Month: June 2024

Originally published on NRG Insights

By NRG Editorial Voices

Culture in Focus is a series highlighting the people and culture that make us who we are. As we continue to advance, we understand the importance of not only sharing our journey, but also the values that drive us. Through these conversations, we want to pull back the curtain on our vibrant culture to showcase the stories that power our purpose.

Part two of our series features Dak Liyanearachchi, Chief Data and Technology Officer.

Born in Sri Lanka, Liyanearachchi lived in the U.K. until just over eight years ago when he moved to the U.S. In another life he would have been an acoustic guitar player, but in this one he’s a deep thinker, Beyoncé and Becky Hill fan, and occasional hang glider.

To him, “The simplest way to talk about what I do, is to say ‘I look after data and technology’,” yet he does so much more. From encouraging curiosity to building a culture that promotes continuous learning, Liyanearachchi is setting the stage for growth at NRG.

Building trust through transparency

At NRG, trust and open communication are the pillars of a successful culture. These two tenets are particularly important when collaborating across teams, a process that occurs here every day. In his third year with the company, Liyanearachchi is no stranger to using transparency and connection as a vehicle to drive that trust and open communication in his role.

“For me it’s around how do I support you and how do I make you successful? The trust comes from being open, transparent, and creating connection. Connection is really important because it breaks down barriers.”

These practices facilitate smoother conversations, guarantee that everyone’s voice is heard, and streamline problem solving. Our company’s continuous growth is propelling us toward a common purpose, and open communication will be the key to achieving that. While silos foster division, collaborative teams create room for diverse perspectives and better outcomes. By bolstering a connected culture, we’re building a solid foundation for future innovation.

Permission to fail

No question is a dumb question. In fact, Liyanearachchi would prefer you ask him about something as many times as it takes until you understand it. This value of psychological safety is one that is shared by many at NRG.

Liyanearachchi advocates for creating an environment where everyone feels safe enough to fail. This mindset provides an open space for teammates to excel, while also promoting the curiosity and perseverance they need to keep trying.

“I try and push the teams by empowering them to take some of those decisions. To do that, I have to be comfortable that everything may not work out the way we want it to. My ask of the teams is fail fast, but ask questions if you don’t understand.”

At NRG, we believe success is a journey of trial and error. Through our triumphs and reworks, one thing has remained constant — having team support along the way makes it that much more impactful when we finally achieve our goals.

There’s always room for improvement

There’s no growth in stagnation. To Liyanearachchi, learning and growing is a unique journey with no finish line — in his own words, you’ve got to, “keep putting your hand up to learn more and do more.” That’s why we’re always eager to listen, adapt, and evolve at NRG — it’s how we stay in tune with our customers’ needs.

“From an improvement perspective there’s plenty of growth. In terms of opportunities, we are evolving from a traditional energy company to a consumer company. If you ask how many companies have done that, I’m not sure there are many.”

As the world continues to modernize and technology becomes smarter, our teams are understanding every day what it means and what it takes to power a brighter future together.

Want to connect with Dak? Visit his LinkedIn.

Did you miss the first installment of the Culture in Focus series? Read more about NRG’s CFO Bruce Chung.

Stay tuned for the next installment of the Culture in Focus series.

At Comcast NBCUniversal, we recognize that military service is a commitment made by entire families, not just those in uniform. This past Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we were proud to honor the incredible sacrifices of military spouses and celebrate our teammates who are driving meaningful change for the military community.

Ami Camara: Charting a Path for Success in the Corporate World

As Comcast’s inaugural Military Spouse Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) Fellow, Ami Camara has not only advanced her career but also set a path for others to follow in her footsteps. Her story, marked by frequent relocations and the overarching demands of military life, reflects the reality many military spouses face as they struggle to maintain continuity in their professional lives.

“This fellowship has been a transformative experience for me, opening doors to opportunities I once thought were out of my reach,” Camara said. “For years, I had to put my career aspirations on hold to support my husband’s service, often turning down promising job offers and leaving positions I loved. But now, at Comcast, I’ve found a supportive environment that truly understands and accommodates the unique challenges of being a military spouse.”

“As I continue to build my career here, I hope my journey inspires other military spouses to pursue their own professional goals, knowing that with the right support, they too can succeed,” she added.

Following her fellowship, Camara transitioned into a permanent role as Customer Project Manager. She also looks forward to joining Comcast’s Veterans Network (VetNet) employee resource group, where she can mentor and support military spouses like herself.

Mona Dexter: Leading by Example

Mona Dexter serves as the Vice President of Military and Veteran Affairs at Comcast NBCUniversal. As a former military spouse and the mother of a service member, she has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by military families. Her leadership and insight are invaluable in shaping our company’s efforts to support this community.

“Military spouses are often overlooked in the workforce due to confusing resumes and frequent career breaks. Despite being highly educated and skilled, we face a staggering unemployment rate of over 20%, which is nearly four times higher than the national average,” Dexter said. “It’s essential that we recognize the value of military spouses in the workplace and provide opportunities that foster inclusivity and growth.”

