Brett A. Cope, Chairman & CEO of Powell Industries, always had this ethos, ‘Know your passion. Follow it. Dream it. Love it.’ Therefore, with a deeply ingrained passion, a solution-oriented mindset, and a much-needed push from previous industry experience, he joined the legacy of Powell Industries, a 75-year-old company in Houston, Texas. During his formative years, Brett had a strong inclination towards achievement, striving to excel in all endeavors he pursued. Constant guidance and support from his family and esteemed mentors throughout his professional career instilled in him the importance of fostering robust teams and collectively striving for elevated performance levels.
Brett built his forte in engaging and solving complex challenges, learning from failures, and applying those lessons to future endeavors, finding it extremely rewarding and beneficial for everyone in the long term. “Early in my career, I gravitated to the project solutions side of business, developing and providing best-in-class solutions that solve customer needs in the market. Powell’s 75-year journey is built around customers first and teams of people focused on solving problems. The long-term relationships with our customers are highly valued at Powell, and we build this one successful project at a time,” proclaims Brett Cope.
Powell — A One-source Solution Provider
Powell Industries laid the foundation stone in the year 1947 as a metal-working shop to support the local petrochemical facilities. Despite its humble beginning, Powell has grown by leaps and bounds to become a leading supplier of highly complex and integrated systems for the distribution & control of electrical energy and other critical processes. The company is a powerful and trusted partner for all electrical distribution projects, including top-notch low & medium voltage breakers motor control, power control rooms, switchgear, and other components. Today, Powell stands tall by operating globally and focusing on the future of electrical infrastructure through innovative technologies developed by its people for the customers.
Treating People as Powell’s Best Asset
Indeed, Powell’s competitive advantage is its cutting-edge products and the caliber of its people. Unlike any other company that treats its employees as another expense, Powell Industries sees its people as valuable assets and emphasizes fostering a culture of honesty, teamwork, and continuous learning. The company promotes a feeling of belongingness and comradeship between them by developing a supportive work milieu where employees are encouraged to form deep connections outside the office space.
The underpinning theory of good-to-great leadership comprises ethical integrity, active listening, and leading by example. Embodying these values, the leading team at Powell Industries is steering it towards a brimming future. As much as being traded publicly on stock markets, a family-oriented work environment has remained engrained in Powell by cherishing long-service careers, nurturing internal capacities, and promoting inclusivity where every voice is heard. The company has a well-knitted team of more than 3000 professionals working in seven fully integrated factories, sales & service facilities spreading across the globe.
Keeping Customers on its Side
Powell Industries takes great pride in delving deeper into the psyche of its customers, understanding their needs, and proposing innovative and cost-efficient solutions. Powell differentiates itself from others by going the extra mile and handholding its customers every step, from project inception to product delivery. The company has recommitted to developing products that solve the needs of tomorrow’s electrical grid, providing electrical asset & automation solutions to enhance electrical reliability, and expanding its value-added services to help customers maximize the installed value of their electrical infrastructure.
Addicted to being one step ahead of the curve, Brett Cope intends to develop Powell Industries into the preferred supplier for low and medium-voltage distribution products and solutions. “My advice to the next generation of leaders is to start by identifying your company’s core values. These are the guiding principles that shape employee behavior and decision-making. Communicate these values to your team. Importantly, lead by example by recognizing there is no substitute for hard work. The effort alone is rewarding, and the result always strengthens the team,” he concludes.
