Meet Nia Jones

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nia Jones a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nia, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

I started being the “only one in the room” at a young age, only 16 years old. I was an intern at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the Uranium Recovery Licensing Branch division. My team was comprised of mostly white men, one white woman, and me. My identity as a young Black girl from D.C. stood out but, it was the first place I learned to appreciate my differences and keep my head up high because I deserved to be there. This feeling persisted when I transferred colleges from a Historically Black College & University to a Predominately White Institution. I was once again the only Black student in some of my engineering courses but, I did not let this discourage me. These days, I’m a triple minority as one of the youngest, persons of color, who is a woman in STEM.

Finding community of likeminded people has been a way that I have learned to be effective and successful. I have participated leadership empowerment events such as Epistimi Women in STEM summer experience in Greece. It was in these settings I had the opportunity to share my experiences and feel comforted. In addition, I have learned to let me work speak for itself as this is the greatest measure of success.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I studied industrial engineering, law, public policy, and energy & resources with a lens of community engagement and workforce development to increase the number of engaged youth in the energy/utility sector. I consider myself an “inter-disciplinarian” because my work sits at a critical intersection of education and renewable energy.

Renewable energy is considered to be a viable solution to combat the climate crisis due to the reduced emissions of renewable energy power plants compared to coal/fossil fuel plants. Renewable energy generation is a Global challenge, and impacts the lives of almost everyone on planet earth. My role is to provide education solutions by partnering with businesses and distributing my flagship product: my activity book.

When I was writing, “Renewable Energy & Sustainability Activity Booklet” I had the next generation of leaders in mind. Leadership in any particular area requires a thorough knowledge base about the topic you plan to lead others in. My book lays the foundation for critical vocabulary and concepts that illustrate the connection between climate change, sustainability, and the role of renewable energy. It also highlights historical figures that made meaningful contributions to the industry.

Lastly, I attend global conferences to share my insights with diverse audiences. I’m still up and coming so I haven’t reached the status of packing out arenas. But I am well on my way to sharing insights into my trips abroad to Nigeria and India where I focus on renewable energy workforce development to get women and the youth involved in solar panel installation. I also discuss my experience at the United Nations Framework Climate Change Conference where I observe negotiations that affect the global energy market.

Lastly, I’m an entertainer at heart so outside of teaching people about energy, I also love working with the youth cheerleading teams and instilling confidence and showman ship tips. Being a cheerleader for 20 years and ending my career as a Boston Celtics Cheerleader makes me a dedicated leader with a strong desire to pour into the future generations. My life revolves around service and ensuring that the people coming after me have the tools they need to succeed.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Communication: this is essential for conveying your ideas and also for listening. They say you have two ears and one mouth for a reason. You should listen twice as hard before you speak. Practicing active listening ensures that you are communicating information that is relevant and timely to the conversation.

2. Being proactive rather than reactive. One of my favorite quotes is “proper preparation prevents poor performance” and the best way to stay ready is to anticipate challenges before they arise. When you are approaching a new thing in life, ask all the questions necessary to ensure you are prepared to tackle the thing. I find that people who are reactive tend to be more stressed because they haven’t taken time to consider all the different scenarios. Create a base case, what happens if things go according to plan. Then a best case, what happens if things go exceptionally well. Then a worst case, what happens when things don’t go as planned. This will help you choose a direction if there are things happening outside of your control.

3. Creativity. My parents are both artists so I grew up in the arts. Applying my creativity to situations has made me an extraordinary engineer. Having the technical ability plus the artistic ability has made me an attractive contributor to projects. To foster creativity, pick and outlet that fulfills you the most and just do it. For me, I enjoy writing, coloring, dancing and painting to name a few. These outlets allow me to approach life with an expansive imagination which comes in handy when the time is near to solve complex problems.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Yes, I would love to collaborate with sustainable brands. Brands that use recycled materials to create new things “upcycle”. Or brands that harvest materials from sustainable sources like jewelry and clothing. I really want to collaborate with an Electric Vehicle brand (Rivian would be a dream!) to promote sustainable transportation. I would love to team up with other climate justice professionals and grow my network to have contacts all over the World!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Energyqueen19.com
• Instagram: Energyqueen19
• Facebook: N/a
• Linkedin: Nia Novella Jones, MS The Energy Queen
• Twitter: N/a
• Youtube: N/a
• Yelp: N/a
• Soundcloud: N/a
• Other: N/a

Image Credits

Images at RE+ , Accelerating Climate Resilience and Renewable Energy, National Society of Black Engineers Convention, and American Association of Blacks in Energy conferences. The group photos are with students from the Afrograms Primary School in Abeokuta, Ogun, Nigeria and a group of Alumni + prospective students at the National Society of Black Engineers convention.