. Just… moments.

• Our family Costco haul!
• Her Christmas dance!
• My first parkrun — on a freezing Saturday. I ran (well, I walked!). But I finished.
• Wallace Monument from my home office window — photographed regularly. Same view. Different light. Different clouds. Always beautiful. A quiet ritual that reminds me: beauty doesn’t need fanfare. It just needs noticing.

I also remembered Chappel Roan’s concert in August — the kind of night you think will stay etched forever. Until it doesn’t.
It took flicking back through photos — glitter on our coats, the way the crowd swayed under neon lights — to feel it again. 

That’s what this year taught me: We don’t live just in the moment.
We live in the memory of it.
And if we wait too long to record it? The magic fades.

So I’ve started taking pictures. Not for Instagram. Just for us. For when the hype has settled, and all we have left is the feeling.

The Work That Moves Me

This year, I was lucky enough to speak at IMechE and IET events — standing in front of brilliant people who care as much about energy systems as I do. My team won the Strathclyde R&KE Impact Awards 2025. I co-authored two journal papers and four conference pieces — which, frankly, means I drank more Tea than water.

My work doesn’t change the world overnight.
But maybe — just maybe — it helps make the world feel a little less cold.

Books That Stayed With Me

I listened to 27 audiobooks this year. 

Some were life-changing. Some were… curious choices (How to Legally Rob Credit-Card Companies!). But every one was an act of self-care — quiet time in the car, during walks, while folding laundry, while cooking (yes, really).

I read Pride and Prejudice for the first time. And fell deeply in love with Elizabeth Bennet’s wit and Mr Darcy’s terrible social skills. It felt like meeting old friends after decades apart.

I devoured The Psychology of Money — not because I wanted to get rich, but because it finally explained why money feels so emotional.

And yes — I still haven’t read The Tibetan Book of the Dead.
It’s on my bedside table. Next to the art project I haven’t finished. And the book I started reading in January.

That’s okay.

Because sometimes, the best stories aren’t about finishing.
They’re about returning.

So here’s to 2026:

More walks.
More family nights.
More Costco chaos.
More photos of the Wallace Monument.
More conversations that make you feel seen.

More work that matters.
More books that linger.

And more permission — from myself — to simply be.

Thank you for reading these small, imperfect reflections.

Wishing you a New Year filled with warmth, wonder, and zero guilt about doing absolutely nothing at all.

With fondness,
Priya 🌅📚🧶

After last week’s heavy truths about the unseen labour women carry in male-dominated spaces, I promised we’d turn towards something hopeful: how to navigate it all with grace, strategy, and self-respect.

So let’s talk solutions — practical, human-centred ones. Because change doesn’t come from grand gestures. It comes from small shifts done consistently.

🔹 Reclaim Your Narrative

Stop waiting for permission to be seen. Start crafting your story — clearly, confidently.

“I’m Priya, R&D Leader at PNDC, leading whole-energy systems innovation with a focus on hydrogen integration and decarbonisation.”
No apology. No “just” or “maybe”. Say it like you mean it. Then say it again — in meetings, emails, even casual chats.

And yes — include your title everywhere. Even if it feels awkward at first. You’re not being flashy; you’re setting boundaries.

🔹 Build Reputation Through Connection (Not Just Performance)

You don’t need to work in isolation. Seek out communities — through hobbies, school events, friends-of-friends. These informal networks often lead to real opportunities.
(As someone who missed this window early on… I’ve learned: connections aren’t just professional. They’re personal too. And that matters.)

🔹 Reframe Authority — Own It

That instinct to downplay? Let it go.
It’s okay to say “This project was led by my team — and I’m proud of what we achieved.”
It’s also okay to say, “I’ve worked in clean energy policy for 12 years because I believe deeply in the transition.”

Yes, confidence can be warm. Yes, warmth can be confident. You don’t have to choose between them. Try saying both:

“I’m so excited to collaborate with you — I’ve been working on similar challenges for over a decade.”
See how that works?

🔹 Share Credit & Celebrate Others

Don’t hoard praise. When someone does great work, notice it. Say thank you. Acknowledge it publicly.
And when others do the same for you? Accept it with grace — not guilt.
Because here’s a secret: appreciation is reciprocal. The more you give, the more you receive.

Plus — pat yourself on the back too. Weekly reflection helps: What went well? What could I improve? This isn’t ego — it’s self-awareness.

🔹 Navigate Bias With Calm Clarity

If someone says something off-putting (a joke, assumption, remark), take a breath. It’s valid that you felt it.

You don’t owe anyone an education — but if you want to respond, use gentle probing.

“That comment made me pause — what specifically did you mean?”
“Can you help me understand why you said that?”
“That’s not okay with me. I’d appreciate it if we could avoid that kind of language.”

In extreme cases? Write it down. Document it. Protect your peace. You’re not responsible for fixing bias — only for protecting your boundaries.

