Women Leaders Shaping the Future of Energy
Electricity is fundamental to nearly every aspect of modern life. It powers major industries, small businesses, homes and communities, enabling people to work, connect, pursue their interests and build for the future. Against this backdrop, the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans became the venue for an important discussion about the growing influence of women in shaping the future of the U.S. utility sector.
The conversation took place during the Global Black Economic Forum Business Summit. Moderated by John Hudson, Entergy’s chief external affairs officer, the panel brought together two prominent leaders from the utility industry: Colette Honorable, chief legal officer, compliance and corporate secretary at Exelon, and Nicole Daggs, executive vice president of human resources and corporate services at NextEra.
Hudson opened the session by welcoming attendees to the Gulf South, a region playing an increasingly important role in the transformation of the American energy sector. He outlined several forces driving change across the industry, including grid modernization, the transition toward cleaner energy, changing customer expectations and the growing need for operational resilience.
As the industry undergoes these significant changes, Hudson emphasized that developing the next generation of energy professionals must remain a central priority. He also highlighted the importance of increasing opportunities for women to take on leadership roles and contribute to the direction of the industry.
“I had the privilege of moderating a powerful conversation on women leading the future of the utility industry. Grateful to join Exelon’s Colette Honorable and NextEra’s Nicole Daggs—two exceptional leaders whose insights on leadership and preparing the next generation were truly inspiring,” said Hudson. “I left encouraged by the momentum and the growing community of women driving our industry forward.”
The panel began by examining the challenges facing utilities today. The discussion covered a broad range of issues, including affordability concerns, aging infrastructure, regulatory engagement and the rapid development of new technologies. At the same time, the panelists pointed to significant opportunities to upgrade the electric grid, expand the use of digital technologies and make greater use of data to better anticipate and respond to customer needs.
A recurring theme was the importance of ensuring that the benefits of modernization are shared broadly. As utilities invest in new infrastructure and technologies, Hudson and the panelists stressed the need to remain attentive to customers who may be most affected by higher costs and other changes.
Entergy’s Fair Share Plus pledge was highlighted as an example of an approach designed to manage the opportunities associated with data centers locating within utility service territories. The initiative reflects an effort to support economic development while protecting existing customers and ensuring that communities hosting these facilities can share in the resulting benefits.
Honorable and Daggs also offered perspectives based on their experiences leading organizations through large-scale transformation. They discussed the importance of making difficult decisions during periods of uncertainty and maintaining clear direction when organizations are undergoing significant change.
Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, automation and advanced grid intelligence, were identified as forces already changing the way utilities conduct their operations. Both panelists stressed, however, that technological advancement cannot come at the expense of reliability. Successful modernization, they said, requires leaders who can balance innovation with the industry's fundamental responsibility to provide dependable service.
“AI is not something we should be fearful of, what we have seen at our company is just the opposite – we give our employees the opportunity to experiment, to pilot and use AI as their superpower,” said Daggs. “Whether it’s to look for a job, to think about an opportunity, to come up with a business idea our community needs to embrace it because we can really use it to elevate ourselves.”
Resilience was another major focus of the conversation. The panelists described resilience as something that extends beyond physical infrastructure to include workforce preparedness, customer relationships and community confidence. Utilities, they noted, have an important role in assisting vulnerable customers, strengthening community engagement and maintaining open and transparent communication.
Long-term resilience also depends on investments in community partnerships, targeted customer programs and employee development. These efforts can help utilities respond more effectively to changing conditions while strengthening the communities they serve.
The discussion then shifted toward the future of the utility workforce, with particular attention to opportunities for women entering the energy industry. The panelists noted that the sector encompasses virtually every major business discipline, including engineering, customer service, accounting, finance, law, communications and public relations.
Regardless of a person's specific area of expertise, Daggs and Honorable identified several qualities that will be increasingly important for future leaders. These include adaptability, comfort with digital technologies, collaboration across organizational functions and the ability to make decisions and lead effectively in uncertain circumstances.
Both leaders also reflected on their own professional experiences and the decisions that helped shape their careers. They discussed the value of finding mentors and sponsors, developing professional influence, building confidence in traditionally male-dominated environments and taking personal responsibility for career development.
“There have been several moments in my career when I thought, I’m just going to take a leap of faith and try something new and different,” said Honorable. “And now, here I am, leading at the highest level of a corporation—something I never imagined for myself. Along the way, I’ve learned that our industry isn’t just about power lines and plants; it’s about people. It’s about building resilient communities, making energy more affordable, and investing wisely so families and businesses can thrive. I share that because I want other women to know: take that leap. Believe in the possibility of your own success, even before you can see it—and know that your voice and leadership can help shape the future of energy.”
Throughout the discussion, Daggs and Honorable returned to the importance of being willing to take risks, remain curious and pursue opportunities even when the path ahead is not completely clear. Their experiences illustrated how career growth can often come from stepping outside familiar roles and accepting challenges before feeling completely prepared.
Hudson closed the session with a message directed toward women who are emerging as leaders throughout the utility sector. He encouraged them to approach their careers with confidence and urged industry leaders and colleagues to create stronger networks of mentorship and allyship.
