Courtney Peterson is the Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer, and Chief Human Resources Officer at Edison Electric Institute (EEI). She drives an enterprise-wide culture design project for the internal workplace and workforce. With the support of senior leadership, the groundbreaking work modernizes the workplace and develops a learning and “people first” culture. Courtney has also led the DEI team in launching the EEI Diverse and Emerging Leaders Program in 2023, which has been incredibly successful. Each member company of the trade association nominated a diverse and emerging leader to participate in a leadership development program crafted at EEI to deepen the pipeline of diverse talent into leadership positions across the industry.

Using her leadership skills, including cultural intelligence and interpersonal skills needed to navigate today’s diverse workforce and global marketplace, Courtney drives DEI work for the electric power industry. She is pioneering engagement with Chief Human Resources Officers and Chief Diversity Officers nationwide. Courtney is deeply involved in other diversity-related issues in ESG, supplier diversity and environmental justice across the industry.

Favorite Quote: I tell my students, "When you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else. This is not just a grab-bag candy game." — Toni Morrison