MY GREATEST CHALLENGE M
CHANGING THE GAME: VIEWS FROM THE C-SUITE More women are in C-suites because they have what it takes to lead. In this Women’s History Month edition of Women of Color magazine, a CEO, senior vice presi- dents and vice presidents take questions on leadership in business: the passion, mindset, habits you need and the challenges you encounter. They also give advice on developing a successful leadership style.
Fundamentals of Executive Leadership: The Not So Improbable Rise of Patricia Kampling Rising to the level of CEO of a $3.6 billion utility is an accomplishment for second-generation American Patricia Kampling.
One of five children—four daughters and a disabled son—born to an Irish family in Queens, N.Y., Kampling grew up watch- ing her parents balance priorities so the family could get ahead. “It took my father years to get his college degree since he could only afford to go part-time. From early on, my parents instilled in us the importance of educa- tion. It was your ticket to great things,” she said.
In 1981, Kampling gradu- ated from Swarthmore College with bachelor degrees in mechanical en- gineering and economics. She joined PECO Energy as an engineer in the Rate Division. By 1984, she’d moved up the lad- der, became a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania in 1986, and earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago in 1991.
ed getting a master’s in engineering but this was the early ‘80s and the market was just horrendous at that point— another recession era.”
By the time engineering picked up, Kampling’s career in finance had taken flight in progressive positions in treas- ury and regulatory.
Was running the business end of the business the perfect choice?
“I always knew I wanted to have a business management career,” she said. “My un- dergraduate degree hadn’t given me an opportunity to study finance, account- ing and management. So for me the M.B.A. was the education I didn’t get from my undergraduate years.”
Kampling served originally as Alliant Energy’s vice pres- ident of finance. She then transitioned into various roles such as vice president (VP) and treasurer; VP chief financial officer (CFO) and treasurer; executive vice president and CFO.
Did she encounter barriers in advancement?
Patricia Kampling CEO,Alliant Energy
“I’d be kidding you if I said I didn’t have any barriers,” Kampling replied. “But for every barrier I probably had 10 supporters or things that had gone the right way. I never looked at them as barriers; I looked at them as bumps in the road.”
Along the way, Kampling “I’d be quite honest,” Kampling said, “I had contemplat- 46 WOMENOFCOLOR | SPRING 2013
said she made sure of two things. “I joined companies I was welcomed at and I was very deliberate to surround myself with people that will be supporting me. You
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