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Maria Lajaate
Sales Manager France
Professional Background
Maria Lajaate is a seasoned engineering professional and an accomplished MBA graduate with over 12 years of extensive experience in new business development, sales, and P&L management. Throughout her career, Maria has showcased a remarkable ability to navigate complex challenges while maintaining a keen focus on delivering outstanding results. Her diverse expertise spans various industries, including electrification, smart buildings, and energy management. Currently, Maria holds a pivotal role in the Global Learning & Development team at ABB, specifically within the Electrification Business Marketing & Sales division, where she continues to drive innovative initiatives and strategic growth.
Prior to her current position at ABB, Maria has held numerous high-level roles, each contributing to her well-rounded skill set and diverse experience. She served as the Sales Manager for France at EAE Group, where she successfully led sales initiatives and expanded market presence. As a Business Development Manager at COMECA Group, Maria honed her abilities in identifying new market opportunities and developing strategies to enhance business growth. Furthermore, she co-founded BERBER RITUALS, demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to fostering innovative concepts in the marketplace. Her leadership experience is further highlighted by her role as Head of the Smart Building Department at Nexans, where she oversaw department operations and propelled the adoption of smart technologies.
With a strong foundation in sales and project management, Maria has also been instrumental as a Specifier Channel Manager at Schneider Electric and as a Key Accounts Manager at Legrand. In these roles, she excelled in managing relationships with key stakeholders, negotiating contracts, and ensuring project delivery aligned with client specifications. Earlier in her career, she contributed to Kohler Co. as a Project Engineering Manager, which enabled her to develop a profound understanding of engineering principles combined with practical applications in project execution.
Education and Achievements
Maria's academic background is robust, with a degree in Engineering from the renowned Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Céramique Industrielle. This educational grounding provided her with fundamental technical skills and analytical abilities required to excel in engineering roles. Following her engineering degree, she pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) specializing in International Commerce at École des Ponts Business School, further enhancing her business acumen and strategic thinking capabilities.
Maria's ongoing commitment to professional development is reflected in her key competencies, which include problem-solving, decision-making, and achieving results through effective people management. She is known for facing challenges with confidence and conveying complex information in an easily digestible manner. Furthermore, her exceptional negotiation skills have been pivotal in influencing results and fostering collaboration among diverse teams.
Achievements
Throughout her stellar career, Maria has accomplished numerous milestones that highlight her capabilities as an engineering and business development professional. Her legacy includes forming strategic partnerships, enhancing sales performance, and leading teams towards achieving significant revenue growth. Each position she has held speaks to her ability to take initiatives and translate ideas into tangible business results. Her entrepreneurial spirit is exemplified through her successful co-founding of BERBER RITUALS, which enabled her to cement her place in the business landscape with innovative and creative solutions in the marketplace.
Maria Lajaate stands as a prominent figure in the engineering and business spheres, recognized for her commitment to excellence and her passion for creating value through innovative business solutions.
