CREDIT HEIDI EIFFERT, STUDIOU
With more than 19 years of experience at Alliant Energy, it might seem that Mayuri Farlinger was destined for a career in the utility field.
But that’s not quite the case.
When Ms. Farlinger began college at the University of Iowa, she wasn’t initially on a business track.
“I thought I was going to be a doctor,” Ms. Farlinger said. “I started out pre-med and took a biology class. It was not for me. I quickly pivoted to business school and got a finance degree, thinking that I was going to do something business-related. I didn’t realize that I was going to land myself at a utility.”
Ms. Farlinger’s career at Alliant Energy literally began at the ground level – during her final year at Iowa, she was offered a position as an intern in Alliant’s finance department. At the time, she said, she didn’t know the position would launch her entire career.
“I was not married to the utility industry,” she said. “I just wanted to pursue business in some capacity. And then once I graduated, there was a position (at Alliant) that I applied for. I was the successful candidate, and that started my career journey.”
It’s a journey that has taken Ms. Farlinger through many parts of the company, including finance, audit, regulatory, account management, field engineering, customer renewables, revenue management and operations.
In 2020, Ms. Farlinger (whose first name, Mayuri, means “peacock” in her parents’ native country of India) was named Alliant’s director of operations for the East Region in Iowa – a role which brought historic challenges to the utility industry, including Iowa’s devastating derecho that August.
In May 2022, Ms. Farlinger became Alliant’s vice president of customer and community engagement.
And on May 1, 2024, she will take her next step up the Alliant Energy ladder, when she succeeds Terry Kouba as president of Interstate Power and Light, Alliant’s Iowa energy company.
Ms. Farlinger attributes her influence to a level of passion and enthusiasm she tries to bring to every professional task.
“As I think about my sphere of influence, I think a lot of it is driven by positivity,” she said. “A lot of folks know that if May is going to show up, she’s going to show up with a smile on her face. Positivity just runs through me all of the time, and that’s one of the things I think people really appreciate. That’s my authentic self – a very fun and passionate person who always tries to get to yes whenever possible.”
Ms. Farlinger’s community involvement also runs deep, serving as a board member for organizations such as Corridor Women Connect, the United Way of East Central Iowa, the Indian Creek Nature Center and the Iowa Business Council.
In letters of recommendation for the Women of Influence award, Ms. Farlinger’s professional peers were effusive in their praise.
“For any woman to rise to a level of leadership in a male-dominated industry, as the energy industry is, it takes immense energy, a growth mindset, and a flexible disposition,” wrote Kristin Roberts, president and CEO of United Way of East Central Iowa. “I have had the pleasure of seeing May interact with her coworkers, and the level of respect she receives is a level she has earned through hard work and relationship-building. She is a leader of today’s leadership values and morales, not a leader through title alone.”
“While (May) is an accomplished professional, I also admire that she is also a dedicated mentor,” added Terry Kouba, president of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company and senior vice president of Iowa operations. “She plays a pivotal role in empowering others. She asks questions of others and learns from their experiences while sharing her own expert knowledge. She brings innovative ideas to our leadership team and advocates for our employees. Her dedication to serving customers influences both our company and the broader community.”
Ms. Farlinger said that when her career eventually ends, she wants to be remembered for her positive influence.
“I really hope that when people talk about me and my leadership style years from now, it comes back to ‘you know what, May got things done, but she found a way to always have fun while doing them,’” she said. “‘She made people feel good about what they were doing and how they were doing. She was empowering.’ I do a lot of work with women in our organization from a mentoring and advocacy standpoint, so I’m always working to pay it forward. I had a lot of great mentors and advocates throughout my career, and I know it’s now my responsibility to pull up that next generation. So I want people to think about me from that standpoint, too – ‘she had a successful career, but she helped other people do that as well.’”
This profile was originally published in the CBJ’s 2024 Women of Influence publication. The 2024 Women of Influence are an inspiring group of community leaders who have each overcome adversity, taken chances and challenged themselves to make a positive impact in their community, despite demanding schedules in their personal and professional lives.
The CBJ will host the 2024 Women of Influence 20 Year Gala from 5-8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center in Cedar Rapids. Tickets are still available to this event, which includes networking, dinner and remarks from the winners.
