Splice N Connect CEO Taban Sabih Recognized as a 2024 YWE Award Winner

Splice N Connect Founder and CEO Taban Sabih has been recognized by Joule Women's Energy Network (YWE) as one of the 2024 YWE Award Winners. The award celebrates women shaping the future of the energy industry through technical leadership, innovation, and advocacy.

The full profile, originally published by Joule Women's Energy Network and shared by Decentralised Energy Canada (DEC), is reproduced below.

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Empowering Innovation and Advocacy in Energy

Taban Sabih has spent her career shaping the future of electrical engineering in the energy sector, combining technical expertise with a passion for mentorship, innovation, and industry advocacy. With more than 14 years at Cenovus Energy and experience with manufacturing, engineering consulting, and operations, she has built a reputation as a dynamic leader who thrives on solving complex challenges.

Her journey into the industry wasn't a conventional one. Initially drawn to biomedical engineering, Taban saw it as a stepping stone to a career in the medical field. However, during her studies, she discovered a deep appreciation for electrical engineering, particularly its practical applications in energy. A series of co-op placements introduced her to the industry's vast opportunities, and she quickly realized this was where she could make the biggest impact.

"I love the feeling of solving real-world problems—where small changes in electrical design can make a big impact on operations and reliability,"

— Taban Sabih

Taban's role at Cenovus allows her to engage with a wide range of projects, providing technical support that enhances efficiency and reliability across the company's operations. Her technical expertise, combined with her strategic vision, has positioned her as a trusted leader in energy infrastructure and innovation.

Beyond her engineering contributions, Taban is a champion for diversity and inclusion. As the Moderator Committee Lead for Women @ Cenovus, she fosters critical conversations on career advancement and work-life balance, particularly for mid-career women who face stagnation or burnout. Her passion for supporting women in STEM began early as the chair for a new IEEE Women in Engineering chapter at her university after noticing the lack of mentorship opportunities for female engineers. Under her leadership, the chapter hosted networking events and panel discussions, attracting students from multiple disciplines and raising awareness of the challenges women face in technical fields.

In addition to her corporate career, Taban is the CEO and Founder of Splice N Connect, a startup dedicated to improving electrical reliability in power systems. What began as a concept within Avatar Innovations has evolved into a potential business, winning pitch competitions and securing development and testing agreements with commercial clients. Balancing her career, family, and startup has been challenging, but her commitment to innovation keeps her motivated.

"What do I know about starting a business, developing new technology, raising capital, and commercializing innovations? Not much—but I do know that staying in my comfort zone would be a disservice to everything I aspire to be,"

— Taban Sabih

Her influence extends beyond her immediate work. She has served as Chair of the IEEE Women in Engineering Student Chapter as well as Chair of the overall IEEE Student Chapter, Secretary for the 2017 PCIC Conference Planning Committee, and Website Chair for the Electrical Safety Technical Meeting & Conference (ESTMP). Her contributions to the field earned her the 2023 IEEE Young Professional Achievement Award—a testament to her dedication to electrical engineering and advocacy.

Receiving the YWE Award is a moment of reflection for Taban. As a mother of three daughters, she wants them to grow up in a world where barriers don't define their ambitions.

"I want my girls to feel empowered to chase their dreams without questioning whether they belong,"

— Taban Sabih

Looking ahead, she sees immense opportunities in the energy sector, believing that innovation and sustainability will open new doors and discussions for those willing to challenge the status quo.

Profile originally published by Joule Women's Energy Network and re-shared by Decentralised Energy Canada.