Making Global Hiring Personal at Pebl

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Meet Solange Obawole, Account Executive

For Solange Obawole, sales has never been about convincing someone to buy something. It's about listening.

“I've never believed sales is about convincing people to buy something,” Obawole said. “For me, it's about listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions and helping people solve a problem.”

As an Account Executive at Pebl, Obawole partners with businesses throughout their global hiring journey, helping customers navigate the complexities of international expansion with confidence. Originally from Germany with Beninese roots, and now based in Scotland, her own international background gives her a unique perspective on the global workforce Pebl serves every day.

“I've lived in multiple countries, so Pebl's mission of helping companies build teams anywhere genuinely resonated with me,” she said.

Growing from SDR to Account Executive

Obawole joined Pebl in October 2025 as a Sales Development Representative focused on the EMEA region after previous sales roles at companies including Calm and Atlassian. While she enjoyed connecting customers with the right solutions, she was eager to continue growing.

That opportunity came through Pebl's SDR Speed Run pilot, where SDRs were given the chance to own and close smaller deals.

“It was a steep but incredibly rewarding learning curve,” Obawole said. “I gained experience in quoting, commercial negotiations and working closely with our operations, HR, onboarding, legal and contracts teams, all well beyond the traditional SDR remit.”

The experience ultimately led to her promotion to Account Executive, a milestone that represented years of hard work.

“After more than five years working as an SDR throughout my career, reaching this milestone has been incredibly rewarding and means a lot to me personally,” she said.

Today, Obawole leads customer conversations from discovery through close, helping businesses expand globally while making the process feel approachable and straightforward.

Curiosity fuels career growth

When asked about the biggest professional skill she's developed at Pebl, Obawole doesn't point to sales techniques or negotiations. Instead, she points to curiosity.

“Pebl has encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and learn by doing,” she said. “I've become much more confident asking questions, leaning on the expertise of people around me and approaching new challenges with curiosity rather than hesitation.”

That mindset paid off during the SDR Speed Run pilot, where she closed her first deal with a German customer.

“Being able to negotiate and use my language skills in a real commercial setting, then seeing that experience contribute directly to my promotion into an AE role made all the hard work feel incredibly worthwhile,” Obawole said.

One of her proudest accomplishments was earning recognition as a top-performing SDR and joining Pebl’s Champagne Club. She credits her managers and the broader leadership team with believing in her potential and creating opportunities for her to grow.

A culture built on trust

Obawole describes Pebl's culture in three words: collaborative, fast-moving and global. She says the sales team has played a major role in her development by creating an environment where learning is encouraged and questions are welcomed.

“People are always willing to pause what they're doing to coach you through something new, encourage you, answer questions or share their experience,” she said. “That supportive culture has been a huge part of my growth at Pebl.”

She also appreciates the trust employees are given to stretch into new opportunities.

“There's a real culture of trust here,” Obawole said. “People are encouraged to take on new challenges, and if you're willing to learn, you'll find opportunities to grow.”

One of her favorite memories at Pebl has been spending time with teammates in person during visits to the London office.

“Brainstorming ideas, collaborating across teams and getting to spend time with our CEO, VP of EMEA Sales and the wider team always reminds me how special the culture here is,” she said. “Having a laugh together, learning from one another and celebrating our wins face-to-face is something I really value.”

Making a difference, one conversation at a time

For Obawole, the most meaningful moments often happen behind the scenes. She recalls one conversation with an employee who wanted to relocate internationally to join their spouse but whose employer didn't have an entity in the destination country.

“Through Pebl, we were able to make that possible,” she said. “Knowing we could help someone stay with the company they loved while also relocating to be closer to their family reminded me that behind every hire is a real person whose life can genuinely change because of the work we do.”

It's a reminder of why she approaches every customer conversation the way she does.

“Global hiring can be complex, so my role is to make it feel simple,” Obawole said. “Whether I'm helping a business expand internationally or supporting an employee's relocation, I love turning complexity into clarity and knowing that the work we do has a real impact on people's lives.”

From the basketball court to stand-up comedy

Outside of work, Obawole enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling and finding new ways to recharge. Her colleagues may be surprised to learn she played basketball throughout school and university.

“I won't claim I was the star player,” she said. “But I definitely brought plenty of energy and good vibes to the team.”

These days, she's just as happy painting by numbers, cooking, hosting friends or watching “Australian Survivor” and “The Traitors” with her husband.