In this Partnering Leadership conversation, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Debbi Jarvis, Vice President & Chief Communications Officer at AltaGas. Debbi Jarvis talked about the impact of her upbringing as a Midwestern girl from Kalamazoo, Michigan. How her sales career led her to pursue journalism and becoming a TV anchor, eventually bringing her to Washington, DC. Debbi Jarvis went on to share about her transition to Pepco, why she was asked to start a Corporate Social Responsibility group while there, and the need for CSR in organizations. Debbi Jarvis eventually went on to create Howard University's Office of Corporate Relations to focus on corporate relationship building and then was recruited as Chief Communications Officer of AltaGas, responsible for all corporate communications functions, focusing on the design and execution of a multifaceted communications strategy to promote Washington Gas and the broader AltaGas enterprise. Finally, Debbi shared the need for community engagement for leaders and organizations and how she prioritizes her community involvement to have the most significant impact possible.
Some Highlights:
- Debbi Jarvis on how she ended up in sales and the lessons learned from her early sales career
- Cheerleading in roles, including as a professional cheerleader for the Cincinnati Bengals
- Transferring sales skills to the newsroom and becoming an anchor
- Debbi Jarvis on her move to DC, interviewing Charlene Drew Jarvis and meeting Ernie Jarvis
- Helping establish Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Pepco
- Establishing Howard University's Office of Corporate Relations to focus on corporate relationship building
- Communications at Washington Gas (AltaGas)
- Why and how to prioritize needs in the community
Mentioned:
Partnering Leadership conversation with Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis (https://www.partneringleadership.com/leading-with-a-belief-for-the-greater-good-and-honoring-a-legacy-with-dr-charlene-drew-jarvis-changemaker/)
Partnering Leadership conversation with Ernie Jarvis (https://www.partneringleadership.com/building-on-the-legacy-of-pioneers-to-become-a-pioneer-with-ernie-jarvis-ceo-of-jarvis-commercial-real-estate-greater-washington-dc-dmv-changemaker/)
Connect with Debbi Jarvis:
Debbi Jarvis on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbi-jarvis-3a39241/)
Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:
Mahan Tavakoli Website (https://mahantavakoli.com/)
Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/)
Partnering Leadership Website (https://www.partneringleadership.com/)
