Hadyr Koumakpai: Advancing Solar Initiatives for Sustainable Development in Africa

Hadyr Koumakpai | General Manager at JA Solar
Hadyr Koumakpai | General Manager at JA Solar

Strategic Solar Leadership!

The solar industry has become an essential force in the global push for renewable energy, offering sustainable solutions to power needs. In Africa, where the demand for reliable and affordable electricity is critical, solar energy presents a transformative opportunity. This sector’s growth is driven by technological advancements and strategic initiatives aimed at harnessing the abundant solar resources across the continent. The rise of solar power in Africa promises to transform the energy sector and offers a pathway to socio-economic development by providing sustainable and affordable energy solutions to millions of people.

Hadyr Koumakpai, the General Manager for Africa, demonstrates leadership and dedication in advancing solar energy initiatives on the continent. His journey began with a significant project in Cameroon that highlighted the potential of solar energy. Over the years, Hadyr’s career has spanned multiple companies, each contributing to the development of solar markets across Africa. His dedication to the industry is evident through his strategic initiatives and the successful penetration of solar energy in various countries. His leadership is characterized by a deep commitment to improving energy access and fostering growth in the sector.

Under Hadyr’s leadership, JA Solar has tailored its strategies to address the specific needs of the African solar market. The company prioritizes aligning and standardizing processes while ensuring continuous training for its sales teams. This approach has led to improved customer satisfaction and engagement by reducing administrative burdens and enhancing the efficiency of tracking and follow-up activities. JA Solar’s success in Africa is measured by its market share, and the diverse and capable team Hadyr has cultivated, which has become a recognized force in the solar industry. His commitment to nurturing a culture of continuous learning and innovation ensures that JA Solar remains competitive and responsive to the progressing energy sector in Africa.

Let’s explore Hadyr’s innovative leadership journey in the solar industry:

Pioneering Solar Development in Africa

During his studies, Hadyr volunteered as a translator and provided delegation support at international forums and fairs. His efforts were noticed by several companies, leading to requests for his presence on their trips outside China. After university, he was hired by a mining company as an African project developer.

Everything went smoothly until 2011, when a donation had to be made in Cameroon for the local population. The only requests from the locals were for water and light, so solar kits were provided, which felt magical to them at that time.

At the age of 26, this memory remains one of Hadyr’s happiest. He proposed to the company to open a solar development entity, which they did, but due to the company’s different focus and the slow development in Africa, the entity was closed.

Hadyr then joined another solar company to continue developing the African market. Within half a year, they successfully penetrated three countries and won projects in Niger, Cabo Verde, and Madagascar. Since then, he has worked with two other companies, developing markets from scratch, defining strategies, and building teams. However, what drives Hadyr is his dedication to his work and his desire to always improve and do better than his previous achievements.

Building Trust and Control in Relationships

The experiences of Hadyr traveling to over fifty countries, including high-risk areas for managing international teams and projects, during his career have profoundly shaped him. These experiences have taught him to embrace, respect, and accept different cultures.

They have honed his communication skills to ensure clarity and understanding, regardless of language barriers. Throughout this journey, he’s had the privilege of interacting with people of diverse beliefs, which has helped him develop a strong mediation approach.

He can bring people together by creating a shared strategic vision. He’s also learned the importance of building relationships, fostering mutual trust, and maintaining control to ensure everything stays on track. Additionally, he’s gained the ability to stay calm during challenges and unforeseen situations, avoiding emotional reactions.

Unconventional Pathways to Business Insight

Hadyr finds Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group, truly inspiring. Despite leaving school at 16, Branson went on to create an empire. This reflects Hadyr’s belief that a degree does not necessarily define one’s aptitude, but rather, it is one’s knowledge and experiences that truly matter. After many years in the sector, he decided to pursue an MBA in Energy and Sustainability to critically reassess his business approach and explore areas he may have overlooked.

