20 Under 40 – Geoff Bailey
37
Oncor Electric Delivery
Education: University of Texas, University of California Los Angeles
Geoff Bailey once told one of his mentors, T. Boone Pickens, that he hoped to run an energy company.
Now, as the chief of staff to the CEO and vice president of strategy and emerging issues at Oncor Electric Delivery, he’s well on his way to achieving that.
Bailey worked in politics at the time of that conversation, and Pickens encouraged him to go back to school.
“And with that, I put the ball in motion to go back to business school at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin and got my MBA,” he said. “It was a memorable conversation and one that took my career in a completely different, exciting, and rewarding direction.
“I have been overwhelmingly blessed in my career, with both rich experiences and incredible mentors. I have had the opportunity to learn from great leaders in the Dallas business community like T. Boone Pickens, Allen Nye, and Bob Shapard. Those leaders empowered me with great opportunities to learn, fail, grow, and lead.”
Bailey’s passion for public service also continues as he serves on the board of Vogel Alcove, which works to provide food, clothing, counseling, and other support for homeless children in North Texas. He also serves on the state’s Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, which works to ensure people aren’t taken advantage of by frauds claiming to give
legal advice.
He said he remains a Scots sports fan and can be seen taking his son to Not Just Soccer to stock up on Highland Park sports gear.
Q: What do you love most about your community?
A: I love that the Park Cities is a safe and nurturing place to raise a family. This community is just like a small town, dropped in the middle of a big city. From Friday night Scots games, to carriage rides in Highland Park Village at Christmas, there is a great sense of community and friendship in the Park Cities. Your neighbors become like family.
Q: What was your first job, and what did you learn from it?
A: My first real job was bagging groceries at Albertson’s when I turned 15. I was blessed to have parents that modeled hard work each and every day. That job helped to reinforce why it’s important to have a strong work ethic and the dignity that comes with it.
Q: Where do you see yourself and/or your career 10 years from now?
A: Ten years from now, I hope to be a better husband, father, and more involved in the community.
Q: What, to date, has been your most impressive or rewarding accomplishment in both your professional and personal life?
A: Bamboozling my wife, Amanda, into marrying me is hands down my most impressive accomplishment. People that meet us don’t understand, and I certainly can’t explain it. I just tell them that the Lord works in mysterious ways. She has given us a growing family, and a warm and loving home. It’s probably too late for her to change her mind, so I’ve got that going for me, which is nice.
Q: Which leadership skills were the most challenging for you to develop and why?
A: Patience and listening. Like any young leader out to prove themselves, I always felt compelled to have something to say, and always needed to have “the” answer. Over time, I realized that good leaders listen far more than they talk. Similarly, the answer to an issue or problem may not be readily apparent, and good leaders leverage people, processes, and data to flesh out as much information, and as many options as possible when making thoughtful decisions.
Q: If you could buy a book (or rent a movie) for your neighbor, what would it be and why?
A: Book – I’ll be honest, with a growing family I don’t have a ton of time to read for fun. However, I do read The Economist each week, and would buy it for any neighbor as a great one-stop-shop way to stay informed.
Movie – The Jerk. We can all take ourselves too seriously, and I think the world would be a far better place if we spent more time laughing together.
