An experienced attorney passionate about social justice and veteran support, Chris Bissonnette is the director of human resources at Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas). His responsibilities in this position include talent acquisition, leading the workplace ethics investigations team, and overseeing HR information systems. Chris Bissonnette advises the executive team on labor relations matters and other important HR matters.
Before taking over as director of HR at SoCalGas, Chris Bissonnette was director of labor relations. He spent four years in this role managing a team of 65 HR professionals. Among other accomplishments, he negotiated a union contract covering 4,800 workers. He joined SoCalGas in 2017 as assistant general counsel, before which he worked in senior counsel roles at Sempra Energy and Paul Hastings LLP.
Chris Bissonnette earned his juris doctorate from Northeastern University School of Law and holds a bachelor of arts in history from Hofstra University. He is a former member of the United States Army Reserves and New York Army National Guard and serves on the board of directors for the Foundation for Women Warriors. He is a recipient of the Out and Proud Corporate Counsel Award from the LGBT Bar Association and has provided pro bono legal services to Equality California and The Trevor Project.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
Typically, I get up at 6 a.m. so I can work out before my kids wake-up. I wouldn’t consider myself a morning person, but I really feel like my day is leaps and bounds better after a workout. Recently, a coach has shed some light on two other great practices. Within the first 30 minutes of waking up, spend 3-5 minutes taking slow deep breaths while envisioning your day and, importantly, think about each of your challenges as successes. The goal is set yourself up for success. Second, stop checking your phone when you wake up and avoid reviewing your emails as your first task of the day. Instead, write down your three top goals for the day. You’ll be 2.5 times more likely to achieve them. Then, set about working on your hardest tasks while your brain is freshest. These tips seem small, but they really work.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Spend time thinking everything through before you dive into any project, whether it’s a work project or a home improvement idea. The more time you spend thinking everything through from start to finish, the better off your idea will see the light of day and shine.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Activism. More people vote than when I was a kid, in part due to political polarism, but also because people feel they cannot sit back and hope someone else takes care of a problem.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Lists are key to keeping your thoughts organized and less frenetic. If you write down what needs to get done, you can let your thoughts focus on completing the tasks, rather than worrying about whether you’ve forgotten something.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Do exactly what I did. Sure, I have regrets, but if I didn’t, I’d be a far less interesting older person. What I regret the most is also what I learned from the most. Taking chances and risks led to many of the most memorable events of my life. Sure, I wouldn’t jump out of plane today, but I’m so glad I did it when I was 22. I’m sure I regretted staying up all night with friends the next day when I had to go to a boring job, but today, those friends are still my closest friends, and that job has been replaced with a far better career.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Never waste money on a financial advisor. If they were so smart, they would be rich and doing something better than managing your investments. Invest in good companies and it’ll pay off in the long run … plus you won’t have to pay a commission to someone whose primary source of money is a commission check for giving you advice you could have figured out yourself by reading the news under the stock ticker
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Maintain a close set of friends. It’s nice to know hundreds of people, but you need a short list of people you can call on any day or at any time, whether it’s just to talk about nothing, or get advice, or just to lean on when life seems like a rollercoaster.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I love taking walks. I put on my headphones. I particularly love those Apple walks where they have someone interesting who is also walking and talking about their lives. I find it grounding to refocus on a good story while walking in the sunshine.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Mentors are critical to career growth. A good mentor can help you see a problem through a new lens. I remember one lesson that still helps me in challenging meetings. When you need to convince a room full of leaders to go in a direction, take the time to meet ahead of time with at least one person who can influence others. If you can get that person on board, when you get to the actual meeting and present your idea, if one naysayer raises concerns, you can rely on your ally (hopefully someone either more senior or well-respected) to jump in and the tide will turn in your favor.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I can think of many failures, and I’d sum them all up the same way: I should have taken a minute before doing x, y, or z. I’m great at accomplishing goals fast, but sometimes my desire to get results and complete has led me to act faster than I should have. Should I send that email now, or maybe save it as a draft and revisit it with clearer thoughts? Did I prepare enough for that discussion, or should I have rescheduled a day later and would that have yielded better results? Trust me, there are many times with acting quickly has paid off, but other times where contemplation would have yielded a better outcome. Life is about learning to discern those moments requiring the rabbit versus the turtle.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A fun-themed all-in-one car wash where you could go on a weekend day and get all your errands done in one stop … then leave with a clean car.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
ChatGPT, hands down. I can dump a bunch of random thoughts into the app and through a series of good prompts get something out that would have taken me an extra hour or more.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Right now I am reading, “A Little Life.” It’s a beautifully written book that was a runner up to The Booker Prize. It’s not for the faint of heart and many have strong feelings one way or the other, but you won’t find a book with richer and more complex characters than this book. Another favorite is, “The Shipping News.” Both are written by authors who seem to have spent an hour on every word choice. Nothing is superfluous. The epitome of precision.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I love so many movies. I’ve watched most Star Wars and Star Trek series multiple times. They’re my go to when I’m sick or happen to be the only one up late at night. I love the idea of the Star Trek future, one without money where people of all races and species live in harmony with a common goal of a better future.
Key learnings
- Intentional morning routines elevate productivity – Starting the day with movement, mindfulness, and clear goal-setting—while avoiding digital distractions—primes the mind for focus and success.
- Thoughtful planning improves outcomes – Taking the time to mentally map out ideas or projects before execution leads to greater clarity, reduced mistakes, and higher-quality results.
- Failures offer essential growth if reflection follows action – Speed can be an asset but learning when to pause and reflect can turn failures into meaningful long-term lessons.
- Relationships are central to resilience and success – Maintaining a close circle of trusted friends and seeking mentors can provide emotional support and strategic guidance in both life and career.
- Skepticism and self-reliance can be tools for empowerment – Challenging conventional wisdom—whether it’s about financial advisors or career strategies—can lead to more informed, independent decision-making.