This paper profiles an experienced HR Director at Duke Energy, one of the largest power companies in the United States, examining her career trajectory from radiation protection technician to senior human resources leader. The profile highlights her role in designing an award-winning diversity and inclusion strategy, her responsibilities in talent management, strategic workforce planning, and executive coaching, as well as her community service commitments. The paper reflects on how her educational background, technical industry knowledge, and personal values have shaped her leadership philosophy and mentoring approach.
The mentor profiled here is an HR Director responsible for HR service delivery at Duke Energy, one of the largest power companies in the United States. The company supplies and delivers electricity to approximately 4 million customers in the Carolinas and the Midwest, as well as natural gas to Ohio and Kentucky. Over the course of a long and diverse career in human resources, this mentor has worn many hats and built a reputation as both an accomplished executive and a committed community leader.
She joined Duke Energy in 1981 at the Catawba Nuclear Station as a radiation protection technician — an entry point that gave her a ground-level understanding of the company and the power industry. From there, her career expanded through the areas of emergency planning, training, and strategic workforce development, providing her with an invaluable body of institutional knowledge from which to draw when advising and guiding others.
She earned a B.S. from East Carolina University, is a graduate of the UNC-Chapel Hill Executive Program, and holds a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation. Her responsibilities at Duke Energy span talent management, maintaining positive employee-employer relationships, strategic workforce planning and staffing, executive coaching, and enhancing organizational effectiveness. In addition to her corporate role, she works as a private consultant and is actively sought after as a mentor and peer coach.
One of her most significant leadership contributions has been the design of Duke Energy's current award-winning diversity and inclusion strategy. As more and more companies seek to capitalize on the talents of a diverse workforce, she has acted as a pioneer in this field, insisting that an organization's commitment to diversity be grounded in concrete policies and tangible actions — not mere words. Her approach reflects a belief that meaningful inclusion requires institutional accountability and sustained effort at every level of the organization.
"Board memberships, charitable work, and personal identity"
"Mentoring style grounded in discipline and lived experience"
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.