His first master’s degree was in British Literature, not solely for the romance of Shakespeare or the drama of George Owen, but to understand the historical aspects of the British Empire, which he felt were lacking in his undergraduate courses. To further refine his management skills, he pursued a second master’s degree in economics and management.

There is a two-way relationship between his career and his education. His career motivates him to seek further education to test and expand his knowledge. Conversely, his education has equipped him with valuable insights and skills that have propelled his career forward.

Tailoring CRM Systems for Diverse Markets

At JA Solar, while the company boasts comprehensive CRM and reporting systems that are continuously improving, the Africa sales department requires a tailored approach to address its diversity and specificity. The key was aligning and standardizing processes outside the company’s general framework, coupled with continuous training.

This involved establishing a defined communication protocol for different scenarios and ensuring a clear understanding of the reporting requirements for each segment. The company prioritized tasks based on the unique needs of each sub-team and sales KPIs, developing a task achievement approach that guided the team to focus on the most relevant objectives to reach the company’s common goals.

According to Hadyr, these measures significantly reduced the time spent on administrative tasks, shortened meeting durations, eliminated unnecessary questions, and enhanced companies’ ability to track and follow up effectively. As a result, customer satisfaction and engagement improved noticeably.

Building a Diverse Team in the Solar Industry

Hadyr believes the solar industry is one of the most dynamic, competitive, and challenging sectors, particularly due to market instability. This necessitated having a highly resilient team. While he is proud of achieving the largest market share in Africa and consistently breaking records year after year, his greatest pride comes from building and leading a diverse team.

This team, composed of individuals from various backgrounds, beliefs, and origins—many of whom had no prior experience in the solar industry—has now become a recognized force in the solar world. Witnessing their growth and transformation into industry leaders was the most rewarding aspect of his career.

Cultivating a Culture of Continuous Learning

In addition to consistently reading and following industry news and journals, Hadyr actively participates in conferences and webinars to stay informed about the latest developments. However, the most valuable insights often come from his team. Since they cover various countries and segments, they provide clarity and practical perspectives on market trends.

He encourages the sharing of insights among team members and fosters a culture of continuous learning. By combining this information, they can engage in strategic planning and make informed decisions. This collaborative approach ensures that they remain competitive and responsive to changes in the energy sector.

Promoting Leadership and Innovation

From the perspective of Hadyr, everyone certainly has a piece of the puzzle to contribute. His team members are encouraged to freely share their opinions and ideas. In his opinion, “it’s essential that each member understands the principle of ownership and recognizes that they all share a common goal.”

This fosters a proactive attitude, where team members support one another without expecting anything in return. This approach also promotes cross-functional cooperation, builds trust, and cultivates a strong team spirit.

Hadyr makes it a point to celebrate each team member’s achievements and encourages them to share their successful collaborations and experiences. Each team member is given the platform to demonstrate their leadership without restrictions.

However, they adhere to rules and regulations that apply to everyone, including him, and he strictly enforces them regardless of the situation. This consistency helps maintain a fair and disciplined work environment while encouraging innovation and teamwork.

Addressing Poverty through Renewable Energy

Hadyr highlights that the world is constantly evolving, presenting numerous challenges, particularly in Africa, where approximately 429 million people live in extreme poverty, as noted by Saifaddin Galal. This issue not only affects regional security but also underscores the ongoing struggles for justice and equality across the continent.

He envisions a more equitable world and firmly believes that renewable energy, particularly solar power, holds the key to sparking an industrial revolution in Africa. This transformation has the potential to rapidly increase employment opportunities and significantly reduce poverty levels on the continent.

A Key to Effective Leadership

Hadyr’s advice to aspiring general managers or leaders in the energy sector is to remain goal focused.

He advises, “Learn not to be swayed by others’ opinions, surpass one’s ego, and focus on facts rather than individuals. Embrace and accept people as they are and find the best in them instead of trying to change their behavior.”

He emphasizes, “Stay curious, stay informed, and be willing to adapt your strategies and approaches to accommodate all types of change, with a deep focus on sustainable practices.”