Erika A. Floyd
Erika F. is a seasoned electrical engineer and currently serves as the Manager of Electric Distribution Grid Planning at Dominion Energy in Virginia. Over her 19-year career with Dominion Energy, she has progressed from an engineering intern to a senior leadership role, demonstrating expertise in system protection, reliability engineering, and distribution grid planning. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing key initiatives, including contributing to the approval of phases of the Grid Transformation Program and implementing improvements in automation and grid reliability.
A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Erika combines technical proficiency with a strong commitment to collaborative leadership. She values honesty, empathy, and teamwork, which underpin her approach to managing complex projects and leading multidisciplinary teams. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her ability to balance operational efficiency with innovative solutions to meet evolving energy needs.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Erika is deeply committed to STEM outreach, particularly inspiring the next generation of engineers. She enjoys horseback riding, scenic drives, visiting vineyards, and spending quality time with her family. Her dedication to both her field and her community reflects a blend of technical excellence, leadership, and personal passion that continues to drive her success in the energy sector.
• Organizing Your Remote Office for Maximum Productivity
• Working with Your Personal Strengths and Weaknesses
• Professional Engineer (PE)
• Virginia Commonwealth University - College of Engineering - BSEE
What do you attribute your success to?
Erika attributes her success to a combination of personal foundation and professional dedication. She highlights the influence of her parents, who nurtured her early interest in engineering and instilled the core values of honesty, empathy, and collaboration that continue to shape her leadership style. Their guidance inspired her to pursue a rigorous STEM career and provided the resilience and confidence necessary to excel in a traditionally male-dominated field. In addition, Erika credits her achievements to a strong commitment to continuous learning and professional growth. She emphasizes the importance of teamwork and collaboration across all levels of the energy sector, from engineers and planners to frontline field crews, to deliver meaningful improvements in power reliability and service for communities throughout Virginia. Her success reflects a blend of early mentorship, technical expertise, and a collaborative leadership approach, which together drive both her personal and professional accomplishments.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice Erika has ever received is to always stay curious and never stop learning. This guidance helped her grow from an intern to a respected engineering leader. By maintaining curiosity, she was able to master protective devices, system protection, reliability engineering, and distribution planning, all of which shaped her into the well-rounded technical leader she is today.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Erika advises young women entering the engineering and energy industry not to be afraid to pursue their passions, even if they don’t see many people who look like them in the room yet. She emphasizes that the industry needs their voices, ideas, and perspectives. She encourages asking questions, seeking mentors, and trusting that they belong, reminding them that their work will impact thousands of people and that their contributions are essential to the future of energy. Regarding moments when they may be the only woman in the room, she says, "Take it as it is. Be a woman and shine."
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in Erika’s field is modernizing aging infrastructure while maintaining high customer reliability and adapting to rapid technological change. However, this challenge also presents significant opportunities for innovation. Grid transformation projects, automation, and advanced protection systems provide the chance to build a more resilient, reliable, and future-ready energy grid. These initiatives enable leaders like Erika to advance the industry with smarter, safer, and more efficient systems.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, empathy, and collaboration.
Erica believes that leading with transparency, treating colleagues with respect, and fostering an environment where every voice is valued creates stronger teams and better outcomes for the communities she serves. These values not only guide her work as a manager but also shape her mentorship and STEM outreach efforts with students.