Natasha Henderson
Southwest Power Pool
Senior Director, Grid Asset Utilization
DAY AT WORK
Meetings last most of the day. Regardless of meeting format, building relationships, has become one of the most important and rewarding parts of working in the electric utility industry, and it is this type of coordination that will enable our ability to navigate through the changes we are facing.
CAREER EVOLUTION
My degrees are in economics, however, most of my roles have been more engineering or regulatory based. I’ve worked on a trading floor, in operations, in the field, on long term strategic planning, in regulatory and compliance, in transmission planning, and now in grid asset utilization. While I’ve been lucky to have companies that have supported training, I’ve also made it a priority to self-learn through reading and asking questions, with a focus on understanding the why’s and how’s at a high level.
SURPRISING BUT TRUE
Technical expertise is and always will be important, but communication and the ability to understand diverse perspectives is perhaps even more important.
ADVICE
Strive for accuracy but don’t be afraid to make mistakes, or even to fail at times. Ask questions and be sure to understand the application and implications of your work. Develop strategic relationships that make you a stronger person and provide an opportunity for you to do the same. Listen and learn, from everyone, no matter their status. Work life balance and time management habits look different for everyone and is a constant adjustment, but in the long run, we work to live, not live to work.