Kevin McKenna, Managing Partner at Teleios Commodities in Houston, Texas, has accelerated his career success.
The inflection point
Kevin McKenna, Managing Partner at Teleios Commodities, Houston, Texas
He had already attained executive roles. His resume listed a myriad of coveted experiences such as acquiring and divesting intellectual property, partnering with private equity firms, leading multi-disciplinary teams, and building new revenue streams; but he could not shake the feeling of wanting more.
As an avid believer in the power of education and its ability to provide choices, Kevin knew that the right graduate program could be the career accelerant he was seeking. The question was, when could this busy executive and father of three find the time to go back to school?
Enter the Global Energy Management Program at CU Denver Business School. For over a decade, the GEM Program has been providing 100% energy-focused graduate business education to working professionals from around the world.
“I enrolled in the GEM Program because I wanted to change the slope of the trajectory of my career. My goal was to leverage what I had already done and use the GEM Program to fuel what I wanted to do,” explains Kevin.
And change the slope he did. Kevin is now a Managing Partner at Teleios Commodities, a game-changing company focused on the intersection of utilities and technology. At Teleios, Kevin oversees the company’s complex network of day-to-day operations as well as manages its strategic investments.
Growing your sphere of influence
Based in Houston, Texas, Kevin had a variety of well-respected business programs to choose from but decided on the GEM Program because of its “all-energy” approach and hybrid-online format. Kevin relates, “I wanted a program tailored to my needs as a working professional. I also recognized the competitive advantage the all-energy approach could provide for my future career opportunities.”
GEM’s blended delivery approach provides students with the best of both worlds; they benefit from the personal, in-classroom experience, and the flexibility of online learning. Most importantly, it brings together individuals from a diverse mix of energy sectors, disciplines, and locations to study the business of energy.
“The intense cohort weekends laid the foundation for the quarter; but, the time in class was just the tip of the iceberg. The real learning began with the group projects and the expertise of my classmates. I cannot think of another time or place, where I would have had the opportunity to work so closely with individuals from the renewable energy, utilities, or alternative energy sectors. Everyone comes from a unique specialty, which allows you to take a deep dive into the material,” states Kevin.
He goes on to say, “the GEM Program completely altered my sphere of influence. It served as a primer for my knowledge of the utility industry, its inner workings, and the regulations that often dictate a company’s strategy. This education helped to lay the groundwork for the early conversations I had with my current partners, ultimately contributing to my decision to join Teleios.”
Growing his ‘sphere of influence’ has always been a priority for Kevin because he views it as a cornerstone of success. Both personally and professionally, he has sought out others who help him grow and learn. “I seek inspiration from those who have come before me and those around me. The team at Teleios inspires me; we are working on a more sustainable way of bringing energy to consumers around the world,” reflects Kevin.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable
Kevin’s success has not come easily; it resulted from hard work, sacrifice, and seizing opportunities.
“I’ve been able to learn in every role I have ever had. When you stop learning on the job, it is time to be impatient and seek new opportunities. The opportunities you don’t think you are qualified for may be the ones most right for you. It is important to step outside of your comfort zone. You need to learn how to get comfortable with being uncomfortable or you will never advance,” shares Kevin.
Kevin also believes that to stay relevant, you must learn. He recognized the value of formal education for the “hard skills” of business. He relates, “as your career evolves, it is important to have a strong background in finance and accounting, or you will be at a constant disadvantage from the person sitting across the table. My GEM coursework honed my ability to use quantitative information to strategically manage company growth.”
The GEM Program is proud to have played a role in helping Kevin McKenna shift from the upstream oil and gas sector to energy commodities and accelerate his career.
