In this fast-paced business landscape—where striving for customer satisfaction, operational excellence, and financial strength are daily challenges—it’s easy to forget that behind every logo, every slogan, and every advertisement, there are people – individuals with aspirations and unique personalities. These personalities, when they come together under a particular brand umbrella, make up the overall personality of that brand. This personality sheds light on what it’s like to interact with them, thereby guiding people—customers, clients, and partners—to choose one company over another.
Personality, in this context, can’t be forced. Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group, states, “Too many companies want their brands to reflect some idealized, perfected image of themselves. As a consequence, their brands acquire no texture, no character.”
Personality, in this context, can’t be forced. Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group, states, “Too many companies want their brands to reflect some idealized, perfected image of themselves. As a consequence, their brands acquire no texture, no character.”
Brands devoid of character are mere shadows in a sea of sameness.
Enter U2030: Cultivating Authentic Connections
Embracing the ethos that genuine human connections and a shared purpose drive success, the Utility 2030 Collaborative (U2030) entered the market in 2020. Stepping into the tumult of the COVID-19 pandemic, our role became crystal clear: scrap our original plans and assist utilities in navigating unprecedented challenges.
Since then, the personality of U2030 has evolved organically—akin to a fine wine—through personal interactions among our members based on challenges unique to utility companies. Whether virtual or during our energetic events that embody the best of kinesthetic learning, our brand identity has crystallized over the last four years from triumphs, shared struggles, and collaborative problem-solving.
As Malcolm X once proclaimed, “Adversity breeds improvement.” And in the crucible of challenges, U2030 has emerged resilient because of traits that include visionary, authentic, empathetic, and dare we say it – fun. These adjectives are echoed in conversations throughout the industry (and beyond), depicting who we are (our personality).
Enter U2030: Cultivating Authentic Connections
Embracing the ethos that genuine human connections and a shared purpose drive success, the Utility 2030 Collaborative (U2030) entered the market in 2020. Stepping into the tumult of the COVID-19 pandemic, our role became crystal clear: scrap our original plans and assist utilities in navigating unprecedented challenges.
Since then, the personality of U2030 has evolved organically—akin to a fine wine—through personal interactions among our members based on challenges unique to utility companies. Whether virtual or during our energetic events that embody the best of kinesthetic learning, our brand identity has crystallized over the last four years from triumphs, shared struggles, and collaborative problem-solving.
As Malcolm X once proclaimed, “Adversity breeds improvement.” And in the crucible of challenges, U2030 has emerged resilient because of traits that include visionary, authentic, empathetic, and dare we say it – fun. These adjectives are echoed in conversations throughout the industry (and beyond), depicting who we are (our personality).
Meta Leadership: Harnessing Influence Beyond Authority
At the heart of U2030 are our board members— Ahmad Ababneh, Jody Allison, Agit Apte, Brandy Bolden, Chima Chijioke, Chris Hilborn, Frankie McDermott, Luke Peterson, and Sean Vanslyke. These visionaries are what Harvard’s NPLI (National Leadership Preparedness Initiative) describes as Meta Leaders. They lead not with autocratic authority, but with influence that transcends hierarchy. “Influence beyond authority” is what the NPLI calls it, a framework that is thoroughly described in the book, “You’re It: Crisis, Change, and How to Lead When it Matters Most”. Their embodiment of our core adjectives inspires others to join the U2030 quest for a brighter future, an organization that unites people through a shared purpose with the vision that no one faces transformation challenges alone.
At the heart of U2030 are our board members— Ahmad Ababneh, Jody Allison, Agit Apte, Brandy Bolden, Chima Chijioke, Chris Hilborn, Frankie McDermott, Luke Peterson, and Sean Vanslyke. These visionaries are what Harvard’s NPLI (National Leadership Preparedness Initiative) describes as Meta Leaders. They lead not with autocratic authority, but with influence that transcends hierarchy. “Influence beyond authority” is what the NPLI calls it, a framework that is thoroughly described in the book, “You’re It: Crisis, Change, and How to Lead When it Matters Most”. Their embodiment of our core adjectives inspires others to join the U2030 quest for a brighter future, an organization that unites people through a shared purpose with the vision that no one faces transformation challenges alone.
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