Every year at Itron Inspire, we make it a priority to celebrate women in utilities. This year, we commemorated a decade of doing just that. The milestone included a dedicated luncheon with a keynote from Maria Bocanegra, president of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, who shared her unconventional journey to executive leadership, highlighting pivotal moments that shaped her career and the leader she is today. Here are a few of our top takeaways.

Overcoming imposter syndrome starts with knowing it’s there.

Maria began by describing one of the earliest cases she worked on in her former career as a lawyer, where she was investigating a workplace bully. After months of investigation, she cracked the case: It was imposter syndrome. “There she was, in my shadow, in my ear, challenging my success. And, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the evidence showed that every woman and man in this room deserves to be here, has value and has worth,” Bocanegra said. Her relatable introduction set the tone for what felt less like a conference luncheon and more like a conversation with a mentor that made you feel heard and seen. 

Everything starts and ends with empowerment. 
When thinking about the message she wanted to share at Itron Inspire, the word that kept coming up for Maria was ‘empower.’ “Empowerment starts at a young age. I had a single mother who was tough and expected a lot. She is my inspiration. I draw a lot of my own empowerment from having watched her work three jobs to make ends meet.” 

One aspect of empowerment that Maria feels is essential yet often overlooked is being in the right state of mind. On a recent phone call with her mom, she was reminded that she’s maintained a tenacious mindset since childhood. “When I was younger, I never said I couldn’t or wouldn’t do anything. I said I was going to become a lawyer and I did it. Empowerment is a mindset,” Bocanegra said. 

Another element is the growth that comes from our trials and tribulations. Maria emphasized that even the most difficult challenges can serve as catalysts for building resilience and strengthening our purpose. “We quite literally beat the odds. My mom beat the odds associated with fatherless children and households. We beat socioeconomic and cultural stereotypes. I became the first in any generation of my family to go to college,” Bocanegra said. 

Finally, empowerment is selfless. “If there’s nothing else you take away, let it be this: When we choose to lead and act, it must be selfless. Without any expectation for a job promotion, title or favor. You do it because it’s the right thing to do, and because you respect yourself and others,” Bocanegra said. She also noted that empowerment comes from other people, like her mother, colleagues and mentors. 

We are the champions of our own success. 

Change begins with each of us. Maria emphasized the importance of being honest with yourself and recognizing that there is always progress to be made in breaking down the systems and culture that keep women at 29% in a male-dominated industry. She stressed that true empowerment comes from advocating for ourselves and each other and moving the needle on that 29%.

Maria reminded us that every action matters — going after what we want, saying yes to opportunities and continually raising the bar. “Just because you’re at the table doesn’t mean you’ll be fed. When you know that what got you here won’t get you there, you can advocate for yourself to move forward,” Bocanegra said.

A huge and heartfelt thank you to Maria Bocanegra for her authenticity, vulnerability and insights. It was the perfect way to celebrate the 10 years of Women Who Inspire. Here’s to 10 more! 

For the rest of Maria’s insights, watch the full session here.