"In the gas marketing business, we’re trying to create a culture of risk-taking and entrepreneurship," she says. "We want our employees to think about ways to do things differently and challenge the system. That can be difficult in an established business. My job is to help teach people how to think creatively and to take good risks."

Stoler works in product development, helping to evaluate new product ideas to determine if they are worth pursuing, then seeking funding to bring them to market.

"The main difference between working in a corporate setting and developing your own business is that I don’t have to look for capital to start new ventures," Stoler explains. "But within a company you still pull from a limited pool of funds, so we have to present detailed business plans to get funding. I don’t have to put up my house for a loan but I do take a career risk when the company funds an idea I’ve promoted."

Currently, Stoler is in LG&E’s Leadership Development Program. As part of that experience, she will transfer to different positions within the company every 12 to 18 months for the next several years in order to get a wide overview of the business. She then plans to make a more permanent move back into a corporate entrepreneurship position. Participating in the pilot program of the Integrated MBA program in the College of Business and Public Administration prepared her well for the challenges of corporate entrepreneurship, she says.

"The program taught me how to communicate effectively and to break down barriers," she says. "It also taught me how to inspire people and keep them motivated. That’s harder to do in a corporate environment than in a start-up business, but it’s something that we have to do to succeed in a competitive environment in the future.