Cole: What do you believe to be the most important piece of advice for a leader to follow? Kenney: Be transparent, be humble, and be empathetic. Cole: How can you inspire others while also maintaining that you continue to be inspired by Xcel Energy’s overall mission? Kenney: I am fortunate to work for a company whose mission, vision, and values are aligned with mine. I believe in leading with transparency, humility, empathy, and integrity. I try to lead by example and model the behavior that I hope to see in others. Being aligned with our company’s values (committed, connected, safe, and trustworthy) makes working for Xcel Energy naturally inspiring. Cole: How do you prioritize work-life balance, and what advice do you have for junior professionals who are struggling to find balance? Kenney: It sounds cliché, but I believe that if you find a career you love, it is as if you’re not working at all. Find something about which your passionate. Find meaning in what you do. Make sure that you surround yourself with a strong support system: family and friends. And make the most of the time that you spend with your family: be present, be attentive, be in the moment.
Photo: McBoat Photography
Cole: As an African American leader, what do you consider to be one of the most difficult obstacles you’ve faced? Kenney: As an African American leader, there are times where you look around a room and see few or no other faces that look like your own. That can feel isolating. That is why it’s important to have mentors and role models, those that look like you, as well as those that don’t look like you. Cole: What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the Energy industry today, and how do you see Xcel Energy overcoming them? Kenney: Challenges and opportunities are opposite sides of the same coin. At Xcel Energy, we are leading the clean energy transition, while continuing to provide safe, reliable, and affordable energy services. While it is challenging to do all these things simultaneously, we are doing it. We are collaborating with diverse stakeholders and policy makers to craft and implement constructive public policies that drive value for our customers and our communities. Cole: How clear is your vision for what the future of corporate responsibility should look like at Xcel Energy? Kenney: Our vision is crystal clear. We are not only leading the clean energy transition; we are leading it in way that considers the diverse energy needs of our customers and communities.
Photo: McBoat Photography
11 The Acumen
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