Meet Oscar Ibarra, Kevel’s VP of Sales, as he reflects on Kevel’s culture, career milestones, and what drives him every day. Based in Chicago, IL, Oscar embarked on two exciting journeys this year -- welcoming a new baby and beginning his role at Kevel!
For Oscar, joining Kevel was all about building on strong relationships. “One of the main drivers was the opportunity to partner with Puja, our COO,” he shares. “We’ve had great success building businesses together in the past, and her leadership is inspiring.”
Kevel CEO & Founder, James Avery, also played a significant role in Oscar’s decision to join Kevel. “It’s refreshing to work with a CEO who’s not just passionate about the product but equally invested in his people,” Oscar says. “James has created a collaborative environment where everyone is aligned to share a north star.”
“This is a tough one, because I resonate with all our values,” Oscar admits. “But the one that stands out the most to me is We are all adults. It’s refreshing to work at an organization where this isn’t just lip service. We genuinely give our people the autonomy and trust to execute their work, which fosters both accountability and creativity.”
This autonomy became especially meaningful when Oscar joined Kevel just ten days after his baby girl was born. “Being fully remote made that transition feel a lot smoother. I’ve had so much more face time with the baby, and that’s something I really appreciate,” he reflects. “A lot of companies are forcing people back to the office, but the autonomy at Kevel is incredible.”
We Are All Adults
“We will build a company where we want to work, with a focus on self-responsibility and autonomy.
We trust our employees to do the right thing, and we don’t feel like the company or management needs to babysit them.”
- Kevel’s Constitution
Oscar’s passion lies in solving problems and creating meaningful impact for Kevel’s customers. “I absolutely love helping our customers solve critical business challenges,” he says. “Being able to connect our solutions to their pain points and articulate the ROI and value we can deliver is incredibly fulfilling.”
Of course, there’s also the satisfaction of closing deals. “I mean, that’s the most exciting part,” he adds. “But you’re only able to close deals because you’ve identified the challenges your customers face and tied your solution back to it.”
Coaching others to success is one of Oscar’s greatest passions. “A personal accomplishment for me was when I had a rep who had never done Sales before,” he recalls. “He was a teacher, and in the summers, he’d do construction. I saw his potential and told him, ‘If you put in the work and you’re consistent, we’re going to make you number one rep at this company.”
Within two years, that rep not only became the top performer but also earned ‘Rep of the Year’ honors. “It was such an awesome accomplishment, helping someone hit their target and change their career trajectory,” Oscar shares proudly.
Oscar himself is also no stranger to success, having made President’s Club multiple times -- both as a sales rep and leader. “Being in the top 10% of your company is always a massive accomplishment,” he adds.
When he’s not driving sales success, Oscar cherishes time with his family, hitting the gym with his wife, and bonding with his daughter, Viviana. “Being remote has been such a blessing. I’ve been able to spend more time with my baby than I ever thought possible,” he shares.
Oscar has also developed a love for golf in his free time. “I’ve gotten really into golf over the last few years,” he says with a laugh. “My handicap might not reflect my enthusiasm, but I genuinely enjoy the sport and the challenge.”
