Meet Krastan Ivanov

We’re back with another installment of “Life at AMPECO” where we present the people that power AMPECO. We’re switching gears from our Engineering team to introduce you to the  Head of our Customer Success team, Krastan Ivanov.

Krasi is an adventurer at heart. When he’s not leading his mighty team of 14 customer success managers, he can be found traveling around the world either as a backpacker or riding his motorbike in full gear on the windiest roads he can find. Having already checked over 50 countries off his list, he has set his sights on traveling through the Caspian sea countries and Iran in the spring (depending on the socio-political situation).

He has over 15 years of experience as a manager specializing in Service Delivery, Operation Management, and Project Management. 

This is what he had to say about his life at AMPECO.

Krasi, why did you start working at AMPECO?

The COVID pandemic brought me to AMPECO. I was traveling around the world and planning to open a hostel somewhere in Asia, but unfortunately, I had to come back abruptly when the pandemic started. Back in Sofia, Stef (our CRO and a friend of mine since high school) shared inspiring plans for AMPECO. A few weeks later, I became employee number 10. I knew the founders, and AMPECO seemed a good fit where I could apply my 15 years of experience in the customer service field. I also loved the idea of being part of the efforts to turn the world electric.

Tell us more about your role as Head of AMPECO’s Customer Success Team.

Our team’s primary task is to educate our clients on how to use our product and support them as they scale their businesses. My role as the head of this department is two-fold. On the one hand, I build relationships with our customer base, advocate for their goals and focus on solving their long-term needs. On the other, I support and build up the people in my team as confident communicators and sharp problem solvers.

What do you like about working here?

The people and the company’s mission. I really believe in renewable energy, so for me the EV business is something I associate with and want to work hard on so that the transition to electric cars and green energy is successful – we really need to move away from fossil fuels! Previously, I worked at big corporations and have always enjoyed my job, but I never really believed in the product as much as I do here at AMPECO. I think that this is the future.

What is your favorite thing about AMPECO?

When I joined AMPECO, there was no customer success team. I love that I had to build the team from the ground up. While I was shaping the team, I felt I was, in a way, also shaping AMPECO, our culture, our values, and our mission.

Apart from this experience, my favorite thing in AMPECO is our amazing product and the future we are shaping. We are pioneers. We are the first to build a software solution for EV charging management in Bulgaria.

What skillset do you need to work at one of the world’s leading EV charging software companies?

I would definitely put soft skills first for our team, such as effective communication and building a good rapport. Our clients rely on us to help them to develop and grow their businesses, so we need to be very good at analyzing their needs and giving them the proper feedback. Analytical thinking is also vital as often it’s not what the clients tell you; it’s what they want to tell you that you need to be able to grasp by reading between the lines so that you really understand the issue and can be most helpful. Then I would say understanding our product – we offer a complex solution with vast and various functionalities, so to ensure our clients’ success, we need to ensure we are experts in regards to our product. Finally, I would add problem-solving skills. In this fast-paced, brand-new industry, you simply cannot be prepared for all the situations your customers will find themselves in but providing effective solutions regardless of the situation is what we do best.

What do you do in your spare hours when you’re not busy building AMPECO’s Customer Success team?

I like traveling and discovering new cultures and experiences. I have traveled through more than 50 countries, backpacking and making new friends. A couple of years ago, I started traveling on my motorcycle, enjoying the neighboring countries. My dream is to visit most of the countries of the world.

Hiking in the mountains or visiting ancient temples and fortresses and understanding the people who built them and the cultures of the people who now live there are my favorite things. By the way, ping me if you decide to trek Nepal, as I know a great guide! 🙂

When the weather is not fit for traveling, I like to cook Asian and Indian dishes at home, as I love those two cuisines.

What’s one thing you’re reading or learning that is important to you?

Workwise I am learning more about the new OCPP 2.0.1, and I’ve got an interesting book about electrical power systems for non-electrical professionals.

Outside of work, I am currently learning Persian, which will help me traverse Iran on my bike.

How would you describe AMPECO in 3 words?

The next Bulgarian unicorn ( it’s three words in Bulgarian 🙂 )