Kelsey Mitchell
Kelsey Mitchell is an engineering and project management professional focused on advancing clean energy technologies and sustainable infrastructure. She currently serves as a Hardware Project Manager at Torus, where she helps leads projects centered on battery energy storage systems designed to provide reliable, efficient power solutions for commercial applications. In her role, she works closely with engineering, operations, and production teams to guide projects from initial planning through development and implementation, ensuring that complex technical initiatives move forward smoothly and efficiently. Before transitioning into the clean energy sector, Kelsey spent more than eight years at Rolls-Royce, where she worked in a variety of lead engineering roles including design engineering, hydromechanical engineering, and control systems. Seeking to make a broader environmental impact, she later shifted her career toward climate and sustainability work, joining Lion Energy as a project manager before moving into her current role at Torus. Kelsey holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech, where she also competed on the Division1 university’s women’s varsity soccer team. Her professional interests include energy storage, climate science, and scalable clean energy solutions. Known for her collaborative leadership style, Kelsey emphasizes empathy, integrity, and teamwork while guiding technical teams.
• Virginia Tech- B.S.
• Terra.do
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
• National Institute of Aeronautical Engineers (past membership)
• Big Brothers Big Sisters (8 years in Indianapolis)
• Amplified Mentoring Program (Volunteer for America)
What do you attribute your success to?
It is important to keep a focused mindset of work not becoming your sole identity. I believe in channeling all of the passions you have in life and giving them equal amounts of energy and focus, to avoid getting burnt out in work. Having an intentional balance and giving your heart and soul to things that light you up can help provide that drive when the times get tough. I've learned from personal experience that you need to take care of yourself in order to be your best in all areas of life.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Some of the best advice I've received is to learn to control only the controllables. There's so much in life that is out of our hands, so better to focus on being a part of the solution without getting distracted from all of the outside noise. For example, the dynamic renewables industry and the energy demand are things we individually can't do much about, but we can be part of the solution. If your eyes are set on that, the rest will fall into place. Don't get beat up by things you can't change but rather focus on what you can by using your strengths to the best of your ability.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
We need to embrace the fact that every woman is unique. We should channel those unique traits and strengths and use them to our advantage instead of thinking that in order to succeed in a male-dominated field we have to channel more masculine behavior. There is a reason why diverse human identities and experiences bring such success in companies and organizations. Don't cave and try to tailor your behavior to match others. Stand strong in who you are and what you believe in. If you have different opinions than someone, let that be known, and trust your intuition.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in the field right now is how rapidly it’s evolving to meet the needs of our world. We are all still learning how to be a part a sustainable and circular solution. As long as we have good people with forward thinking and advanced technology in the pipeline we will be able to make a difference.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is definitely the most important value to me. Always leading with truth and with good heart behind your decisions. I also believe in leading a life with compassion and empathy for everyone around you but being mindful of boundaries and taking care of yourself first and foremost.