Nikoleta Kandalepa

Power & Grid Leader | 10+ Years at TenneT, Siemens & Schneider Electric | Technical & Career Mentoring for Future Leaders

Hi, I’m Nikoleta 👋 — a power & grid segment leader with deep technical expertise, strong commercial leadership and over a decade of experience across power systems, transmission & distribution grids, renewables and energy projects. I’m also a hands-on mentor focused on helping professionals grow with confidence and succeed in today’s complex energy market.

Throughout my career, I’ve led, coached and developed engineers and professionals across technical, project and commercial teams, taking an active role in hiring, onboarding and performance development. Leadership and people development have been a core part of my career, giving me a practical, real-world perspective on what it takes to grow and advance in the energy sector.

One of the key reasons mentees work with me is my hybrid profile. I started in highly technical roles (grid studies, system operations, asset management) and later moved into sales, project leadership and commercial negotiations. I’ve worked with and for organizations such as Siemens, Schneider Electric and TenneT (German & Dutch TSO), which allows me to bridge technical depth with how decisions are made, value is created and careers actually progress in the industry.

I’ve conducted and participated in many interviews from both sides and have hired and coached people into my teams, so I can support you with CV reviews, interview preparation, salary negotiation, career development and long-term career strategy — with honest, practical feedback grounded in real hiring experience.

I spent 7 years working in the Netherlands, so if you’re aiming for an international career or adapting to a different professional culture, I can help you navigate that transition and set realistic expectations for working abroad. Our mentoring can focus either on career-oriented topics (career strategy, leadership growth, confidence, negotiations) or on technical discussions in energy, power systems, transmission & distribution grids and renewables.

We’ll shape our sessions around your goals and challenges — no generic advice. I’m a strong active listener and I care about understanding where you are and where you want to go before offering guidance. My mentoring style is structured, supportive and direct, and I’m happy to challenge you when it helps you move forward.

Why work with me? You’ll get clear, honest mentoring from someone who understands the technical depth, the commercial reality and the leadership expectations of the energy sector. Let’s have a chat and work together to achieve your goals — accelerating your growth, sharpening your positioning and helping you make better career decisions, faster.