Daniel Sierra

Project Development Manager
Transmission & Distribution

Without electricity flowing through our communities and businesses, our nation would grind to a halt. Daniel Sierra is helping utilities keep the lights on by building strong, diverse project teams to tackle their biggest challenges with forward-thinking solutions.

Daniel’s incredible work ethic, love for people and desire to make a positive impact is apparent as soon as you meet him. Formally an electrician’s mate in the U.S. Navy, he began his career here as an electrical engineer in 2012. As the substation business development manager in the Transmission & Distribution Group, he works with utilities to understand their goals and challenges to best identify the right solutions and team to get the job done. He also serves as the business diversity liaison, playing a key role in developing partnerships that support diverse businesses — promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in all business activities.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I was born in Caracas, Venezuela. My mother and I moved to Kansas City, Kansas when I was 7 years old. I didn’t know English then, so I had to take English as a Second Language classes. Also, I am a plank owner on the USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), meaning I helped commission the ship and was part of its first crew.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Focus on your strengths. At one point in my life, I prioritized strengthening my weaknesses. I had much more fun — and a bigger impact — when I started working on my strengths. Beyond that, have fun in what you’re doing and seek out team members with different talents, because you will be a much stronger team when it’s all said and done.

How do you and your team make the world a better place?

We make the world a better place through what we do with the electrical grid. Most people need electricity to live, and we take that for granted in the U.S. since we have great utilities supplying it throughout the country. In my experience and through seeing such poverty in other countries, this is a luxury. I’m proud our team provides excellent services for these utilities to keep the lights on and provide an essential resource to so many.

If you could pick up a new skill in an instant, what would it be?

I would love to remember the names of everyone I’ve ever met, remember what our last conversation was about and remember exactly what we talked about from day one so that I could refer to it and be better at networking.

What superpower would you choose and why?

Easy — flight! I would fly my wife and two daughters wherever we wanted to go all the time.