David Ibarra, the son of Mexican immigrants, was able to turn his complicated childhood into a meaningful purpose as an entrepreneur.
From the beginning, life was difficult for Ibarra, and society had several stereotypes about his family. Moreover, his parents divorced, and his father was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army in Korea.
Facing the barriers of that time and the many responsibilities of being a 17-year-old mother, Ibarra’s mom made the difficult decision to leave her son at the Utah Foster Care System, never to return.
Many might view this event as traumatic and potentially life-ruining, but in Ibarra’s own words, "It was quite the opposite."
“If I hadn't experienced 14 years living in foster care with different families, some good, some not, I wouldn't have been able to recognize when somebody is feeling what I felt,” Ibarra said.
Although his father had to serve on another continent, Ibarra stayed in touch with him. Thanks to his father, Ibarra learned the importance of hard work and perseverance. The foster care system didn’t allow his father to take Ibarra into custody, though.
However, this life experience allowed him to meet Cecil Smith, who gave him a foundation of structure and purpose.
Despite having support from Smith, Ibarra's childhood and his future remained complicated.
“I thought that I would play football at Brigham Young University or the University of Utah. I was an all-city running back in Sacramento, (but I) didn't pay attention,” Ibarra said. “So, I didn't attend almost any classes. I goofed off. Then I got hurt.”
Despite these circumstances, at 18, he met Robert E. Ferrell while working as a dishwasher at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour. Ferrell introduced him to the idea of being an entrepreneur.
Guided by advice and a single book, Ibarra began working hard and dreaming of a successful future, eventually rising from dishwasher to director of training at Marriott.
“I made my first million dollars before I was 30,” Ibarra said. “I opened a nightclub and a Mexican restaurant."
Even with his life full of loss, Ibarra’s persevering spirit was the key to keeping going through life.
“I decided to shift and take what I had learned in hospitality and enter the automotive business,” Ibarra said. “Today I have four different companies.”
He didn’t forget his humble beginnings, though. Throughout life, Ibarra has given back to the community. In 2004, he founded the Ibarra Foundation, which invests in the future of the Latino community. Ibarra has taken a special interest in investing in education, assisting more than 100 students.
In 2019, Ibarra ran for mayor of Salt Lake City. Although he wasn't elected, he has continued to help the community.
“I'm not a politician, nor do I want to be. Being mayor was not a promotion, but when we see about 2,000 people living in the street in tents, you want to do something,” Ibarra said. “While I didn't get my chance, I still work on it heavily to help everyone.”
Ibarra’s life teaches people to keep pursuing their dreams, even in the most challenging circumstances. As he has shown, it is possible to be a dreamer while giving back to the community.