🔹 Break the ‘Masculinity Contest’ Culture

Notice the room: Who’s dominating conversations? Who’s avoiding eye contact? Who stays silent during jokes?
Actively listen. Invite quieter voices in. Challenge assumptions when they arise. A diverse team doesn’t just happen — it’s nurtured.

And finally… don’t wait for permission to lead.
Even in rooms where women are present, decision-making can still feel like a boys’ club. That’s why mentorship and sponsorship matter — and why sharing stories about marginalisation isn’t a weakness. It’s essential.

✨ The Takeaway

We aren’t broken for needing more support. We’re brilliant for recognising where systems fall short, and then choosing to step forward anyway.

So let’s stop pretending “just doing our jobs” is enough. Let’s start redefining success on our own terms:
With clarity. With courage. With kindness to ourselves.

Because thriving isn’t about shrinking to fit in.
It’s about building spaces where you don’t have to.

I’m so grateful this book exists — not because it gave me answers, but because it gave me permission to speak up, ask questions, and keep going.

As we wind down toward the holidays, I want to take a quiet moment to say thank you — not just for reading, but for being here.

Whether you’re sipping tea by the tree, wrapped up in a blanket with an audiobook, or chasing toddlers through snow-covered streets (yes, even in the UK!), I hope this time brings you peace, laughter, and moments that feel like home.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me — I’m so glad we’re doing it together.

Wishing you all the best over Christmas and into the New Year. May 2025 bring you courage, clarity, and kindness — both for yourself and others.

Until then, stay kind, keep growing, and never forget:

💬 “You belong here — without changing.”

If any of this resonated with you, please share your thoughts. What small shift will you make next week?

Until then,
Warmly,
Priya ✨

There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from knowing you’re working twice as hard just to be seen as on par.

It doesn’t come from long hours or tight deadlines — though those are part of it. No, this fatigue is quieter, deeper. It’s the slow burn of constantly proving yourself, of navigating assumptions about your role before you’ve even spoken, of adjusting your voice so it sounds confident but not “too much”, professional but not cold.

I’ve been thinking deeply about all this since finishing Thriving in a Male-Dominated Workplace (HBR Women at Work Series) — and honestly? It hit harder than I expected.

Because here’s the truth many of us know in our bones but rarely name out loud:

In some rooms, simply being present isn’t enough. You have to perform credibility—every single time.

Let me share a few moments that left me both unsettled and strangely relieved.

We’ve all felt it:

• Being mistaken for an admin, an assistant, or someone in support rather than leadership — despite having the title, experience, and impact. (This is called “role incredulity” — and yes, it happens more often than we admit.)
• That moment when your idea is ignored… until a man says it seconds later — and suddenly, it’s genius.
• The subtle expectation that if you’re assertive, you’re “aggressive”; if you’re warm, you’re “soft”. And there’s no middle ground where you can just be you.
• The invisible task of managing how others perceive you — while also trying to get work done.

And then comes the real kicker:
You start believing the narrative they write for you — not because it’s true, but because it feels safer to accept it than to fight every time.

I was struck by this line from the book: “Women are judged on warmth before confidence; men, the other way around.”
That one sentence explained so much about why I’ve spent years rehearsing my tone, softening my delivery, apologising too soon… all in service of being “likeable enough” to be heard.

There’s also the quiet cost of missed networks.
(I’ll confess: I wish I’d read this advice 10 years ago. I built my career through technical excellence — which served me well — but never prioritised widening my circle beyond professional peers. Now? I’m learning the hard way that reputation isn’t just what you do — it’s who knows you, trusts you, and speaks up when you’re not in the room.)

Then there’s the myth we’ve been taught: “My work should speak for itself.”
But here’s the truth no one tells us: If your work doesn’t align with the wider mission, if you don’t frame it clearly, if you don’t own your story — it will get lost in the noise.

And let’s talk about feedback.
How many times have we received vague or uninformed comments (“It’s a bit bold,” “Too ambitious”) without context? The book suggests taking a timeout: pause, reflect, ask clarifying questions — because not every critique is useful, and some are rooted in bias, not substance.

These aren’t small things. They’re cumulative. They wear down confidence. They make us question our place — even when we’ve earned it.

So yes… this part was heavy.
Because sometimes, being honest means admitting how much extra emotional labour women carry just to be seen as equal.

But here’s the thing:
Recognition is the first step towards change. And knowing these patterns exist? That’s power.

📌 Coming next week: Part 2 – Finding My Voice – And Keeping It.
We’ll explore how to build influence on your terms — from crafting an authentic elevator pitch to sharing credit (and praise!) generously, to reclaiming authority without apology.
Plus: simple tools for navigating biased remarks, building real networks, and creating space where everyone can thrive — not just survive.

I’m so glad I read this book — not because it gave me answers, but because it named what I’d been feeling all along.

And if you’ve ever felt like you’re doing more than your fair share of “just existing” at work… please know: you’re not alone.

