Leadership Presence: Interview with Mari McClure

Episode Two: Leadership Presence

Interview with Mari McClure

• “As a CEO, I have found the relationship between responsiveness and presence hard to reconcile. It has almost felt like, when I am very present, I am not very responsive. And when I’m really responsive, I am not very present.  Being self aware about it …  I have prioritized presence.”
• ”The most strategic thing I do is stay engaged with our customers.”
• “Whether talking to a board member, a customer or a line worker who works for us, I know I am present when I hear both what they say and how they feel.”

Erik interviews Mari McClure, President and CEO of Green Mountain Power (GMP), a clean energy company featured this week in the NYT (Vermont Utility Plans to End Outages by Giving Customers Batteries) because of its pioneering programs to reduce costs and carbon, while increasing reliability. GMP made Time’s list of “100 Most Influential Companies” and Fast Company’s “Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in North America.” 

Mari stepped into her current role at the start of 2020 after years with GMP leading transformational work across the company, building strong teams, and motivating employees to serve customers. Prior to her time at GMP earned her law degree from the University of Buffalo School of Law in 2006, where she was captain of the women’s basketball team from 1997-2001.  Tune in to learn how Mari’s underdog team beat powerhouse UNC.

Recognized as a transformational leader, Mari discusses pushing limits and questioning the status quo. “I’ve never thought to myself that I reached my full potential. It was always motivating for me to think there was more in life for me to find, to get better at. There was always more out there in the world - I have always felt that way at GMP, too … a drive to continually find new things and get better.”