Leadership Lyceum Podcast
Thomas Linquist is founder of The Leadership Lyceum and Managing Partner of Lyceum Leadership Consulting. He focuses on senior-level search assignments, including CEO and board of director roles within the power, utility and infrastructure sectors. See the complete body of leadership podcasts, interviews, and articles at www.LeadershipLyceum.com.
Nick Akins is CEO, American Electric Power.
American Electric Power Chairman, President and CEO Nick Akins has volunteered for many other responsibilities. He serves on the boards of the Nuclear Energy Institute, the Global Sustainable Electricity Partnership, and the U.S. Business Roundtable. He is a civic leader in Columbus, Ohio, serving on the boards of The Columbus Partnership and the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation. Finally, he serves on the boards of Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited, OhioHealth, and publicly-traded Fifth Third Bancorp.
Tom Linquist: Last but not least, and very cool indeed, you serve on the board of the Cleveland-based Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
Nick Akins: I do. That's the one I get asked most about.
Tom Linquist: Let's discuss the enablers - and barriers - to innovation. What specific areas affect American Electric Power from a strategic or financial standpoint? What are the potential innovations on the horizon that could be opportunities or threats?
Nick Akins: We are an industry that's transforming considerably, and our industry is focused on three primary components. The first is development of the infrastructure that supports the interaction with the grid. The interoperability of different types of components and different types of technologies.