Electric People E.105: Mary Powell |Sunrun CEO |A friendly Disrupter
Mar 9, 2022
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The podcast features Mary Powell, Sunrun's CEO, discussing customer obsession and her journey through overcoming loss and hardship. It explores her innovative approach in the energy sector, the power of love in leadership, embracing resilience, and finding inspiration in nature and gut instincts.
Mary Powell emphasizes customer obsession as the cornerstone of leadership at Sunrun.
Powell's emotional connection to her work and urgency to drive meaningful change define her leadership style.
Creating a collaborative culture focused on customer obsession and sustainable practices is pivotal for organizational success.
Powell's resilience in facing personal challenges inspires perseverance and inner strength in adversity.
Deep dives
Mary Powell's Journey to Innovation and Success
Mary Powell, the CEO of Sunrun, has had a remarkable career marked by innovation and success. Starting at Green Mountain Power, she disrupted the utility space by introducing innovative solutions like heat pumps and power walls. Powell's commitment to pushing innovation and serving people sets her apart as a leader. Her dedication to creating a consumer-led revolution for a sustainable planet drives her urgency and vision for the future.
Love and Urgency in Leadership
Powell's leadership style is characterized by love and urgency. She emphasizes the importance of emotional connection, freedom, and accountability in driving success. Powell's deep emotional connection to her work, rooted in love for people and the planet, fuels her sense of urgency to create meaningful change. By steering the culture towards innovation and consumer empowerment, Powell navigates challenges with truth and optimism.
Creating a Collaborative Culture for Success
Powell believes in creating a collaborative culture where everyone owns the organization's success. By aligning individuals with the company's mission and fostering emotional connectivity, Powell nurtures a sense of belonging and purpose. She steers the organization towards customer obsession, innovation, and sustainable practices. Her approach emphasizes radical ownership, continuous learning, and the power of a united team.
Navigating Personal Challenges with Resilience
Despite professional success, Mary Powell has faced personal challenges, including fertility issues and family health crises. Through resilience and a growth mindset, she confronted these challenges head-on. Powell's ability to navigate tough times with grace and determination reflects her strength and character. By sharing her experiences, she inspires others to persevere and find inner strength during adversity.
Overcoming Personal Challenges
The speaker shares a series of personal struggles, including multiple miscarriages, the loss of her mother, a house fire, and health challenges. Despite these adversities, she emphasizes the importance of resilience and finding strength in difficult times. By sharing her experiences, she highlights the power of perseverance and the ability to overcome hardships.
Empowering Customer Choices
The importance of making sustainable and innovative choices, such as electrifying homes and driving electric vehicles, is highlighted. The speaker discusses how these decisions can positively impact the environment and individuals' lives. By empowering customers to make informed choices, the focus shifts towards creating a cleaner and more sustainable future.
Future of Energy Innovation
The podcast delves into the future of energy innovation, focusing on the transition to electrified homes and the integration of electric vehicles. The speaker emphasizes the transformative potential of these technologies in enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. By envisioning a future where homes and cars are interconnected in sustainable energy systems, the conversation underscores the importance of embracing innovative solutions for a greener tomorrow.
Mary Powell joined the Sunrun team as CEO in August of 2021. Since she has joined the company her vision has been made clear, CUSTOMER OBSESSION. Marys passion for people comes through in this podcast, and her ability to connect, lead, and inspire are truly apparent.
But It hasn't been all "sunshine and rainbows" for Mary. Hearing her stories of overcoming loss and hardship, its easy to see why the people around her feel her empathy.
Lots of nuggets in this episode. Listen and enjoy!
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