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WING interview with Kelly Blake Fujii of the Navy Geothermal Program Office

WING interview with Kelly Blake Fujii of the Navy Geothermal Program Office Kelly Blake Fujii, Geothermal Geologist (source: rockheadsciences.com)
Alexander Richter 25 Oct 2016

Continuing with interviewing women working in the geothermal sector as part of an interview series in cooperation with Women in Geothermal (WING), we interview Kelly Blake Fujiii of the Navy Geothermal Program Office.

In our series of interviews with women of WING (Women in Geothermal), we are here publishing an interview with Kelly Blake Fujii on being a team player.

Kelly Blake Fujii is a geologist for the Navy Geothermal Program Office. Originally from New York, she studied Environmental Geoscience in Pennsyvania, and became interested in geothermal energy after completing an assignment on the topic for an undergraduate class. Her career started in New York, where she worked as a geotechnical engineer for Melick-Tully and Associates. Desiring more hands-on geology work, she returned to school to get a Masters in structural geology and pursue geothermal energy studies. After graduating, Kelly moved to Ridgecrest with her college sweetheart and began her current (civilian) role with the Navy. Seeing a dearth of organized women’s soccer leagues, she began volunteer coaching at the high school and is now the head coach of the high school girl’s varsity team as well as a coach and board member for the local soccer club.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Growing up, I had a rock collection, which seemed like the most normal thing in the world to me, but apparently that was not necessarily the regular for kids generally.  Science always seemed to resonate with me and once I took a physical science class and a short lecture on rocks and mineral properties, I had a good idea that I’d like to be a geologist (or at least a physical scientist).

What motivates you?

From an early age I was very competitive. I’ve always been involved in sports, and within those sports I always wanted to be the best at them. I think that this competitive aspect of my personality keeps me motivated. As much as I possibly can, I want to be good at my job and therefore, successful in my chosen career.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I’d like to think that I do not have one quite yet.  There are many aspects of my personal life and my geothermal life that I am very proud of, but I’d like to think my greatest achievement has yet to occur.

What do you believe has been the key to your success?

Even though I do not consider myself successful quite yet, my competitiveness and self-motivated attitude has helped me get to this point in my career.  Most people my age tend to provide an emphasis on luck and I believe in luck to an extent, but I’d like to believe that a little bit of my work ethic has helped me in my career endeavours as well.

What do you believe are the personality traits of great leaders?

My thoughts go back to tangible leaders in my life, and the traits they have, for inspiration. Leaders should be fair, assertive/decisive, kind and strong. Although these seem like they would be at far ends of a personality spectrum, in my opinion, a great leader should be all of them.

What do you think is the biggest obstacle for women in the geothermal sector?

To take it back a peg to the more general lack of women in STEM, it is a lack of understanding of the opportunities that exist in these fields for women. One large obstacle is anyone who ever steered girls/women away from interests in the sciences, which leads to fewer women in science careers and in the energy sector in general. Educating girls to ensure they realize the vast opportunities that are available for them is one of the first steps to take.

Why do you think it is important for women in geothermal to join forces?

Thinking back to my first Geothermal Resource Council meeting, I was in one of the short courses before the meeting and there were 3 other women there. After the course, the four of us migrated together, mainly due to this similarity, and those conversations opened doors within the geothermal industry. Women are a minority within the geothermal industry, however what WING has done in the last few years provides an avenue for networking among women in the industry and a voice to a smaller group in the crowd that when separate may not make much noise, but when together, can make things happen.

What do you wish you’d known at the start of your career?

People are willing to help, you just need to ask.  To start a job, or even research, on a topic that you do not know very well, my first reaction was to keep quiet and be confused rather than simply asking questions of those more knowledgeable. I would tell my younger self that we will hope to never stop learning, so if you have a question, ask it, if you do not understand something, research it.  People are usually willing to discuss and answer your questions, especially and usually those most knowledgeable.

Kelly may be contacted regarding WinG and her activities in the United States by email: Kelly.blake@navy.mil

We thank Laura Garchar a WING member in the U.S. and Staff Geoscientist with Geologica Geothermal Group Inc. who helped make this interview possible.