Talk Title: "Sustainable Impact: Building an Inclusive Global Career in Clean Energy & Technology Leadership"
AbstractThe global energy transition requires not only technical innovation, but also inclusive leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and purpose-driven career pathways. In this talk, Simay Akar Koehler shares her journey from engineering and global solar manufacturing to executive leadership, entrepreneurship, and international volunteer governance within IEEE.
Through the lens of IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) and global volunteer leadership, she will explore how diversity, representation, and mentorship accelerate both technological progress and career advancement. She will discuss how young professionals — especially women and underrepresented engineers and technologist — can intentionally design impactful careers in clean energy and emerging technologies, navigate cross-border opportunities, and integrate sustainability, equity, and systems thinking into their professional growth.
Drawing from her experience in industry and IEEE leadership, the session will highlight the power of professional communities such as WIE in creating visibility, sponsorship, and global networks that enable inclusive innovation. The goal is to empower students and early-career engineers to see themselves not only as technologists, but as global change agents shaping a more sustainable and equitable future.
Brief Biography
Simay Akar Koehler
Founder & CEO | AKEC Sustainable & Greentech Solutions
Board Member & Co-Founder | Innoses
Simay Akar Koehler is a globally recognized, multi-award-winning sustainable energy executive, serial entrepreneur, and mission-driven systems strategist with deep expertise in climate solutions, inclusive innovation, and environmental justice.
She is the Founder and CEO of AKEC Sustainable & Greentech Solutions, a purpose-driven advisory firm advancing the global energy transition through strategic planning, technology evaluation, market expansion, and sustainable supply chain transformation for clean energy innovators and impact-focused enterprises.
She is also the Co-Founder and Board Member of Innoses, a vertically integrated battery energy storage company, where she previously served as Chief Commercial Officer, leading global growth, financing strategies, and ecosystem partnerships to scale reliable and affordable clean energy technologies worldwide.
With extensive international experience across solar photovoltaics manufacturing, battery energy storage systems, electric mobility, and just energy transition programs, Simay bridges public-private partnerships, nonprofit impact, and responsible entrepreneurship. Her global footprint spans Türkiye, China, and the United States, with clean energy collaborations across more than 70 countries.
In addition to her executive career, she serves in several senior IEEE leadership roles, including:
- Vice President, Career & Member Services, IEEE-USA Board (2026)
- Treasurer, IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board (2025–2026)
- Global Chair-Elect (2026); Chair (2027–2028), IEEE Women in Engineering Committee
- Chair, IEEE Central Indiana Section (2025–2026)
A Senior Member of IEEE and member of Eta Kappa Nu (HKN), she is a passionate advocate for women's leadership in climate and clean energy and mentors emerging leaders globally.
Website: https://www.simayakar.com/
Talk Title: The Road Back: What Industry Experience Taught Me About Becoming Faculty
AbstractAfter completing my PhD, I spent several years in industry, working across three companies-Qualcomm, Intel, and Seagate. These experiences not only broadened my technical perspective but also shaped my long-term career aspirations, ultimately leading me back to academia. In this talk, I will reflect on my journey through industry and share key lessons that have influenced my approach to research, collaboration, and problem-solving. I will also discuss the challenges of transitioning into academia, as well as the evolving landscape of higher education and its impact on how we navigate academic careers today.
Biography
Hai (Helen) Li
Marie Foote Reel E'46 Distinguished Professor and Department Chair
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Duke University
Hai (Helen) Li is the Marie Foote Reel E'46 Distinguished Professor and Department Chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Duke University. She received her B.S. and M.S. degrees from Tsinghua University and her Ph.D. degree from Purdue University. Her research interests include neuromorphic circuits and systems for brain-inspired computing, machine learning acceleration and trustworthy AI, conventional and emerging memory design and architecture, and software and hardware co-design.
Dr. Li served/serves as the Associate Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editor for multiple IEEE and ACM journals. She was the General Chair or Technical Program Chair of multiple IEEE/ACM conferences and the Technical Program Committee member of over 30 international conference series.
Dr. Li has received many awards, including the IEEE Edward J. McCluskey Technical Achievement Award, Ten-Year Retrospective Influential Paper Award from ICCAD, TUM-IAS Hans Fischer Fellowship from Germany, ELATE Fellowship, nine best paper awards, and another ten best paper nominations from IEEE/ACM. Dr. Li is a fellow of IEEE, AAAS, ACM, and NAI.