5 QUESTIONS TO...

times and they invest in their employees, regardless of the situation. Through the years, the Lebanese market has never disappointed us, regardless of the political and economical situations. Last year, we opened our office in UAE and I am delighted to see much of the same determination from our new clients.

You have just celebrated the 10th anniversary of Phi Management; what are your ultimate fears?

I am mindful that the way Phi has been managed during the first 10 years will be quite different in the years ahead. In the past 10 years, we succeeded in making Phi an organization that is not just about one person. My fear today is that of any owner of a young business in today’s world: sustainability and growth in a world changing faster than ever through the use of technology. I am constantly thinking how to outpace the competition and am at the same time fully aware that due to technology our competition is no longer limited to the geography of this region.

What has been your greatest inspiration?

I have great admiration and respect for the family businesses in the region. Some of these businesses are our most loyal customers and I look to the way they have started and how they are being developed. We can learn many lessons from each one of their journeys to success.

What has been your most satisfying moment in business?

As you might know, we rarely do sales calls. Our main stream of business comes from repeat customers and referrals in the market. For me, the most satisfying moments in business are when we sign a contract that we all worked hard to get or we finalize a strategic project that we all worked hard to complete. Every time we promise ourselves to open a bottle of Champagne to celebrate, but then we get another project and we forget the Champagne.