Key Challenges Encountered While Integrating EV Solutions into Existing Operations

Capacity with the utilities is a pain point we all share globally. The infrastructure is currently catching up to the demand, but some of those upgrades aren’t slated to begin for several years. The uptick in EV installation coming at a time when supply chains are struggling globally to keep up with things like transformers has put all the diligent planning we've all done to a test with schedules pushing out daily.

Navigating Regulatory and Compliance Complexities When Executing EV Programs

Having the right partners in place is a first step. We’ve been very particular about the firms we're partnering with to install EVs on our team, and from that select pool, we look at the strengths they can bring to a particular region. Having those regional connections to the people behind the scenes enforcing the regulations and reviewing permit sets still goes a long way. Especially after going through the pandemic, where we all became emails in an inbox or boxes on a Zoom meeting, the personal connection that a quick phone call or a face-to-face meeting can yield can be the difference in how quickly a permit is approved.

"Embracing the chaos, celebrating the wins, and reminding yourself of all the things that you’ve accomplished is important and one of the core focuses of leading a team"

Experiences That Empowered You to Gain Expertise in Project Management, Program Management, Business Process Improvement, Project Planning, and Database Administration

I often say that project management is just inherent to my personality. I began my career with the Department of Defense right out of college, stepping into a role at DARPA, where I supported their public release process. The first role was pretty database-heavy, just moving cases along through a system, but I quickly started trying to optimize the process to move cases along quickly. I ended up working with my leadership to rewrite a Pentagon directive on the public release process that ultimately increased efficiencies and lessened the review time. During that, I found myself working cross-functionally with high-ranking military and civilian leadership and essentially reworking the program. That moment in my career so early on gave me confidence in my ability to herd the cats effectively as a good project manager does, and somewhat demystified working with senior leadership. After that start of my career, I moved into a private sector role where I had the opportunity to help build a PMO and further test my skills in project and program management. Finding my way to the EV space was a bit serendipitous, but the stars aligned for me to use my decade of experience as a PM and be part of the beginning of this industry with Electrify America. I was fortunate to have leadership who mentored me on the EV side while also empowering me to use my “stack of truth” on the PM side to improve the installation and real estate processes.

Jumping into this role at BP Pulse was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up, as I felt it combined all aspects of my previous careers into one position. I could use the foundation I’d built with all those experiences to help with the energy transition the company is committed to and still have plenty of room to grow outside of my comfort zone in a very exciting environment.

Advice for Other Senior Leaders and CXOs Working in the EV Sector

It’s not often that one is given the opportunity to be a leader in a revolutionary industry. In our case, we're at the forefront of a transportation revolution with EVs and the infrastructure. I always tell my team to remember this and to have fun while doing it. We are all working hard to build these foundations, so let’s make this hard work as fun as possible. Embracing the chaos, celebrating the wins, and reminding yourself of all the things that you’ve accomplished is important and one of the core focuses of leading a team.