The broader message from the conversation was clear: the transformation of the energy industry will require not only new infrastructure and technology, but also a diverse, adaptable and prepared workforce. By supporting mentorship, expanding leadership opportunities and encouraging more women to participate in shaping the sector, utilities can help build a workforce capable of meeting the challenges ahead.
The conversation took place during the Global Black Economic Forum Business Summit. Moderated by John Hudson, Entergy’s chief external affairs officer, the panel brought together two prominent leaders from the utility industry: Colette Honorable, chief legal officer, compliance and corporate secretary at Exelon, and Nicole Daggs, executive vice president of human resources and corporate services at NextEra.
Hudson opened the session by welcoming attendees to the Gulf South, a region playing an increasingly important role in the transformation of the American energy sector. He outlined several forces driving change across the industry, including grid modernization, the transition toward cleaner energy, changing customer expectations and the growing need for operational resilience.
As the industry undergoes these significant changes, Hudson emphasized that developing the next generation of energy professionals must remain a central priority. He also highlighted the importance of increasing opportunities for women to take on leadership roles and contribute to the direction of the industry.
“I had the privilege of moderating a powerful conversation on women leading the future of the utility industry. Grateful to join Exelon’s Colette Honorable and NextEra’s Nicole Daggs—two exceptional leaders whose insights on leadership and preparing the next generation were truly inspiring,” said Hudson. “I left encouraged by the momentum and the growing community of women driving our industry forward.”
The panel began by examining the challenges facing utilities today. The discussion covered a broad range of issues, including affordability concerns, aging infrastructure, regulatory engagement and the rapid development of new technologies. At the same time, the panelists pointed to significant opportunities to upgrade the electric grid, expand the use of digital technologies and make greater use of data to better anticipate and respond to customer needs.
A recurring theme was the importance of ensuring that the benefits of modernization are shared broadly. As utilities invest in new infrastructure and technologies, Hudson and the panelists stressed the need to remain attentive to customers who may be most affected by higher costs and other changes.
Entergy’s Fair Share Plus pledge was highlighted as an example of an approach designed to manage the opportunities associated with data centers locating within utility service territories. The initiative reflects an effort to support economic development while protecting existing customers and ensuring that communities hosting these facilities can share in the resulting benefits.
Honorable and Daggs also offered perspectives based on their experiences leading organizations through large-scale transformation. They discussed the importance of making difficult decisions during periods of uncertainty and maintaining clear direction when organizations are undergoing significant change.
Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, automation and advanced grid intelligence, were identified as forces already changing the way utilities conduct their operations. Both panelists stressed, however, that technological advancement cannot come at the expense of reliability. Successful modernization, they said, requires leaders who can balance innovation with the industry's fundamental responsibility to provide dependable service.
“AI is not something we should be fearful of, what we have seen at our company is just the opposite – we give our employees the opportunity to experiment, to pilot and use AI as their superpower,” said Daggs. “Whether it’s to look for a job, to think about an opportunity, to come up with a business idea our community needs to embrace it because we can really use it to elevate ourselves.”
Resilience was another major focus of the conversation. The panelists described resilience as something that extends beyond physical infrastructure to include workforce preparedness, customer relationships and community confidence. Utilities, they noted, have an important role in assisting vulnerable customers, strengthening community engagement and maintaining open and transparent communication.
Long-term resilience also depends on investments in community partnerships, targeted customer programs and employee development. These efforts can help utilities respond more effectively to changing conditions while strengthening the communities they serve.
The discussion then shifted toward the future of the utility workforce, with particular attention to opportunities for women entering the energy industry. The panelists noted that the sector encompasses virtually every major business discipline, including engineering, customer service, accounting, finance, law, communications and public relations.
Regardless of a person's specific area of expertise, Daggs and Honorable identified several qualities that will be increasingly important for future leaders. These include adaptability, comfort with digital technologies, collaboration across organizational functions and the ability to make decisions and lead effectively in uncertain circumstances.
Both leaders also reflected on their own professional experiences and the decisions that helped shape their careers. They discussed the value of finding mentors and sponsors, developing professional influence, building confidence in traditionally male-dominated environments and taking personal responsibility for career development.
“There have been several moments in my career when I thought, I’m just going to take a leap of faith and try something new and different,” said Honorable. “And now, here I am, leading at the highest level of a corporation—something I never imagined for myself. Along the way, I’ve learned that our industry isn’t just about power lines and plants; it’s about people. It’s about building resilient communities, making energy more affordable, and investing wisely so families and businesses can thrive. I share that because I want other women to know: take that leap. Believe in the possibility of your own success, even before you can see it—and know that your voice and leadership can help shape the future of energy.”
Throughout the discussion, Daggs and Honorable returned to the importance of being willing to take risks, remain curious and pursue opportunities even when the path ahead is not completely clear. Their experiences illustrated how career growth can often come from stepping outside familiar roles and accepting challenges before feeling completely prepared.
Hudson closed the session with a message directed toward women who are emerging as leaders throughout the utility sector. He encouraged them to approach their careers with confidence and urged industry leaders and colleagues to create stronger networks of mentorship and allyship.
The broader message from the conversation was clear: the transformation of the energy industry will require not only new infrastructure and technology, but also a diverse, adaptable and prepared workforce. By supporting mentorship, expanding leadership opportunities and encouraging more women to participate in shaping the sector, utilities can help build a workforce capable of meeting the challenges ahead.
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