1. What drew you to the electrical industry?
I began my career at Hydro One as a student while attending university. I enjoyed working at a job where I could see the application of the math and science principles that I liked at school.
I quickly found the link between the technical aspects of our industry, how we carry out work and function as an effective business and the impact of what we do in society to be of interest to me.
2. Can you give an overview of what your responsibilities are and your previous roles were at Hydro One?
Up until recently my accountabilities included ensuring we have the required plans in place to guarantee that our transmission system continues to meet the needs of the Province of Ontario. Electricity is critical in the world that we live in today, and the equipment that delivers electricity to our homes and businesses needs to have the right maintenance plans in place. We also have a lot of older equipment that we need to determine when to replace. We continuously look for strategies that will continue to provide a reliable supply of electricity at the best price possible for all our customers.
This role is quite different from when I started at Hydro One 25 years ago as an electrical apprentice. Over the years I have had a number of roles in both the strategic side of the business and in the operational side of the business. I have worked in the field as an electrician and in a number of leadership roles. In the strategy side of the business, I have had accountabilities in the areas of planning for our existing system, developing or expanding the system and working with communities, customers, regulators and industry partners. There are so many different roles you can experience in a company like Hydro One!
3. What do you enjoy most about your job?
There have been many different things that I have enjoyed over the years. Right now I get the most satisfaction in seeing the individuals and teams I work with develop and work effectively to achieve great results.
4. Do you believe there are any common misconceptions associated with working in this field?
When I worked in the trades, people seemed to think you have to be able to lift massive amounts of weight to do the job. While there is a lifting requirement, there are many types of devices in the field today that minimize this - you just have to know how to use them.
5. In your experience, what are the main differences between men and women in the workplace, if any? Do you think it's necessary or important to recognize these differences? If so, why?
This is a difficult question. I believe everyone is different and we need to recognize this and accept people for who they are. I believe it is important for me to know what is important to me, and to not compromise to align myself with who I am working with.
It is important for us to recognize the differences of people we work with in the workplace. Society benefits from the diversity that exists, and we benefit as individuals and as a community if we respect and embrace this diversity. If we close our minds to only those who think like we do, we will miss something: it may be an experience, an opportunity, a solution or a development.
6. In what ways would you like to see girls/ women educated and involved in the industry?
I think it comes down to awareness. I don't think it is different in this industry than most others. I have four teenage boys: they know what my husband and I do and about work they see in society. What do people "see" in our industry? They see a small slice - someone climbing a pole by the side of the road. This is a portion of our work that does not appeal to all. Raising awareness of the types of roles that exist, inspiring or gaining interest, are just the first steps.
7. Do you think it's beneficial to the organization/ industry to have more female employees? If so, why?
Yes, I do. Why? We need the best people for the job. The best people for the job are people who have the right qualifications, abilities and desires. I don’t believe you have access to the best people if you only consider a subset of the population.
8. What do you think the benefits of a networking forum like WTTE would be? Would something like this have been of value to you when you began your career at Hydro One?
These forums provide networking opportunities for women that already exist for many of their male counterparts. Work has a social component to it that is different for women in non-traditional roles. These forums can provide opportunities for women to meet peers who are more likely to have common interests. Also, we still do have a society where not everyone values and respects the positive impacts diversity provides. Networking forums can provide opportunities to share successes and explore options for dealing with challenges.
9. Who have been your main supporters in your career (male or female)? What made them such great coaches/ mentors?
I have had a few great coaches/mentors in my career. What made them great?
- An ability to clearly identify what my strengths are
- Opportunities to do my best and grow
- They pushed me outside of my comfort zone, but I always had their support
- Honest feedback about what I did well and what areas I could improve upon
- They shared their stories - past and present – helping me understand the barriers they overcame.
10. Have you been a coach/ mentor for someone? Could you tell us a bit about that experience?
Yes, I have. I have had my share of experiences along the way and I hope that I can help others. I am truly honoured when people have the trust to share their situation with me. While I do have both positive and negative experiences I can leverage in these relationships, I believe it is the key to mentoring that I listen and help people understand what it is they want or what path fits with their background, values and goals.
11. Do you have any advice for women considering pursuing a career in trades, technology and engineering?
Understand what it is, and if it fits, go for it. There are a lot of options and you can have a great career.
If it doesn't fit, or if you have to compromise who you are to make it fit, look for something else. It is like the shoes you see on sale and love them but they don't quite fit but you buy them anyway. Imagine wearing those out for a fun-filled evening. Ouch!
