Women's leadership in hydropower is rare.

Of the 210 private companies generating around 3,100 megawatts, and the 800 companies planning about 38,000 megawatts, few are led by women. 

Despite the rarity of women in hydropower, Suman Joshi’s courage and expertise in remote areas have made her a notable figure.

A banker turned Hydro developer, Joshi is an executive member of the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN), representing the private sector’s investment in the energy sector and promotes Nepal as a green energy producer.

Joshi’s journey from a comfortable job in banking and finance to a successful entrepreneur in the energy sector is inspiring. She faced numerous struggles but emerged victorious, proving that capability knows no gender.

The Early Flame

Our present is heavily influenced by our childhood. We develop values and principles based on our upbringing, which shapes us. Her mindset and willpower are reflections of her childhood. She grew up in Kathmandu, Nepal, in a balanced household with neither luxury nor lack.

Her parents prioritized education and basic needs, promoting practical knowledge application. She learned to deal with the real world at a young age, reading newspapers, carrying heavy weights, doing chores independently, and riding a bike by age fourteen. Her parents, especially her father, inspired her to be a leader.

By her teenage years, she led her friend group, planned and executed picnics, and developed leadership skills that led to her success. She aspired to be productive, inspired by the reward system in her home that encouraged effective work. This instilled in her the desire to dream big and become a leader.

Lessons That Change the Vision
Suman completed her master’s degree from Kathmandu University School of Management. Despite being an average student, she excelled in leadership, communication, negotiation, and applied her education to daily life. Her practical approach paved the way for her success.

The First Hustle
Suman Joshi dedicated 12 years to the banking sector, rising to a strong position through project financing. She also learned about hydropower financing, pricing, and competition.While completing Financial Closure for the Lower Solu hydropower project, Suman Joshi, a banker, gained valuable insights into the company’s growth, operations, and leadership.'

While in bank, as a banker I learnt a lot while completing Financial Closure for the Lower Solu hydropower project. It was new experience for me,' she recalls.

Turning Vision into Venture

After 12 years in banking, Suman decided to challenge her comfort zone and establish her company in the hydropower sector. She chose this sector due to its potential and opportunities, despite its complexity and challenges.

Suman Joshi founded her company, 'White Lotus Power Limited', with two members and now employs 20 people. She faced numerous challenges in the hydropower sector but remained determined to overcome them.

Battles Behind the Breakthrough

According to Suman, the first and most crucial step in hydropower development is identifying a suitable project and selecting the perfect location. This requires technical knowledge, practical assessment, and an understanding of the surrounding environment. Suman ensures that every location meets both feasibility and community requirements.

Government approvals are crucial in the sector, as policies affect project establishment and long-term operations. Navigating bureaucratic processes requires patience, persistence, and strategic planning. Securing investment is also challenging, especially in high-risk, long-timeline sectors. Suman efficiently manages this by leveraging her expertise and credibility.

Once underway, the company must manage environmental responsibilities, construct infrastructure, and integrate with local communities. Transmission lines, machinery, and installations must be deployed precisely, while preparing for natural disasters like floods and landslides.

Suman consistently visits project sites, sometimes planned and sometimes emergency-driven. Traveling to remote locations involves long walks, navigating difficult terrains, and careful movement through jungles.

She interacts with local communities, maintains connections, and addresses concerns. Coordinating between engineers, government officials, investors, and villagers is a continuous and critical task.

Suman Joshi’s technical capability, resilience, leadership, and strategic foresight shine through in her work in hydropower. Her careful planning, courage, and persistent engagement have turned challenges into opportunities, positively impacting the community and Nepal’s energy landscape.

The Milestones

Her contributions extend beyond financial gain. She has created employment opportunities for engineers, technicians, and local workers, supporting livelihoods and community development. Her work also adds value to the economy by contributing to energy security, infrastructure development, and sustainable growth, strengthening Nepal’s energy capabilities and attracting investments.

