Lighting the Way for the Next Generation

We caught up with Sharene Pierce (MBA ‘22), vice president of talent acquisition and chief diversity and inclusion officer at Duke Energy, more than a year after she was featured as a Deacon spotlight by the WFU Alumni & Personal Career Development Center. Sharene’s decision to pursue an MBA is one she did not take lightly; taking 10 years to heed her mentor’s advice! Now, she is lighting the way in the future for new team members to do the same.

The spotlight below is a collaboration of questions compiled by both the Wake Forest Alumni & Personal Career Development Center and the School of Business Alumni Engagement team, including updates from Sharene herself.

What career experiences did you have prior to landing your current job and leading to where you are now?

Sharene: After graduating with an engineering degree in 2001, I started full-time with Duke Energy. I’ve worked directly with customers and have solved detailed engineering challenges. One of my most fulfilling roles was as account executive for large accounts including the City of Raleigh, RDU and Wake County Public School Systems. My new HR role is an exciting new challenge after 20+ years in operations.

Tell us more about your current role with Duke Energy.

Sharene: Duke Energy, an investor-owned utility headquartered in Charlotte, is leading one of the largest clean energy transitions in the nation. As we strive towards our clean energy future, we aspire to reflect the communities we serve. Each day, my team shares rewarding career opportunities with our communities and invests time in nurturing a workplace where everyone can thrive.

Have you been mentored by anyone? If so, what impact has that relationship had on you?

Sharene: I have been blessed to have many wonderful mentors over the past 20 years. As a black woman in a predominantly white male field many, but not all, of those supportive mentors have been white males. Mentors helped me hone my skills as an engineer and successfully attain my professional engineering licensure. Several mentors helped me transition from a technical role to a customer facing role where relationships and communication were key. Lastly, several executive mentors supported me as a new vice president learning to lead at an enterprise level. Mentors from various backgrounds are key to your success in any field that you pursue.

How has the MBA degree shaped your career?

Sharene: Based on my career aspirations, one mentor recommended obtaining my MBA. Admittedly, I was a bit stubborn and waited 10 years to follow that great advice! As an operational leader with 20 years of experience, the MBA opened up the opportunity to pivot my career into non-operational areas.

What was your favorite Wake Forest MBA experience?

Sharene: There were so many enriching experiences that it is challenging to select just one. However, the one experience that had the most profound impact on me was pursuing a concentration in finance. My primary goal in business school was to develop and strengthen my financial acumen. Rigorous courses such as analytics, corporate finance and economics helped build a financial mental model that I now use on a daily basis. Some of my favorite assignments were modeling an LBO [leveraged buyout]!

What did you learn from your first job?

Sharene: I started with Duke Energy as an engineering intern the summer of 2000 between my junior and senior year. They offered part-time work throughout my senior year and a full-time position after graduation. Essentially, I’ve been with the company for over 24 years. Summer internships are excellent ways to get real world experience that can help you land your real-world job.

What advice would you give to current students and/or young alumni who are about to start their first professional job?

Sharene: Wake Forest is an excellent university and will provide you the tools you need to be successful. Take advantage of the professional development resources available to you as a student and then as an alumnus. In addition to your manager with your employer, seek out someone you admire to be an additional source of advice and guidance. Often, new employees rely solely on their direct manager. It is helpful to have multiple leaders and peers that are supportive and can help you navigate your career.

What advice would you give to new graduates about developing their personal life habits after college (finances, health, values, work/life balance)?

Sharene: Explore. Try new things, travel and enjoy the freedom that comes with graduating and starting a fresh new chapter in life. Reconnect with those activities that you may not have had time for during college while also trying some new ones. I worked a lot after graduation and had very little time for recreation and relaxation [R&R]. I now understand that R&R refuels me so that I can recharge and perform at a higher level when I return to work.

What are your future career goals or plans?

Sharene: My purpose in life is to make a positive difference every single day. Thankfully, I have the opportunity to serve our customers and invest in our team members through the work that I do in my current role. As I approach my 25th anniversary with the company, I realize that most of the team members who helped me as a new employee have retired and have passed the torch to me. My future career plans are to continue to light the way for new team members just as others have done for me.