Meet our Energy Trailblazer: Ruvi Mugara
Ruvi Mugara
Director of Projects, Thinkwell Shift
Halifax, NS
Communications is where Ruvi Mugara’s impact truly comes to life. As Director of Projects at Thinkwell Shift, a resource conservation company focused on behaviour change, Ruvi redefines program success by ensuring benefits are not just measured in dollars saved or emissions cut but in how effectively they resonate with the public.
Ruvi’s mission centers on empowering historically excluded people to see themselves as part of the solution. From African Nova Scotian and remote fishing communities to young people navigating climate anxiety, Ruvi works to demystify the energy efficiency sector for those who may feel it’s out of reach. By inspiring confidence in even the smallest actions, Ruvi helps individuals realize they can meaningfully contribute to the energy transition.
“I’m proud that my journey mirrors Nova Scotians who feel underrepresented in the energy efficiency space. However, we still have work to do to open doors for others who may not have considered a career in this field.”
Today, at Thinkwell Shift in Halifax, Ruvi supports Program Managers with implementation, strategic advancement, and translating the energy transition in programs such as New Brunswick Power Navigators, Efficiency Nova Scotia’s Green Schools, and the Efficient Product Installation Service, driving innovation and sustainability.
Ruvi’s Career Journey
Undergraduate degree
Ruvi pursued a bachelor of psychology. Your journey into project management could take a different route.
Project Management Certificate
Ruvi upgraded her skills to include a PMP certificate — a one-year course in project management.
On the job experience
Ruvi brought a lot of transferrable skills to her role. Once on the job, she learned more about the sector.
Advice on entering the energy efficiency sector
As a female and a Black female, there are always going to be obstacles. That doesn’t mean, however, that I didn’t face them head-on. I like a challenge. I welcome it, actually. It motivates me. So for any women out there who are BIPOC or women in general, we are dominating a very male-induced industry.
Where things are trending in workforce development is, upskilling the soft skills that you don’t have. We’ve recognized that it’s not just learning the technical stuff, you have to give them the management skills and the business skills and the stakeholder engagement skills.
The great thing is that with this sector, there is such a need for workers that they are offering courses to everyone. That’s really opening up for people. You don’t need to go back to school necessarily. Go do a degree or diploma. You can take like little courses at a time to upskill yourself and make yourself relevant.