Joshi’s leadership in a traditionally male-dominated industry inspires others. Her courage to tackle difficult terrains, complex projects, and multiple stakeholders demonstrates resilience, determination, and confidence. Her success challenges social norms and encourages more women to pursue ambitious roles in technical and managerial fields.

Suman Joshi experiences daily growth, acknowledgment, and satisfaction. Each project teaches her about people, technology, management, and herself. While financial rewards are secondary, the intrinsic satisfaction of project success, empowerment, and national contribution keeps her motivated. Her focus on learning and impact over money prioritizes purpose, resilience, and continuous improvement.

Suman Joshi’s achievements are multidimensional. They include social impact, economic contribution, professional leadership, and personal fulfillment. Through employment creation, economic value addition, inspiring leadership, and learning, she has built a legacy that transcends monetary success, impacting the hydropower sector and communities.

The Backbone of The Journey

Her supportive family system is crucial to her success. Her husband shares household responsibilities and actively supports their children’s education. He attends parent-teacher meetings, ensures their well-being, and cares for Suman, encouraging her to rest. His unwavering support allows her to focus on her demanding projects.

Her grown children understand her challenges and provide emotional support, enabling her to pursue her professional ambitions with confidence.

Suman Joshi’s parents supported her early career in banking by encouraging her education and professional pursuits. They instilled in her values of independence, responsibility, and diligence, which guided her in a male-dominated sector.

The Path Forward

Looking ahead, Suman focuses on completing her projects successfully. She emphasizes planning, teamwork, and problem-solving to ensure timely and high-quality project delivery.

Suman aims to make a lasting impact in hydropower by providing reliable energy, creating jobs, and benefiting local communities. She seeks to improve Nepal’s energy system sustainably. Through her work, she hopes to demonstrate the benefits of careful planning and hard work in hydropower.

Message To Dreamers
Suman’s journey offers valuable lessons for aspiring youth entrepreneurs. Her advice is based on lived experience, emphasizing the importance of deep knowledge in entering any sector. She stresses that understanding technical, financial, and operational dimensions is essential to avoid costly missteps and make informed decisions.

Equally important, she stresses consistency, dedication, and realism. Success takes time, sustained effort, meticulous planning, and tackling routine challenges without losing sight of long-term goals. Being realistic about expectations prevents discouragement.

Many young entrepreneurs enter ventures with idealized visions of rapid success, only to be overwhelmed by setbacks. Recognizing inherent difficulties and that nothing comes easily builds resilience.

Failure is inevitable in entrepreneurship. Every failed attempt carries valuable lessons. Failure is not a reflection of inadequacy but a stepping stone toward growth. Entrepreneurs must analyze mistakes, extract insights, and apply those lessons to future endeavors. However, if a venture proves unsustainable despite genuine effort, do not hesitate to stop. Knowing when to pivot or exit is as important as persistence—it preserves resources, reduces burnout, and allows one to redirect energy into more viable opportunities.

She emphasizes the dual importance of employee and entrepreneur roles. Entrepreneurship drives innovation, creates employment, and enables individuals to shape their destinies. Suman encourages youth to embrace entrepreneurship for personal growth and the broader social and economic impact they can create. However, she warns against romanticizing the path.

Every sector presents unique hurdles, and challenges are often more complex than they appear. Success requires passion, skill, patience, strategy, and unwavering determination.

Suman’s key lesson is clear: persist, learn from failure, and continue. Successful entrepreneurship thrives on persistence and strategic learning. She encourages young entrepreneurs to view obstacles as growth opportunities, failures as teachers, and successes as validation. By cultivating resilience, discipline, and a realistic understanding of business, youth can navigate entrepreneurship confidently and purposefully.

Suman advises balancing courage with caution, ambition with practicality, and persistence with adaptability. She inspires young entrepreneurs to prepare thoroughly, act decisively, embrace learning through failure, and pursue their ventures with realism and determination. Entrepreneurship is a demanding yet rewarding journey for those willing to commit, learn, and persevere.