Meet Our People
Laura C.
Q: How would you describe your current role at Itron? What types of things are you doing in an average week?
A: One of the things I love most about my job is that there is no “average” week! I lead a dynamic Sales Enablement and Product Marketing team in the Networked Solutions business, which represents a very diverse set of solutions across energy, water, smart cities and networking. A week could include my team working with line of business leaders or with the Outcomes and Devices teams to launch new solutions across the world. We could be working with sales leaders and customers to capture testimonials and case studies, working with solution teams to develop sales enablement materials like messaging and training. Or we could be working with corporate marketing on lead generation and positioning Itron at high-profile industry events like DISTRIBUTECH and Inspire.
Q: Being authentic can look different from person to person – what does it mean to you?
A: Being authentic is simplified in my mind to the advice we give young children – be yourself. This can be a great tool to establish rapport and build genuine connections at work, which is vital to success in any industry and powerful when coupled with consistent follow-through. However, in a professional setting, it can be a challenge to strike the right balance between “being yourself” and maintaining professionalism, credibility and mutual respect. This is a career skill you refine over time and likely through experiencing a few awkward life lessons along the way. But, as my tween daughter might say (and cringe to read), it’s important to keep it 100, even when the truth is tough to face. Taking time to internalize those lessons and feedback from people you trust will make you more self-aware and resilient while staying true to your authentic self.
Q: Itron is often described as a company with high integrity, does this resonate with you? Why?
A: Framing a mindset that is rooted in integrity is important and resonates with me in two senses of the word. The first is operating with sincerity and honesty, particularly in how my team and I approach colleagues and our work. This could mean encouraging open communication and honest, respectful debate to arrive together at the best conclusions.
The second definition that resonates with me is integrity as in a state of cohesion and stability. I see this exhibited across the company as leaders work to drive clarity and predictability across an often complex set of challenges. I see individuals throughout Itron embracing both of these definitions of integrity through interactions with each other, customers and the broader industry, affirming Itron’s reputation as a company that values integrity.
Q: What advice do you have for the next generation of female leaders?
A: Don’t be afraid to define “successful female leader” on your own terms. Rather than defaulting to the pressure of living up to curated social media feeds or “girlboss” comparative culture, take time to define what success means to you in your work. That could mean trying to find your balance of authentic individuality and professionalism to help frame your thinking and workstyle. It could mean identifying specific projects and goals that complement your individual strengths. Trust that this balance becomes easier to clarify in your mind over time, leaving you with less mental noise and more confidence to focus on making better decisions, developing and encouraging others and growing your leadership skills.
Q: What gets you excited each day to show up to work at Itron?
A: My colleagues at Itron are some of the most driven, creative, knowledgeable leaders in their fields, which creates an exciting work environment in itself! Bringing many viewpoints and skills together to help launch solutions and grow our share of the market comes with tangible and gratifying milestones. Further, it’s rewarding to help our utility and city customers share their stories, validating Itron’s mission to build a more resourceful world.
Meet Our People
Meet Our People is an Itron series highlighting the amazing humans who contribute to our company’s purpose to create a more resourceful world and help make Itron a great place to work. Profile content is written by each individual and authentic to their personal employee experience and how they uphold Itron’s values every day.
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