Under Dexter’s guidance, Comcast NBCUniversal has continued to lead the way in corporate advocacy for military spouses. Notably, in 2023, we were among the nation’s first employers to endorse the HOH and Blue Star Families’ 4+1 Commitment. We also renewed our commitment to the Department of Defense’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership and sponsored the Society for Human Resource Management’s new guidebook, MISSION-READY, which outlines strategies and best practices for hiring and empowering military-connected talent.

Lucy Bustamante: A Voice for Veterans and Their Families

Lucy Bustamante, an Emmy-winning news anchor and journalist for NBC10 and Telemundo62, channels her passion for advocacy into her reporting. As the spouse of a Navy veteran, she brings authenticity and urgency to her coverage of issues that impact the military community.

“The strength of our military is as much about remembering the needs of those who support at home as those who serve overseas,” Bustamante said. “For me, it’s about more than reporting—it’s about making an impact on a not always understood community. I’m honored to share the stories of our nation’s service members and their families. There is so much to translate.”

Bustamante created the “American Vets” reporting series, where she and the teams at NBC Philadelphia and NBC News dive deep into issues such as mental health, veteran homelessness, and accessing benefits. Her work not only raises awareness but also presses for necessary social changes and support systems that can improve the lives of veterans.

As a recognized Military Spouse Friendly® Employer, Comcast NBCUniversal is committed to creating an environment where military spouses can thrive. We offer several benefits and supportive programs, including Military Spouse Transfer Assistance and a dedicated Military Concierge service, designed to foster professional growth and stability.

Through initiatives led by advocates like Mona Dexter and the visibility raised by voices like Lucy Bustamante, we continue to set a high standard for corporate support of military families. Meanwhile, trailblazers like Ami Camara exemplify the potential for personal and professional growth when such support is available.

On this special day and every day, we honor the critical role military spouses play in their communities and at Comcast NBCUniversal.

Pepco | The Source

Our Pepco teams recently achieved a significant milestone in the Capital Grid project with the successful upgrade and energization of Pepco’s Harvard substation. This work marks a crucial step toward enhancing the reliability of the local energy grid, supporting the growth of renewable energy and enabling more economic development in the region.

The Harvard substation was built in 1907 and has served the area for more than 100 years. While well maintained, some equipment was very old and approaching the end of its intended service life. Upgrades to the substation included installing high-capacity transformers and feeders and modernizing equipment, connecting the substation to a new networked system, and improving the substation exterior while reflecting community input and preserving historical significance. With the flip of a switch, power now flows through the upgraded substation, illuminating homes and businesses and paving the way for a more resilient future.

This achievement is the result of hard work, innovation, and strong collaboration with the local community. Learn more about the project in this video.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

As a native Spanish speaker who was born in Ecuador and came with her family to the United States when she was two months old, Mayra Riera said she has long had a desire to help people in the Hispanic community and found that working in banking was a great way to do it.

“My mom didn’t speak English and didn’t know anything about financial literacy when I was growing up,” said Riera, who is based in Minneapolis. “When my younger brothers were in middle school, she got a job and opened her first bank account for herself. Helping her with that piqued my interest and it’s the main reason I started working in banking.”

Riera has been working in the financial services industry since 2008, starting as a teller and working in other roles that included underwriter, personal loan originator and personal banker, most recently for a community bank based in Iowa.

When she heard that U.S. Bank was hiring bilingual people to learn to be mortgage loan officers, Riera jumped at the opportunity.

“I was really intrigued,” she said. “I want to be able to help the Hispanic community and give them more financial knowledge so they can reach their goals.”

Riera joined U.S. Bank as one of 11 people in the cohort being trained for mortgage loan officer positions as part of the bank’s Access Home initiative, which is part of U.S. Bank Access Commitment®, the bank’s long-term approach to help close the wealth gap for underserved communities, including communities of color. Access Commitment initially focused on the Black community, and expanded to include the Hispanic community last year, where the wealth gaps are the largest.

“The Hispanic community has a disproportionate rate of homeownership in the U.S.,” said Sodi Nichols, head of national diverse markets and affordable lending. “By having bilingual mortgage loan officers who speak both English and Spanish, we can better serve the Hispanic community and help provide greater access to homeownership.

“The vision for us is to invest the time and resources needed to welcome new-to-industry, future sales leaders to U.S. Bank,” she said. “This aligns with our public commitment to increase representation in mortgage sales.”

Some of the cohort members came from other positions within U.S. Bank while many of them came from outside the company, Nichols said. They will participate in a yearlong training and development program.

“After that, they will be well-positioned to be successful, high-producing mortgage loan officers for the organization,” Nichols said.

Riera said she has enjoyed the program so far and is excited to begin working with Hispanic customers.

“I worked as an interpreter for patients at a medical center once but wasn’t cut out for it because I was only allowed to repeat what doctors or nurses were saying and wasn’t allowed to give advice to people when I wanted to,” she said. “Now I will be able to provide people with financial literacy and help give them the tools they need in order to buy homes.”