Meet Alexandar Ivanov

Welcome back to our Life at AMPECO series, where we meet you with the fantastic professionals behind the award-winning EV charging management platform of AMPECO. Today, we introduce  Alexander Ivanov, one of the team leads in our engineering department. 

Alex has been in the software industry for almost ten years, and his experience has been mainly in a service-oriented company. His product journey starts when he joins AMPECO. 

When focused on something other than the development of the web portal and the mobile application, Alexander loves jogging, cycling, and hiking in the mountains, as do many of the people at AMPECO. Active resting is his way of recharging and being the best version of himself personally and professionally. 

Let’s dive into Alex’s story and the advice he gives to everyone who wants to join AMPECO on the road to success. 

What path led you to AMPECO?

I have accumulated nearly ten years of experience through working on a variety of projects. However, jumping from one unrelated task to another made it challenging to stay focused and dedicated. That’s why joining AMPECO was so appealing to me – the opportunity to work on a product and the favorable opinion I received from a friend about the company motivated me to explore it further. After checking out the fantastic product and company stories on the AMPECO blog and seeing job openings that matched my skills, I didn’t hesitate to apply. Besides the product, I am passionate about green transportation and believe it’s the way forward. AMPECO’s role in this transformation is inspiring and motivates us to tackle even the most challenging tasks.

What’s the thing about your role that ignites your power?

I am a very helpful person and providing support comes naturally to me. Whether it’s giving hints, guidance, or providing resources for growth, I am motivated to contribute, even if it leads to just a 1% improvement. My personality trait aligns with the prominent qualities of our company culture. Given the complexity of our product, collaboration and mutual support are essential to deliver the best quality as a team. I find great satisfaction in being a team champion and supporting my colleagues.

A team champion’s role differs from the standard definition of a team lead. In addition to leading the team, a team champion also acts as a mentor and is responsible for the professional growth of the team members. To ensure efficiency, we must delegate tasks according to each team member’s skills and consider their areas for improvement. As team champions, we are responsible for facilitating the professional development of our team members, which is an integral part of our company culture.

What does your typical workday look like?

My typical workday starts with checking email and reviewing different reminders and notifications through Slack. I prioritize the most critical tasks in the morning because my responsibilities span through various domains. Daily tasks are an inseparable part of the everyday lives of AMPECO’s engineers, and our team is no different.

Our team’s primary focus is on the front-end of the product, particularly the mobile application and the web portal. This has been our primary focus for the past two years, and have also been building alongside a brand-new mobile application.

During our daily meetings, I ensure the team can continue their tasks and assist them with any obstacles. I also oversee task reviews and other operational matters and serve as one of the hiring managers at AMPECO. Planning releases, assessing product team requests against our requirements, and effective planning are all my daily responsibilities here.

What are the go-to skills to work at one of the world’s leading EV charging software companies?

Regarding the skills required for our team, a good understanding of applications is essential, especially since we’ve been developing mobile apps. Having a good understanding of UX practices is a must since we are striving to provide the product with the best experience in the industry. Our team’s roles go beyond just coding – we’re working on a white-label product, so we often need to assess whether a new feature or change will benefit a small group of clients or a significant portion of them.

Effective communication is essential here as we deal with a complex and extensive product. You should be capable of simplifying complex issues to facilitate collaboration. AMPECO consists of 150 individuals, and we heavily depend on each other. You must be easily accessible, approachable, and proactive. We are not your typical developers; we also need to have a consulting mindset to assist our clients. Taking the initiative is highly valued here, so one should be ready to take the lead.

How does your journey at AMPECO contribute to your personal and professional growth? 

In my professional and personal life, I’ve been taking on more leadership responsibilities, which has helped me gain self-confidence. I want to thank all the managers who have supported my growth. Surprisingly, having more responsibilities hasn’t left me feeling exhausted; it has energized me and fueled my desire to help others achieve more by sharing this energy.

The specific things that helped me develop in both areas are related to the guidance that we, as team champions, need to give the people in our teams. I am responsible for performance reviews and providing helpful, constructive feedback that measures what needs improvement. This is a crucial skill for a great leader. It empowers me to see people improve after receiving this feedback because they focus exactly on what to emphasize to become even better professionals.

What do you like the most about your team and the people here?

I love the rare combination of excellent technical skills, cooperation, and a willingness to share knowledge. Here, we are passionate about our product and believe that cross-collaboration is crucial. Everyone at AMPECO is dedicated to providing our customers with the best value. One of the most significant advantages of our product is its continuous delivery of business benefits for the CPOs.

I appreciate our knowledge-sharing culture. We even have a dedicated Slack channel where we share interesting things, whether or not they’re related to work. You may not know everything, but a colleague is always there to help.

What would you tell a friend who is considering working at AMPECO?

I recommend the company to individuals who are determined to grow and are willing to take initiative and be proactive. Our industry is experiencing rapid growth, and the markets are constantly evolving. The theme of the last AMPECO Summit was “It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” but our CEO, Orlin Radev, expressed something even more fitting for the pace of AMPECO – “It’s a marathon sprint.” Here, everyone must be ready to do both at the same time. If you’re that kind of person, join us.

What’s your advice for someone wanting to join our team?

Give yourself time, as the product is quite complex. Once you grasp it, you’ll feel empowered and contribute to the transportation revolution.

Describe AMPECO in 3 words. 

Progress, culture, revolution. 

Progress is embedded in everything at AMPECO. We continually grow personally and professionally by advancing global EV charging.

Culture is critical for our company’s growth and fosters collaboration and cross-communication, making people feel great.

AMPECO is contributing to the transportation sector revolution. We are progressing in the right direction, and I take pride in that.