When discussing with Amir Mahdavi, NEPower’s Sourcing & Procurement Director, one thing becomes clear quickly: no great achievement is ever accomplished alone.
Over the past 14 years, Amir has built an international career across several industries. His experience includes different types of Power plants, Refineries, Petrochemicals and large-scale energy infrastructure. During his time as a Chief Inspector on mega size projects, Amir realized he wanted to have a more direct impact on project outcomes.
“At some point, I understood that if you really want to influence the outcome, you also need to be involved in procurement. It’s not enough to inspect the work afterwards. You need to understand what has been agreed, under what conditions, and what happens all the way through to project completion.”
One of the most significant turning points in Amir's career was his opportunity to participate in major energy infrastructure projects. He is particularly proud of a project that was selected as a finalist in the IPMA Global Awards in 2020. The overall project was valued at approximately USD 4.5 billion.
“When you successfully deliver projects of that scale, you learn a tremendous amount about how processes, people and decision-making come together to create a successful outcome.”
Despite these achievements, Amir does not consider individual recognition to be the most important measure of success.
“It’s never about one person. It’s about the team”, Amir says.
A journey to Finland and NEPower
While Amir's international career offered many opportunities around the world, his move to Finland had a personal reason behind it.
“There’s a woman behind this story, too,” Amir laughs. “I followed my love to Finland. Happy wife, happy life.”
After moving to Finland, he was introduced to NEPower, and the idea of working together developed quickly. Just four months after arriving in Finland, Amir joined the company.
According to Amir, one of the most important responsibilities of a modern procurement leader is helping a company navigate an increasingly complex business environment.
“Regulations change, geopolitical situations evolve, and supply chains face disruptions. Procurement’s role is to make sure the company stays on the safe side of all these developments.”
He sees long-term partnerships and the development of resilient supply chains as some of the greatest opportunities in procurement.
“The best outcomes are achieved through a mutually beneficial, win-win approach. Building long term partnerships creates greater value than focusing solely on short term gains.”
Leadership without hierarchies
Amir's leadership philosophy differs from traditional hierarchical thinking.
"I don't want to be seen as a manager. I want to be a trusted colleague who helps others succeed."
He prefers to picture an organization as a circle rather than a triangle.
"Teamwork is the foundation of everything. An organization is not a pyramid, but a network of people working towards a common goal."
This is also the kind of working culture he has experienced at NEPower.
“I’ve really enjoyed working here. People have been very supportive, and I’ve gained valuable technical knowledge from different parts of the organization. I feel that collaboration works well across the company.”
Don't try to be the hero
When asked about the most important lesson he has learned throughout his career, Amir's answer comes without hesitation.
"This is a team sport."
According to Amir, the best decisions are made when processes are in place and different experts are involved in decision-making.
“It’s important to avoid playing the hero. Large procurement projects involve significant amounts of money, so every decision must be based on careful preparation, collaboration and the right approvals.”
Life beyond work
Outside working hours, Amir enjoys music, reading and exploring the world of science. Classical music, jazz, cosmology and physics are particularly close to his heart.
“It’s great to sometimes immerse yourself in completely different worlds. It helps you see things from a new perspective.”
Published 10.11.2026