Nicole Dierksheide has built her career at the intersection of engineering, sustainability, and leadership. With a background in electrical engineering and more than two decades of experience spanning product development, customer insight, and global strategy, she currently serves as Director of Product Management at Rehlko. In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day, Nicole shares her path into high tech and the mindset shifts she hopes to see in the future of engineering.
Q: Tell us about your journey into the world of high tech and what brought you to Rehlko.
I have always enjoyed maths and problem-solving. That interest naturally led me to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. After university, I started at General Electric working on locomotives. Over time, I became more involved in pilot programs and started interacting with customers. I discovered I enjoyed understanding customer needs and translating those into product direction. That interest led me into marketing and product management. Later, I joined a company focused on test and measurement equipment for electrical engineers, which felt like a natural fit.
When I moved again, I found Rehlko, which was then part of Kohler. I started in a role exploring renewable energy products, specifically in the residential space. Although that path shifted, it opened the door for me to join the industrial side of the business, where I managed controls for generator sets. Over the years, I’ve held roles across nearly every product line in our Power Systems group. Today, I lead global product management for our large diesel offerings.
Q: How have you seen the high-tech and renewable energy landscape change during your career?What stands out most is the shift away from looking for one big solution to energy challenges. For years, people were searching for a single answer, whether it was solar, wind, or batteries. But each of those solutions has limitations. What I see now is a growing willingness to combine technologies. People are realising that strengths in one area can balance weaknesses in another.
There is also more awareness that cost and reliability have to be part of the sustainability equation. We are starting to strike a better balance, rather than pursuing one option at the expense of others. That change has been encouraging to watch.
Q: What project or experience are you most proud of in your career?
One recent initiative I am proud of is Rehlko’s Conscious Care program. It focuses on smarter generator maintenance and sustainability. Backup generators are like insurance policies. They are essential when the utility fails, but they do not run often. Traditionally, diesel generators needed monthly tests under load to prevent wet stacking. However, with our product, the fuel burns efficiently enough that you can test the generator without a load.
We have introduced options for no-load testing and even extended the test interval to every four months, reducing fuel use over the life of the generator. That kind of change might seem small, but over 20 to 25 years, it really adds up. And it is just the beginning. We have several more steps planned to build on this foundation and make a broader impact.
Q: What advice would you give to future women engineers?
Be confident. Be honest about what you know, but trust that your experience matters. Many times, we assume others know more than we do, and that is simply not true.
Also, do not be afraid to ask questions. That is how you learn. And do not let the gaps in your knowledge hold you back. Too often, women focus on the 30 percent they do not know instead of owning the 70 percent they do.
Q: What do you hope to see in the future of sustainable engineering?
I hope to see more emphasis on continuous improvement and incremental change. We do not always need groundbreaking innovation to make progress. Sometimes, a small tweak to a material choice or a design specification can have a lasting impact.
For example, at Rehlko, in our work with generator sets, we are looking at using low-carbon steel in parts of the system. It is one decision in a larger picture, but it matters. Renewable diesel, also referred to as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), is another area where better fuel choices are becoming more accessible. These are practical, low-risk steps that can be adopted quickly and still make a difference. That is the kind of forward movement I want to see continue.
