As a graduate engineering student in Chicago, Miguel Vicedo approached career fairs with a clear strategy: pursue scale. To him, massive corporations represented boundless potential for a small-town native eager to explore global horizons and immerse himself in diverse cultures.

A serendipitous conversation with a GE Vernova recruiter shifted his trajectory. The company’s global reach and complex industrial operations resonated deeply. Count me in, he declared without hesitation.

Images credit: GE Vernova

This pivotal meeting catalyzed Vicedo’s meteoric rise from intern to executive. Over 15 years, he’s navigated continents—from Europe to Africa to North America—accumulating experiences that fueled his curiosity. “I craved discovery,” he reflects. “The endless learning opportunities became my driving force.”

Stumbling blocks were inevitable, yet GE Vernova colleagues consistently offered guidance when he sought it. This culture of inquiry was ingrained early: growing up in Spain, Vicedo’s inquisitive nature flourished under his mother’s influence. Though she shared her son’s engineering mindset, societal barriers prevented her from pursuing it professionally.

Climbing the Corporate Ladder: From Intern to Executive

Landing a 2008 internship at GE Vernova’s Madrid office felt like winning the lottery. Supporting aeroderivative gas turbines—repurposed aircraft engines for power generation—he absorbed knowledge from seasoned professionals. “Watching their expertise, I remember thinking, ‘Someday I want to stand where they stand,’” he recalls.

Opportunity struck swiftly. When a senior colleague took leave, his manager entrusted the intern to temporarily lead customer service operations. This interim role cemented his permanent position—the first of many career milestones.

By 2013, Vicedo relocated to Johannesburg, South Africa, as customer service leader for sub-Saharan Africa. Beyond technical mentorship, he mastered the art of fostering team camaraderie through shared joy and personal connections.

“I lead with infectious enthusiasm,” he explains. “Arriving daily with energy and a genuine smile creates magnetic teams. I strive to make colleagues feel ownership in our collective journey.”

A subsequent assignment in Luanda, Angola—initially a geographical mystery—deepened his professional purpose. There, gas turbines addressed critical energy gaps in the nation’s fragile power infrastructure. The community-driven ethos reminded him of Spain’s cultural warmth. He often repeats an African proverb: “‘Travel alone to move quickly, but journey together to travel far.’”

Transatlantic Transition: Building Roots in America

A fateful exchange with executive Siva Chockalingam reshaped his path. Recognized as a TM2500 mobile gas turbine specialist—the “portable power plant”—Vicedo received an invitation to support global clients. Fulfilling his longtime ambition to work in the U.S., he relocated to Houston from Angola in 2016.

“Departing Africa knowing I’d empowered local teams to thrive independently became my proudest career moment,” he shares.

Initially confined to technical roles in the U.S., Vicedo’s fluency in Spanish soon unlocked new doors. By 2020, his expertise in gas turbines positioned him as a key player in sales across the Americas.

His boldest move came through innovation: proposing turbine leasing instead of traditional sales. After persuading leadership of the model’s viability, he ascended to global sales leadership for aeroderivative gas turbines.

Today, he blends 15 years of insights into dynamic daily work. “Every day defies repetition,” he says. “From strategic boardroom debates to global deal negotiations, I thrive on balancing customer needs with macro-level business vision.”

Engineered Ambition: Advice for Future Leaders

Miguel channels his energy into tackling global energy challenges—prioritizing decarbonization amid surging demand from data centers and electrification trends. “Never before has our industry faced such urgent, complex demands,” he acknowledges.

To aspiring engineers, he offers actionable wisdom: Embrace uncertainty, cultivate mentors, and dare to invent roles that don’t exist yet. “I’ve learned progress requires proactive creation,” he asserts. “At GE Vernova, curiosity and passion unlock limitless growth—if you dare to seize them.”

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