In this episode of the Business Blueprint, host Joe Sandene sits down with Jessica Kolzer, the Director of HR for Pack Power and Lykos Energy. With a unique background transitioning from social work to high-stakes construction and energy HR, Jessica shares the “secret sauce” behind managing two of the region’s fastest-growing companies.
Episode Highlights
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From Social Work to Scaling Teams: Jessica discusses how her background in child family studies and the American Red Cross prepared her for the tough conversations and people-centric needs of the corporate world.
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Rapid Expansion: Pack Power has exploded from zero to 160 employees in just three years, completing roughly 25 projects across the U.S. during that time.
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The Lykos Energy Launch: Just one year in, Lykos Energy is already making waves in the battery storage sector with 31 employees and several major projects on the horizon.
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Hiring for Culture Over Skill: Jessica explains why her teams prioritize cultural fit first, noting that while technical skills can be taught, a shared mindset is the foundation of their “gold standard” performance.
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The War on Bureaucracy: A major key to their success is a commitment to minimizing bureaucracy, allowing the team to move quickly and keep everyone—from the CEO to the field crews—focused on the same blueprints.
Jessica’s Leadership Toolkit
“Leadership isn’t just about the top-down view; it’s about being willing to jump in and meet employees where they are.”
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Transparency is Key: The leadership teams at Pack and Lykos engage in “360 reviews,” inviting feedback from the people they manage to ensure accountability at every level.
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Radical Honesty: Jessica encourages a culture where people can speak up when something “feels like crap” or a meeting was missed, as open communication builds the trust necessary for growth.
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The “Elon Musk” Strategy: Following a model of focused problem-solving, the leadership team identifies the top three pain points each week and works relentlessly to fix them rather than kicking the can down the road.
Advice for the Next Generation of Leaders
When asked what she would tell her younger self, Jessica’s advice was simple: Have more fun. She emphasizes that while the work is serious, the best moments often happen when you put the meetings aside and actually talk to the people who make the organization run.