Leading the Charge: Leadership Insights from the Energy Industry

Season 5, Episode 2

This episode features Jennifer Montague, President and Chief Operating Officer for Columbia Gas of Virginia. Montague is also a Leading Women Executives Fellow, Fall 2018. Jennifer provides insights about innovation in the energy industry and delivers advice and experience about growing as a leader through taking on P&L roles, smartly planning for technology and people, advantages to working overseas, and creating smart plans for work-life balance.

Discussion Questions:

We encourage you to connect with your peer board, team or colleagues to discuss the podcast. Please use the following questions to guide your conversation:

  1. How is your organization collectively thinking about, learning about, and working to understand the implications of AI?

  2. As you and your team start to leverage AI tools, what are you doing to also continue cultivating the important skill of critical thinking in yourself and within your team?

  3. How are you and your organization creating intentional pathways to train and prepare future leaders?

  4. What strategies can you share with others about managing derailers when the pressure is on?

Highlights:

  • The importance of P&L experience in carving a pathway to leadership [4:39]
  • Excitement and opportunity in the energy industry [6:21]
  • Building an AI strategy board: digital transformation and preparing for the future [8:35]
  • The importance of not losing critical thinking [10:43]
  • Intentional plans for future leaders [11:57]
  • The benefits of working overseas [14:00]
  • Different ways of balancing work and life [15:37]
  • Managing your derailers and growing as a leader [19:01]
  • Closed mouths don’t get fed (ask for what you want) [22:05]