Stay tuned for Part 2 — and feel free to reply with one word that describes how you feel after reading this. I promise, no judgment. Just solidarity. 💬

Warmly,
Priya ✨

It was a beautifully choreographed confluence of three distinct tracks: power systems, decarbonisation pathways, and innovation; each feeding into one another like well-oiled cogs in a grand net-zero machine. Truly a celebration of systems thinking, which, if you’ve read any of my previous ramblings, is rather close to my heart.

The keynote came courtesy of none other than Chris Stark, Head of Mission Control, whose calm, data-driven presence was both reassuring and slightly intimidating. He reminded us that progress isn’t measured in isolation; it’s about context. For instance, when we look at renewable electricity generation from 2000 to 2025, the UK made impressive strides between 2010 and 2020… only to plateau since then. Meanwhile, China’s growth has been nothing short of exponential across the same period. So, for the UK to catch up and truly join the global clean energy league table? We’ll need more than ambition—we’ll need cost trajectories that match the pace of change. (See attached figure—yes, it’s dramatic, but also very real.)

Chris also touched on the Clean Power Mission and how streamlining the connections process could unlock much-needed capacity. But what really caught my eye was the slide on consumer-led flexibility—a gap of around 8 GW. Now, back-of-the-envelope maths suggests that, if this relies solely on smart EV chargers, we’d need roughly 3 million households onboarded by 2027. That’s about 10% of all UK homes—or nearly every single EV in the country!

I’ll admit, I blinked twice. How on earth are we supposed to do that in under four years? Then I remembered: most new home chargers are already smart. So perhaps it’s not quite as daunting as it first seemed. A small victory for progress, perhaps?

🎤 On Stage: Why Hydrogen Isn’t Just a Technology Problem — It’s a Systems Challenge

In my session, titled “Why Hydrogen isn’t just a technology problem — It’s a systems challenge”, I shared PNDC’s whole-energy systems approach to hydrogen adoption. Let me be clear: it’s not enough to build better electrolysers or fuel cells. The real magic—and the real risk—lies in how these technologies integrate across production, storage, transport, and end-use.

Drawing from hands-on testing of a hydrogen fuel cell truck and analysis of green hydrogen injection into the UK gas grid, we explored how system-level thinking can uncover hidden interdependencies before they become costly failures. Spoiler: de-risking deployment isn’t just technical—it’s systemic.

The talk was warmly received, with several thoughtful follow-up questions (including one asking whether our model could scale to regional grids—yes, but only if we stop treating each sector like a silo!). Honestly, it felt like being part of a conversation rather than a lecture—a rare and lovely thing at conferences!

📸 Conference Snapshots

Other delightful nuggets from the day:

• 🏺 Archaeologists are now essential in nuclear development! Yes, before any site can be commissioned, there must be an archaeological survey. With a shortage of skilled archaeologists, these surveys risk becoming lengthy delays in an industry already known for its… let’s say, leisurely pace.
• 💻 The generational divide in AI perception is fascinating. Younger engineers seem to treat controllers like Xbox remotes—no second glance needed, just press play and trust the robot knows what’s up. It’s both charming and slightly terrifying.
• 🔋 And finally, CIGRE’s definition of resilience hit me right between the eyes: “The ability to limit the extent, severity, and duration of system degradation following an extreme event.”
  Quite poetic, really—like a power grid with emotional intelligence.

And because we’re all about balance here (and because no conference would be complete without a book or podcast recommendation), here are some gems I picked up:

• The Thinking Game (documentary) – described as “a masterclass in how decisions get made at scale” — very compelling indeed.
• The Rest Is Classified (podcast) – called “the hidden stories behind policy and security”, which sounds utterly gripping.
• Beyond the Wall by Katja Hoyer – recommended as “a vivid portrait of East Germany’s quiet revolutions” — already halfway through, and it’s brilliant.

I’ve added all three to my list, and honestly? They’re exactly the kind of content that makes you pause mid-cook, sip your tea slowly, and wonder how we got here—and where we go next.

So, dear reader — if any of these sound familiar, or better yet, if you’ve read them or listened to them already… I’d be absolutely delighted to hear your thoughts! What did you take away? Any others you’d recommend along similar lines?

After all, sharing ideas is half the fun — whether they’re about hydrogen systems or history told through the eyes of a former border guard. 😉

On my current reading list? Halfway through Thriving in a Male-Dominated Workplace (HBR Women at Work Series). It’s insightful, honest, and occasionally infuriating in the best way. Expect a proper blog post on it soon — unless something even more exciting comes along… like, say, a surprise garden gnome invasion. (We’ve had one before.)

So there you have it—a little science, a touch of whimsy, a sprinkle of reality check, and a whole lot of tea.

Thank you for being here. Whether you’re tuning in from a lab bench, your kitchen table, or somewhere between a crocheting session and an audiobook break—I’m so glad we’re sharing this journey together.

Until next time,
Warmest regards,
Priya