At Cupertino Electric Inc. (CEI), the company grew so fast that they’ve found themselves at an inflection point. Now, CEI is attempting to slow down to observe its most effective leaders and determine what makes them great.

To learn more, I met with CEI’s CPO Estrella Parker.

A few highlights from our conversation include:

1. How she decoded the mindset behind great leadership at CEI

She called the mentality "one team" and explained three main tenets:
There are three tenets of the one team mentality:
- CEI leaders are connected on a human level.
- CEI leaders are accountable. “We pride ourselves on our projects, and we deliver. We do what we say. We do it on time and on budget,” Parker highlighted
- CEI leaders have an adaptable mindset. “Resiliency is how this company grew,” Parker explained.

2. Her podcast recommendation for people & culture pros

Wisdom from the Top” with Guy Raz.

“Guy interviews different leaders from different sectors to hear their stories. You learn a lot about leadership and the authentic struggles, successes, and hard lessons that people have learned.”

3. Her advice for CPOs

"Think with your heart and love with your brain."

“You're dealing with people, and people need love. But you are also a strategist for people, so you have to think with your heart. You have to be rational about how you approach the softer side of organizations, and at the same time, you must solidly ground your thinking."

Estrella offers a ton of great insights for people and culture leaders at companies in phases of rapid growth. Hope you enjoy 🤓

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