Debra L. Reed

Our long-standing philosophy that our diverse suppliers must provide high-quality goods and services at competitive prices adds great value to our business.

To me, leadership is helping people do their best. If you define leadership that way, I don't think it's overrated.

Be willing to take on career risks.

When I look at a leader, I look at someone who is able to get exceptional performance out of others.

I'm very much a team-oriented person. I love to have diverse viewpoints because I think we make better decisions.

In terms of the energy-banking concept, what we'd love to be able to do is to act in a way where customers could deposit excess energy when they didn't need it and withdraw it when they did need it.

Both Sempra Energy and Oncor share more than 100 years of experience operating utilities that deliver safe, reliable energy to millions of customers.

With the support and dedication from employees at every level of the company, we've been successful in expanding supplier diversity in many areas, including traditionally challenging areas such as construction services, legal and professional services.

Broaden your work experience - either within your company or through your job progression in other companies.

What I tell women who want to get on corporate boards is to get connected! Do volunteer work, network in business, join community organization where you can demonstrate your leadership capabilities and other people can see your skills being applied.

I think we would define the role for us in the future as helping customers in what we would call an energy-banking concept.