Tamar Fekler, Senior Vice President Operations, Procurement & Logistics at Israel Electric Corporation, spoke with Inbal Ann Bouskila at The Jerusalem Post’s Women Leaders Summit 2026 about leadership, gender, and the challenges of managing a critical utility in times of crisis. As the first woman to sit at Israel Electric’s executive table, Fekler says she is proud, but cautious about the term “glass ceiling.”
“I find it a little outdated. The conversation should be less about gender and more about leadership, capabilities, and values,” she said. Yet she acknowledged the reality: women remain underrepresented in senior management. “We all see the dwindling of women in high-level roles, but in the private sector, more women are joining executive tables, and bringing with them teamwork, emotional intelligence, and innovation.” Fekler’s leadership style is hands-on. Reflecting on the October 7 attacks, she explained, “Management is not about sitting in an office and sending employees into the field. It’s about being shoulder to shoulder with them.”
She recalled going into affected communities alongside Israel Electric employees and the CEO, bringing hot tea, coffee, and cookies to the teams working under fire. “There’s nothing more wonderful than seeing employees recognized and appreciated for their dedication,” she said.
Fekler later sought out to note other arenas where strategic approach shines, notably, procurement. “We have 20,000 active suppliers. We prioritize Israeli sourcing, but we maintain international channels to ensure resilience,” she explained, describing how her teams kept electricity flowing during wartime, even assisting a damaged cable factory in Sderot to continue operations. Fekler’s message to aspiring women leaders is simple and direct: “Keep dreaming, keep daring, keep making mistakes, and don’t wait to be invited to the table. Sit at the table.”
Written in collaboration with IEC