From SDR to VP of Sales: Rehman Abdur’s 6 Promotions in 5 Years

In this episode, we sit down with Rehman Abdur, co-founder at Saber and a sales veteran with over 15 years of experience across the globe. From Bahrain and Berlin to Amsterdam and Bucharest. Rehman was one of the first sales reps at MessageBird, climbed the ladder with six promotions in five years, and eventually became VP of Sales for EMEA before founding his own company, Saber a sales intelligence platform helping reps close more strategic deals. In this episode, you’ll learn: Rehman’s journey from SDR to VP of Sales and what it really takes to get there. The mindset shift that separates average reps from top performers (“Your quota is the floor, not the ceiling.”) Why math, mentorship, and mindset are the three cornerstones of sales success. How to transition from top performer to effective sales leader and why hunger beats pedigree. How to spot true drive when hiring sales talent (and why Rehman interviews over WhatsApp!). The story behind founding Saber and how salespeople can use buying signals to find better leads. His #1 tip for outbound sales in 2025: stand out by doing deep research, connecting the dots, and personalizing your outreach. Why the best sellers are also content creators, crafting personalized decks, videos, or messages that truly resonate. Whether you’re an aspiring AE, a sales leader, or a founder building your GTM motion this conversation is packed with actionable insights on sales excellence, leadership, and authenticity. Chapters 00:00 Intro. Welcome to The Noble Podcast 01:30 Rehman’s global sales journey 05:00 From SDR to VP of Sales at MessageBird 09:20 The mindset of top performers 15:00 How to find mentors and do “sales math” 20:40 Learning leadership the hard way 27:10 Hiring for hunger, not logos 35:00 Founding Saber and the power of sales signals 43:00 Outbound sales strategy for 2025 52:00 The future of sales and content-driven outreach #SalesPodcast #SalesLeadership #OutboundSales #SaaS #MessageBird #SalesCareer #StartupLife #SalesStrategy #TheNoblePodcast #recruitment