Marcy Reed, President – Massachusetts, National Grid
Interview with Ms. Marcy Reed, conducted by EUCI, September, 2016
Marcy Reed: I went to grad school right out of college, so my first real job was after that. I was a staff accountant at Coopers & Lybrand (today it’s PWC). I worked there, because I wanted to have lots of different clients in various industries to see what I actually might want to do some day.E: What does the first hour of your day look like?
MR: I get up at 5 and stumble into the shower. After that, I feed the pet rabbit, empty the dishwasher, and then sit in front of my computer with my cup of coffee. Peaceful!
E: Who are your role models? Mentors?
MR: My parents. My dad was always good with people and enjoyed running a local plastics plant. Employees seemed to be inspired by him. My mom taught me how to juggle many balls at once and still does today.
E: Looking back, what one piece of advice would you give your younger self?
MR: Remember that you work to have a life, not live to work.
E: What is one book or reference you recommend to be a better leader?
MR: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
E: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
MR: Enjoying my colleagues and customers at National Grid and continuing to make a difference.
E: Where do you see women in the industry in 5 years?
MR: There will be more women in C-suite positions and a strong pipeline in middle management. With continued focus, there will also be more female college engineering students ready to enter the ranks.
E: When I hire, I want?
MR: A good attitude
E: Do you recall any advice that shaped your career?
MR: Do something that makes you uncomfortable. Two bosses told me this when they were asking me to take assignments outside my area of expertise. Both of those roles shaped who I am today.
E: What was an “Aha moment?”
MR: I’m naive by nature, so there are many aha moments. An early one might be that internal and external politics really do dictate much of what we do.
E: What are your goals for 2017?
MR: Continue to eat healthy foods with my husband, enjoy time off with my 2 college kids, and work with key industry stakeholders to get more natural gas capacity into New England.
E: What does success mean to you?
MR: When I was 25 it was to get promoted. Almost 30 years later, it’s to help team members grow and develop
E: Tell us about your biggest flop?
MR: Not building relationships with key peers as well as I could have.
E: Do you have any hidden talents?
MR: I’m pretty good at do-it-yourself home projects and I love working out in the yard with my leaf blower and chainsaw! (Thank you, dad!)
E: What was your childhood dream?
MR: To be a bank president. I liked counting money.
E: What does your power suit look like?
MR: Black pencil skirt, white blouse or cami, and an interesting jacket
E: What is the one character trait you can point to that made your success possible?
MR: [The] ability to speak confidently with absolutely anyone
E: What is your take on Work- Life Balance?
MR: It’s achieved over time. Some days you’re a better worker than mom/partner/daughter, and some days you’re a better mom/partner/daughter than worker. Don’t try to get it equally balanced every single day.