Kelly Carney | Southwest Power Pool | Vice President, Human Capital & Chief People Officer
Career Evolution…I have worked in a variety of industries in my career from healthcare and professional services to the government sector, insurance and now, energy. It has been fascinating to learn about the energy industry and everything and everyone working to keep the lights on in our communities and businesses.
Beginning Interests…I started college without a clear career direction and actually went to my college placement office and took a series of tests focused on my interests. I selected human resources and completed an internship my junior year of college and have stayed in the profession ever since.
Day at Work…I am still fairly new to the energy industry so I am spending a lot of time in training classes and getting to know my teams, Southwest Power Pool employees and our stakeholders.
LOVE the Work… I love finding the right people for the right jobs and being part of a team making our organization a great place to work and build a career. One of my favorite quotes is by Mark Twain: ‘Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.’
Surprising but True…The variety of jobs that are available surprises a lot of people when looking at the energy industry. As expected, we have a lot of engineering positions but there are many other careers as well – we have employees working in information technology, operations, project management, compliance, public relations, customer service, finance and many more. Choosing a career in STEAM opens up a lot of different opportunities.
Advice…Focus on choosing a career based on your interests and strengths, something you are passionate about. Talk to everyone you know about their careers; there are so many types of jobs that you never knew existed that could be perfect for you!
These wonder women are redefining what “full STEAM ahead” means in Arkansas. With exciting careers in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics – each reflects WIT (Women in Tech) and true grit for making the most of every opportunity. Here’s to the powHER of knowledge.
Photography by Sarah Oden
