Leadership Journeys: Breaking Barriers and Shaping the Future
- Emily Marschke
- Aug 13
- 3 min read
Insights from Jenna Connellan (Transgrid) and Alexandra Price (Powerlink Queensland)
In our latest Powerful Women Leadership Program (PWLP) session, we had the privilege of hearing from two powerhouse leaders in Australia’s energy sector:
Jenna Connellan, Major Projects Planning Manager, Transgrid
Alexandra Price, General Manager, Strategic Network Operations at Powerlink Queensland
Their conversation—Leadership Journeys: Breaking Barriers and Shaping the Future—was more than just a reflection on careers. It was a class in self-leadership, strategic growth, and finding your voice in a complex and evolving industry.
More Than Just Titles: The Roads They’ve Travelled
Between them, Jenna and Alexandra have worked across nearly every part of the power industry:
Network operations
Technical standards
Sales and protection
Consultancy and business development
Product management
Asset management
Procurement
Metering and more
Their stories show that careers don’t always follow a single path—and that trying different roles helps you discover what energises you and where you can have impact, so use it to your advantage.
Leadership vs. Management: Knowing the Difference
One powerful message that resonated: Leadership isn’t about by your job title.
“Leadership is at any level, It’s about how you show up, how you inspire others, and how you take responsibility—even when it’s not officially yours.” From Jenna.
Jenna and Alexandra both reflected on how they discovered the difference between management (task-focused, operational) and leadership (inspiration, influence). Whether you're part of a student group, early in your career, or leading a team, you can choose to lead through your actions and mindset.
Building Your Support Team: Mentors, Sponsors and Cheer Squads
Both speakers highlighted the importance of knowing who’s in your corner:
Mentors give you guidance.
Sponsors advocate for you behind the scenes.
Cheer squads—friends, family, peers, past managers—remind you of your worth when you doubt yourself.
Your cheer squad might include your University friends, Graduate cohort, Summer School cohort, PWLP network, your volunteer group community and you friends and family (including in my cases my children). Keep them close. They’ll lift you up when you need it most.
“Your cheer squad is who you turn to when you start to doubt yourself,” Jenna explained. “And sometimes, you’re part of someone else’s squad without even realising it.”
Learning Through Every Opportunity (Even the Ones You Don’t Want)
Both speakers shared golden advice: Never turn down an interview.
Even if you’re not interested in the role, interviews are:
A mirror to better understand your strengths and goals
A chance to learn what really matters to you (your “non-negotiables”)
Valuable practice for the roles you do want
And importantly understanding your industry
Write down everything—what worked, what didn’t, what questions were asked. That data becomes your playbook, both for future interviews and when you’re hiring others.
Dealing with Doubt: Imposter Syndrome, Feedback, and Curiosity
Self-doubt is common—but manageable.
Writing things down helps you see yourself more clearly.
Pretend you’re advising a friend—what would you tell them?
Ask: why not me? The job needs doing—why shouldn’t it be you?
When receiving feedback, Alexandra offered this reminder:
“Divorce your self-worth from the feedback. It’s a learning opportunity.”
Be objective. Write it down. Reflect —you’ll often see things in a softer light with more insight.
Balcony and Dance Floor Leadership
Alexandra offered a brilliant metaphor for leaders:
“Sometimes, you’re on the dance floor—in the thick of it, solving immediate problems. Other times, you need to get up to the balcony—to see the big picture and guide your team strategically.”
Final Takeaways
Say yes to the interview. Even if it's not your dream job—it might teach you something essential.
Know your squad. Find your mentors, sponsors and cheerleaders—and be one for others.
Reflect often. Write it all down. Learn from success and failure.
Own your voice. You belong in the room. Use curiosity to build confidence.
Leadership is a mindset. Start now, wherever you are.
The session was a powerful reminder that leadership is not a destination—it’s a practice. Thank you to Jenna and Alexandra for their honesty, humour, and inspiration.
If you’re part of the PWLP network or thinking of joining in future years, we hope this energises you to keep stepping forward—even when the path feels uncertain. Because someone needs to lead us into the future. Why not you?
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