FIND PEOPLE WHO EMPOWER YOU.
“ONCE YOU FIND PEOPLE WHO ‘UNDERSTAND YOU’, THEY’LL BE THE ONES WHO WILL EMPOWER YOU TO OVERCOME ANY CHALLENGES”
Laura Genao is the Managing Director of State Regulatory Affairs for Southern California Edison (SCE). In her role, she leads the company’s San Francisco office, which advocates on issues pending before the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC), including rates, transmission siting, safety, and procurement policy. Her job is to help explain to the CPUC what SCE’s major issues are and how to best resolve them. Prior to taking the position in San Francisco, Laura was based in the company’s Rosemead office and was the manager of Regulatory and Legislative Matters in the Renewable and Alternative Power group, where she coordinated the development of the company’s policies regarding renewable electricity and alternative power.
An attorney by trade, Laura began her career at SCE as a regulatory attorney working on issues such as long-term procurement planning, cost recovery for new generation and capital, and the development of a regulatory framework for greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
Through her experience, she’s learned to understand that not every place is made for “everyone”. However, she believes that there are “people for everyone” even at large organizations. Laura says, “The challenge is finding those that help you see yourself most honestly. Finding those people requires trial and error. Try engaging with employee resource groups to see if there are people with similar interests. Once you find people who ‘understand you’, they’ll be the ones who will empower you to overcome any challenges”.
At Edison, Laura has been a big ally of the company’s LGBTQ+ employee resource group, Lighthouse. She reveals that her experience is constantly evolving. Due to her physical location being in San Francisco, attending in-person events in Rosemead can be challenging. However, she commends Lighthouse’s board members who consistently reach out and keep her updated. “I know board members change, but I love that wherever I am and whatever I’m doing for work, they always reach out and say “Hey, here’s what we’re up to. Join us.”
We asked Laura a few questions about her career and work at Edison:
What are challenges personally and professionally that you’ve experienced and how have you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges I have faced at Edison is being a liberal arts-trained person working among technical engineering-type people. I identify this as a challenge because how problems and solutions are identified are oftentimes defined by how people are inclined to see the world. Sometimes technical people will push a technical solution, when the problem doesn’t really require a technical solution. It’s rewarding to find common ground and find solutions together.
What’s something you think most people don’t know about Edison that you think they should?
Our work is incredibly complex, but it needs to be explained to regulators, legislators, and internal management in a way that cuts through the complexity. This creates an opportunity for good communicators in a field that is not always thought of as needing that kind of talent.
What’s the most memorable piece of career advice you’ve received?
When I interviewed for a job as a student reporter at Newsweek magazine in the late 80s, I had no experience in journalism. However, I was enthusiastic and curious. When he called me to offer me the job, the editor said, “You have significantly less experience than everyone I interviewed, but I like you. The job is yours.” I’ve been lucky to find some great people here. Some who were patient enough to teach me and some who I have found enthusiastic and curious. Maybe he didn’t give me the right advice, but I always took this experience to mean, “Hire people with potential who have the capacity to learn. It’ll make work more fun.”
