Full Name: Katherine Persson

Position and Company Name: MD: assets at SOLA Group

Main Activity of the Company: SOLA Group is a fully South African vertically integrated renewable-energy infrastructure, generation and storage company

Date and Place of Birth: I was born in Kimberley in 1982 and grew up in the UK, returning to my roots in my mid-20s, during the nascent days of South Africa’s renewable-energy industry

Schools and Tertiary Education: I attended high school in the UK, followed by a BSc (Hons) Geography and an MSc Environmental Management at the University of Nottingham, UK. I also completed an MBA at Stellenbosch University

First Job: Nature reserve manager

Size of First Pay Packet: For the first six months of my career, I worked as a volunteer nature reserve manager. After realising this would not pay off my student loans, I took up my first paid position doing environmental studies on wind farms across Scotland and England

Career Path to Date: In my early career, I worked extensively in the development phase of large energy and infrastructure projects, in environmental consulting and project developer roles. This transitioned into portfolio responsibilities, managerial and then executive roles in renewable-energy businesses with a focus on Southern and East Africa. At SOLA, I lead our assets team to deliver large-scale, impactful renewable-energy projects

Value of Assets under Your Control: Project assets worth over R10-billion

Number of People under Your Leadership: Around 30 in SOLA Assets

Management Style: I value a ‘work hard, play hard’ attitude, and always aim to give people the space to grow (and fail) in a supportive environment

Personal Best Achievement: I’m a proud mother of two children, have completed several very long-distance open-water swims around the world, and now don’t have enough fingers to count all the large renewable-energy projects in construction or operation in South Africa I’ve had a direct impact on

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother, auntie and late grandfather, who raised my brother and me following the death of our father when we were small. Additionally, my husband opened my eyes to the possibility and excitement of endurance sports

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Several people have influenced me from early on in my career

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: I’ve met him before but would like to do so again – Lewis Pugh, UN Ambassador for the Oceans, and recently named one of National Geographic’s 33 most influential change-makers

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: The young and vibrant professionals who work alongside and report to me. In leadership circles, I think there is a lot of value in moving away from the perception that the people who you should “look up to” are necessarily above

Philosophy of Life: Spend your precious time and energy on things that give you joy, and don’t ever underestimate what you are capable of achieving with hard work, dedication and passion

Biggest Ever Opportunity: I’m lucky that at SOLA we get to do new and great things every year, living up to our reputation of being “a company of firsts”. In recent years, I’ve had the opportunity to lead amazing professionals who delivered South Africa’s first very large-scale renewable-energy projects that wheel power to private buyers. A year later, we financed and started construction on South Africa’s first true multi-buyer renewable-energy project. Being successful in my career has also enabled me to self-fund several epic swimming adventures, here and abroad

Biggest Ever Disappointment: There have been many, but they fade with time, so I can’t recall any that would qualify as the biggest ever

Hope for the Future: That my children dedicate their work lives to something that benefits people or the planet

Favourite Reading: Easy-reading crime novels, or nonfiction related to sports performance and sports psychology

Favourite TV Programme: I’m not a big consumer of TV or movies

Favourite Food/Drink: Locally grown/raised and seasonal foods

Favourite Music: I have eclectic music tastes, but really enjoy any live music

Favourite Sport: Open-water swimming, and any ocean- or mountain-based sports

Hobbies: Training for big open-water swimming challenges, spending time with family, camping, and sleeping

Car: An aging Audi A1

Pets: Dogs (Border Collies), cats and guinea pigs – all rescued

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Patriarchal, racist and narrow-minded people who don’t try to consider the views of others, and mosquitos in my bedroom at night

Married: To Justin Persson

Children: Two children aged 9 and 8

Clubs: Cape Long Distance Swimming Association