Welcome to the OdaTeam Spotlight Series! As the leading Enterprise Data Platform for Salesforce, some of the best and brightest in the ecosystem work here at Odaseva at our offices in San Francisco, Paris, Sydney, London, Kuala Lumpur, and remotely around the world. In this Q&A series, we’ll be sharing their journeys with you. And by the way, it’s an exciting time to join the team transforming SaaS data management! You can see our open positions in here.
Today we’re featuring Kevin McLaren, Senior Business Development Representative, Odaseva.
Q: Tell us about what you do here at Odaseva:
A: I'm focused on keeping customer data safe in the Salesforce ecosystem.
Think of it this way: customer data is like high-powered jet fuel. When used right, it powers incredible efficiencies and outcomes for both the public sector and commercial businesses. It's a net positive! But if that fuel isn't stored and managed properly, it can cause an explosion.
My mission is to prevent that havoc. I identify companies that need a better way to secure and manage their critical Salesforce data, making sure our solution fits their budget, timing, and long-term roadmap. Every morning, I come to work knowing I'm doing good for the community by helping enterprises protect the personal information that powers their digital world.
Q: What’s the team that you work with like?:
A: The Australian team is a great bunch of people and we are very self contained. We all contribute with ideas as well as execution so there is always a good discussion to be had, which I enjoy. We do believe we punch above our weight.
Q: Why did you join Odaseva?
A: When I left university I was the only one of my friends that went into marketing, everyone else went to SAP or Oracle into Sales. One of my mates joined a little startup called Mulesoft as the only BDR in APAC and grew the business here. We know what happened there! My goal was to switch careers by joining a startup within a larger ecosystem and make the transition into sales. Odaseva ticked all the boxes I was looking for.
Q: What do you like about working at Odaseva?
A: I genuinely believe that we make a tiny (but important) difference in people's lives. Multiply that by the customer records in our customer orgs and you get to do this at scale, it’s a lot of people. Everyday there is more bad news in the press about people's personal data being stolen or misplaced and the real world outcomes for people, who often don’t understand what is happening.
I could be selling ERP or cloud infrastructure or consulting services, but the world is a better place with customer data encrypted, recovery ready and well governed and I am proud to be a part of the process of getting the right tools into the right hands.
Q: How did you come to join the Salesforce ecosystem?
A: Through Odaseva. Like I said I wanted to be part of an ecosystem and was delighted when the Salesforce opportunity came through.
Q: What’s your proudest work-related accomplishment or project?
A: I am here to develop business so the business that developed into customers are the highlights. Working with Adam (my boss) and cross functionally with the team, individuals represent entire business functions for APAC (e.g. alliances, customer success and support for example) has allowed me to contribute ideas and shape strategy and tactics and that's fun. But training and mentoring some new starters and seeing them get it is the true highlight - I am one of four siblings and the only one that doesn't work as a teacher. It’s in my blood so to say.
Q: What else can you tell us about yourself?
A: I enjoy sailing. I get to crew a mid sized boat around Sydney harbor, which is pretty spectacular. I keep some level of fitness by going to the gym and running several times a week. Weekends are sacred, if I am not visiting family or sailing I like to watch sports especially Formula 1, Moto GP and rugby union with friends or hang out on the couch with my partner.
Join the team transforming Salesforce data security! See Odaseva’s open positions here. When you join Odaseva, you’ll work alongside some of the most accomplished people in the Salesforce ecosystem, helping leading global companies manage a mission-critical asset—their data. Odaseva offers an inclusive, collaborative, work environment where talented people innovate and grow. We have openings in our San Francisco, Paris, Sydney, London, Kuala Lumpur offices, as well as remote work opportunities across the world.
