Building the Backstop of Innovation (wsg Emmett Romine)

Building the Backstop of Innovation | Emmett Romine, VP, Customer Solutions & Innovation at Xcel Energy, joins host Gregg Garrett for a discussion on customer and channel innovation in the energy industry. Of course, Emmett shares his Top Three who include an executive who pushed him to create and be true to his personal brand, to a marketing industry executive who helped him to respect and grow the brand promise, to the vice chairman of a publicly traded company who made space for him to succeed in innovation. And you have to hear what Emmett has to say about coupling persistence with patience to be a better, braver leader About Emmett Romine Emmett Romine is the Vice President of Customer Solutions & Innovation at Xcel Energy. In his role Emmet leads corporate economic development, energy efficiency and the creation of innovative solutions that exceed the unique needs of residential and commercial customers. Before joining Xcel Energy in 2019 Emmett previously held a leadership role at Powerley, a technology company that provides utilities with solutions aimed at bridging the smart grid to the smart home. He has 20 years of utility industry experience with 13 years at DTE Energy working in areas including distribution operations, continuous improvement, finance and energy efficiency. Emmett holds a master’s degree in Finance from the Olin Business School at Washington University, St. Louis and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University. He also attended the Executive Education Program with a focus on organic growth and innovation from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Show Highlights During this episode: Fighting the antibodies that sunt innovation success [1:05] A key to innovation success: the sponsor of innovation role [3:05] Welcoming our guest, Emmett Romine [4:15] The “Top Three” Ron May: create and be true to your personal brand [10:34] Emmett’s brand: creating new thing and value propositions in the energy space [13:11] Terry Oprea: respect and grow the brand promise [17:20] The importance of trust to a brand [20:18] Dave Meador: created a backstop for innovation [23:17] Testing the resiliency of the backstop [26:43] Transformation & Disruption The convergence of the automotive and energy industries [30:11] The multi-directional flow of energy [34:59] Customer-centric, channel innovation [36:43] Building a channel to the customer [43:12] The future of work at Xcel Energy [45:22] You have to hear this… Stay in touch with Emmett via email Emmett.R.Romine@xcelenergy.com [47: 49] Persistence coupled with patience is a key to success [48:20] Additional Information Contact Emmett Romine: Emmett’s LinkedIn Xcel Energy Website Contact Gregg Garrett: Gregg’s LinkedIn Gregg’s Twitter Gregg’s Bio Contact CGS Advisors: Website LinkedIn Twitter

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You, Me, and Your Top Three is a podcast focused on exploring leadership in the connecting world. Specifically, the podcast invites leaders to tell stories, reflect, and discuss their views on: - disruptions in industry and society; - how they are leading transformations considering these disruptions - brave leadership to drive transformation. It is this last point where we focus most of the discussion, asking our guests to share their insights into the relationships they have with their “Top 3” closest advisors. It is our observation and experience that as the world connects, the importance of a diverse set of counselors is increasing in value. For some this may be a formal advisor who has been contracted on behalf of the company. For most this will be deep relationships in which they have been invested and nurtured. Through stories and discussion, we strive to celebrate the art of giving and receiving advice. The stories that are told are heartfelt and real. At the root we are exploring the process of knowledge building, relationship building, and perhaps most importantly, confidence building. After all, it takes a brave leader to battle the inertia that exists in industries, our organizations, and in ourselves. It is our hope that as successful leaders open up about around the subjects and the way in which they interact with their closest confidants, that our listeners will, in turn, reflect on their own “virtual board of advisors.” Over time they will then surround themselves with those who help them stretch toward greatness and lead bravely in the connecting world.