Susie Lind: Finding Confidence Through Community

For Susie Lind, career progression has never been about following a carefully mapped plan. Instead, it has been shaped by curiosity, a willingness to embrace new challenges and, importantly, the people who recognised her potential and encouraged her to step forward.

Originally trained as a lawyer, Susie began her career in Edinburgh before moving to London, where what was intended to be a short-term move became a twelve-year chapter. It was there that she discovered the renewable energy sector, drawn by its openness, curiosity and willingness to embrace new ways of thinking.

Joining EDF Renewables at a time when the business was still in its infancy, she became part of a small team helping to shape what would grow into one of the UK’s leading renewable energy businesses. Over the years, her responsibilities expanded alongside the organisation itself, creating opportunities to move beyond her legal background and into broader leadership roles.

Finding the Confidence to Contribute

Throughout her career, Susie has embraced opportunities that have taken her beyond her executive responsibilities. Alongside her role at EDF, she has held a number of influential industry positions, including roles with Scottish Renewables of which she is now the Chair, RenewableUK and the Offshore Wind Industry Council.

Looking back, Susie is quick to acknowledge the people who encouraged her to step forward throughout her career.

“The opportunity to reflect makes me realise how much my career has been supported by women, allies, friends, men, suggesting things or backing me to do things,” she says.

As her responsibilities expanded beyond legal into wider executive leadership, she came to recognise that others often saw potential in her before she saw it herself.

“Recognising that other people saw that actually you had an approach that could be applied to different areas gave me a sense of, well, I can do it.”

Even then, putting herself forward didn’t always come naturally.

“Every inch of me was thinking, what can I contribute?”

Over time, however, she learnt that leadership wasn’t about having all the answers. Instead, it was about trusting her own judgement and contributing authentically.

“I think then just going back into your normal autopilot of listening really well and responding in an authentic way based on your own perspective (even when you know it might not be the same as others) , has been great in serving me well.”

That mindset has become a defining feature of her leadership, allowing her to embrace new opportunities while remaining true to her own values and approach.

The Power of Perspective

While Susie had always been willing to embrace new challenges, she credits the Executive Women in Leadership (EWIL) programme with helping her recognise the value of her own perspective.

Joining the programme Susie found herself surrounded by women from different sectors, each bringing unique experiences and approaches to leadership.

“The programme was massively impactful, it taught me that perspectives of everyone are really valuable and therefore I should start valuing my own in the same way as I value others”

That lesson has stayed with her throughout her career.

Recalling a session on crisis management, Susie remembers being struck by how differently people responded to the same challenge. A scenario that felt relatively comfortable to one person could feel daunting to another. Rather than highlighting differences, the exercise reinforced the value of diverse thinking and collective problem-solving.

“It takes all the minds to come up with the solution.”

The experience strengthened her belief that leadership is rarely about having all the answers yourself. Instead, it is about creating space for different viewpoints and recognising the strengths that others bring.

The Strength of Community

Beyond the formal learning, Susie believes one of the programme’s greatest strengths has been the community it created.

More than a decade on, she continues to value the connections built through the network and the shared understanding that comes from having experienced similar leadership challenges.

“I think that the overarching thing is a community, a group of women, a sense of warmth, and that you’ve always got people that you can lean on.”

Whether reconnecting professionally, through shared interests or simply navigating life’s challenges, those relationships have endured far beyond the programme itself.

For Susie, that sense of community creates something more than a professional network. It provides a trusted space where leaders can share experiences openly, seek advice and support one another through change.

“It has brought a safety net, I think, to everything that I’ve done over this time.”

Looking Ahead

As the EWIL network celebrates its tenth anniversary, Susie believes its greatest strength lies not only in the experiences participants gain during the programme, but in the community, they continue to build long afterwards.

Susie hopes that legacy will continue to grow by creating even more opportunities for women to connect, share experiences and encourage one another to step forward.

Her own career is a testament to the power of doing exactly that. From law to renewable energy leadership, industry boards and sector-wide influence, her journey has been shaped not by having every step planned in advance, but by remaining open to opportunity, valuing different perspectives and having the confidence to step forward.

Executive Women in Leadership Alumni Spotlight Series

This article forms part of our Executive Women in Leadership Alumni Spotlight Series, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the EWLP programme in September 2026, and has been developed collaboratively with the support of Judy Wagner, Director of FWB Ltd and Prof Susan Murphy of The University of Edinburgh Business School, (who co-founded the EWLP), the EWIL Advisory Board, programme contributors, and interview participants.

The EWLP has since evolved into the Executive Leadership Programme (ELP), delivered in partnership with the University of Edinburgh Business School and open to leaders of all genders across the private, public and third sectors.

For more information about joining the 2026 cohort, please contact elp@fwbltd.com.