Voltalia 20 Years – Robert Dardanne

On the occasion of the upcoming Voltalia's 20th anniversary, we are excited to launch a series of video testimonials that highlight the memories, values, and aspirations of those who have shaped and continue to shape Voltalia. Each month, we will feature a new video where they share their reflections and vision for the company. We are starting this series with Robert Dardanne, founder of Voltalia and administrator of Voltalia Investment. Discover his most memorable moments and his wishes for Voltalia.

Robert Dardanne - Founder of Voltalia and Administrator of Voltalia Investment

What memory stands out the most for you at Voltalia?

What has been notable and is historically part of Voltalia’s DNA is its presence in French Guiana and in northern Brazil, in the Amazon. For me, the key event is having dared to undertake projects in isolated areas in the heart of the Amazon.

Which Voltalia value resonates the most with you?

Entrepreneurship is the trademark of the company, which started from a blank page in 2005 and has proven that even in challenging areas like the Amazon, projects can be developed. I believe every Voltalian is meant to be an entrepreneur, because we are a federation of hundreds of projects that have been built and will continue to be built. Everyone is certainly led to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, whether as a project manager, as a construction manager, or as someone opening a new market. The entrepreneurial spirit is truly present, and I believe it can be a way to maintain, despite our 2,000 employees, a number that will continue to grow in the coming years.

Robert Klein, Robert Dardanne and Sébastien Clerc

Entrepreneurship is the trademark of the company, which started from a blank page in 2005 and has proven that even in challenging areas like the Amazon, projects can be developed.

Chinese portrait: If Voltalia were a book, a work, a celebrity...?

It’s the Amazon. I didn’t start this activity there by chance. It’s a region that interested me, a region where indigenous peoples still live. I had the privilege to meet along those roads a well-known indigenous leader from Brazil named Raoni, who is a symbol among villages lost deep in the forest. Voltalia is also present in countries that are developed, in major capitals, and elsewhere. We truly embody the ability to bring the benefits of our activities both to remote areas and developed regions.

What do you wish for Voltalians?

I want every Voltalian to be an entrepreneur, because we are in a promising market. The company has its place, with the constant need to adapt to new technologies, to evolutions, and to expanding into more countries. Each time, adaptation is necessary and we must maintain these qualities, which I believe can make us stand out.