To help us mark International Women’s Day 2023, JE’s Non-Executive director Kayte O’Neill shares her thoughts and experiences of working in the energy industry.
Tell us about your career path in the energy industry
Having started my career on the Graduate Scheme at National Grid I worked my way through a series of roles across all parts of the business. Today I sit on the Exec Committee and Board of National Grid ESO and hold two Non-Executive Director roles - including my role on the Board of JE.
My career started in regulation, getting a strong grounding in how regulated businesses earn money and drive value for consumers. I went on to more customer facing roles and learned important lessons about building trust and delivering great service for customers and stakeholders.
With that strong foundation I moved into strategic leadership roles where I have led large teams and developed business, market and regulatory strategies for our UK and US businesses. Most recently I’ve moved into a large scale business transformation and I’m facing my most challenging and rewarding role yet – standing up a brand new business that will serve at the heart of the energy system ensuring that Great Britain takes a ‘whole system’ approach to delivering net zero.
I’m passionate about what we’re collectively trying to achieve in the energy space and I truly believe there’s no better industry to be in right now!
Have there been female mentors who have inspired you in your career?
My earliest inspiration came from my mum and godmother, both taught me to aim high, believe in my own potential and work hard to achieve it. This has served me so well as I’ve progressed as a female leader with an economics background in a traditionally male dominated and engineering focussed industry – often pushing beyond my comfort zone.
Throughout my career I’ve been inspired by so many brilliant women who have sponsored, coached and mentored me - shown me what it looks like to be your authentic self and to lead with compassion. I try to pay it forward by fulfilling that same sponsor / mentor / coach role for many women (and men!) across the industry.
Do you have any tips or advice for women building their careers?
1) Always be curious and keep pushing the boundaries of what you thought was possible
2) Network – invest time and effort in building and maintaining strong relationships within and outside your own organisation, and
3) Say yes to opportunities.
What is the value of having more women in leadership roles?
Diversity in leadership is always important – we know that teams with diverse leadership perform better than those which lack diversity. Equally important though, is that having more women in leadership will unlock talent and potential throughout the organisation and beyond. I love the phrase ‘if I can see it, I can be it’. I know it’s true for my own daughters as they are looking around them, imagining all the things that are possible for their future careers.
