Proud to help transform US energy
Lorraine is passionate about inspiring other women and being part of the company’s drive towards a cleaner, greener energy mix.
As a child, I wanted to be a social worker but I ended up in finance.
During my last year in college, studying managerial accounting and finance at St Francis College in Brooklyn, New York, I interned in the finance and tax departments at a National Grid legacy company. The internship gave me the opportunity to see first hand how my local utility company was transforming and supporting underserved communities through The Cinderella Project.
The Cinderella Project, which started in the late 1960s, rehabilitated homes, stores and apartment buildings in areas situated between deteriorating and reviving neighbourhoods; with a goal to spark the fading neighborhood back to life. I was immediately drawn to its purpose and values, as these aligned with my own. So, when the opportunity to interview for the management trainee program came up, I jumped at this. Through various mergers and acquisitions, our focus on customer and community has remained at the forefront, reaffirming my personal connection to the company.
Encouraging personal growth
National Grid has provided me with so many opportunities, due to its pursuit and passion for developing leaders. The company encourages us to go outside our comfort zone or area of discipline, all in an environment that supports the growth of well-rounded individuals and broader perspectives.
Careers within careers
The opportunities that I have had over 25 plus years in the company have felt like careers within a career. I’ve put myself forward for roles that I’m not 100% qualified for and have also gained global experience. Each role allowed me to grow and develop as a leader and, while at times it was really hard, I learnt the most from those experiences and the relationships that I have built with individuals inside and outside the organization have been so valuable.
Helping US energy transition to being greener
I am so excited to be part of the US Transformation Office, helping to reshape the US business as it becomes an increasingly customer-centric clean energy company. My role allows me to leverage the experiences from being Global Head of Audit and create a center of excellence for program assurance and risk and controls. This ensures that we incorporate lessons we have learnt from previous major programs and build effective controls in the new processes we design.
It’s so important for senior women to support other women and encourage all of us to follow our dreams, embrace failure if it happens and have the courage and confidence to start again.
Bringing diversity of thought and encouragement to other women
I see senior women bringing diversity of thought to companies, enabling more holistic solutions to our most challenging and complex problems. It’s so important for senior women to support other women and encourage all of us to follow our dreams, embrace failure if it happens and have the courage and confidence to start again.
Proud to have a career ‘doing the right thing’
National Grid is committed to leading the way to a cleaner energy future. It’s an exciting time to be in a company that’s working with our communities to advance clean energy solutions and partnering with our customers to reduce consumption.
We’re committed to ‘do the right thing’ and we’ve been recognized as one of the ‘World’s Most Ethical Companies’ for the ninth time in 2020. I’m proud to work for an organisation that is recognized for, among other things, its culture of ethics and corporate citizenship.