Alumni Interrogatory: Bethany Owen ’95, President of ALLETE Inc.
Last February, Bethany Owen ’95 became the new president of ALLETE Inc., a Duluth-based energy company. Owen also oversees ALLETE’s five operating divisions: Minnesota Power, Superior Water Light and Power, ALLETE Clean Energy, U.S. Water Services, and BNI Energy. She is the first woman president in the company’s history.
What advantages do think your legal background gives you as the president of a major corporation?
Having a legal background has enhanced my ability to think critically and creatively, spot issues, assess risk, develop strategic solutions, and communicate clearly and concisely—all skills that are valuable no matter one’s career path.
I am curious by nature and have always been interested in learning and trying new things, but I suppose I am most surprised by the fact that I am in this role. In addition to working in the U.S. Senate for four years before attending law school, I have had the opportunity to work in a wide variety of roles and industries. I certainly didn’t set out to be the president of an energy company, but it has been wonderful to look back and see that every experience I’ve had in my career has built upon the previous experiences.
What excites you most about working in the energy industry?
Everything is exciting about working in the energy industry today. We are in one of the most transformative times, and ALLETE is a leader in the clean energy field. Sustainability is not only one of our company’s values—it is the foundation of our business strategy. Our largest business unit, Minnesota Power, is on track to provide customers 50 percent renewable energy by 2021—further and faster than most of our peers and well ahead of the state’s requirement of 25 percent by 2025. In addition, we formed ALLETE Clean Energy eight years ago, and that company now operates in nine states and will have more than 1,000 megawatts of wind energy in its portfolio by the end of 2020. We are very proud of our leadership role in developing and supplying clean, sustainable energy.
What advice would you have for a law student just starting out today?
Work hard, but also try to get some outside work experience, because that experience and the connections you make will be invaluable. I needed to work to support myself during law school, and I was grateful to have a winter clerkship at a large firm, which led to a summer clerkship, and then to a full-time position after graduation. Every position I have held since then has linked back to that first winter clerkship. Grades are important to get your foot in the door for your first job, but after that it’s all about your work ethic, talent, experience, attitude, and track record.
Given what is surely an incredibly hectic schedule, what do you do to de-stress and maintain wellness?
I am definitely a work in progress on the de-stressing front, but sailing on Lake Superior, reading a great book, listening to music, and a walk in the woods with my spouse and our dog have always worked wonders for me. Since those options aren’t always available to me when things are hectic at work, I am fortunate to work with people I respect and enjoy—and thankfully, they have great senses of humor, so we laugh a lot!
How do you like to spend your free time?
My spouse, Christopher, and I love to travel when we have free time. We really enjoy immersing ourselves in different cultures—in recent years, everywhere from Sicily to a tiny island off the coast of Newfoundland to Vermont.
What are a few interesting items one might find on your desk or on display in your office?
Two of my most favorite quotations: “Be the change you wish to see in the world” (Mahatma Gandhi) and “Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” (attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson). There’s also work by regional artists, a variety of rocks that I have collected from travels, and a dandelion preserved in glass.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Minnesota Law community?
When I applied to the University of Minnesota Law School, I had no idea of the wide variety of potential career and life paths that a law degree would make possible. I am grateful for the opportunities that education has afforded me, especially so that I am able to give back to the community and to support and mentor others.
