Maya's journey at Voltalia began more than a decade ago. Since then, she has evolved from a true marketing specialist in the United States to a seasoned expert in business development with an international vision, ultimately becoming the Country Manager for South Africa.
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A career made on two words: embracing challenges |
Maya's journey at Voltalia began more than a decade ago. Since then, she has evolved from a true marketing specialist in the United States to a seasoned expert in business development with an international vision, ultimately becoming the Country Manager for South Africa. Starting her career at Martifer Solar, a company which was acquired by Voltalia, Maya transitioned from marketing to business development. Her decision to take on new challenges was driven by a desire to broaden her skills and pave the way for a leadership role. Her determination and the support of the Voltalia team have enabled her to successfully steer her career.
From her beginnings in the United States to her current position in South Africa, Maya's journey has been marked by strategic decisions and calculated risks. Embracing the entrepreneurial spirit encouraged by Voltalia, she ventured into uncharted territories. Maya played a key role in development of the International Development team, seizing opportunities in various regions and markets.
In 2019 Maya moved to South Africa to extend Voltalia’s activity, which we can say today was a successful bet given that Voltalia now has a local team in South Africa, with a pipeline of nearly 3 GW under development and the 148 MW Bolobedu solar project under construction, which was awarded a CPPA with the Rio Tinto Group in September 2022.
It took 2 years to start building a team in a country where opportunities are growing very fast “South Africa relies mainly on fossil fuel generation and has made commitments to a just energy transition, which gives space for the implementation of renewables and battery storage; it is a very dynamic market with many opportunities both with the government and in the private sector with the large energy-intensive users. However, the market is not easy and comes with its own challenges, especially with respect to grid access and availability; there is still a lot of evolution ahead of us in the South African market.”
Transitioning from the hustle and bustle of New York to the dynamic yet different rhythms of Portugal and South Africa required Maya to cultivate flexibility and patience: it took time to implement the business and promote Voltalia as a relevant industry player in this new geography, especially given the competitive landscape in the local market. She discovered that the key to thriving in these diverse environments was to remain open to change, focus on building up a local team, and leverage her support network within the Voltalia Group. Voltalia South Africa is now in Cape Town and Johannesburg and is currently recruiting.
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Maya's journey is an inspiring roadmap for those considering a career at Voltalia or seeking personal and professional growth through new opportunities. She offers valuable advice to those at the crossroads of change: Never be afraid of challenges and change, be willing to go outside of your comfort zone and never give up, keep always believing in yourself. Celebrate the small wins and milestones – they are all important, important for you and important for your team. The small steps are the one which make you grow and ultimately find success.
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Maya Rao - Country Manager for South Africa
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