Stories of Success

Donald J. Trump

Donald J. Trump is the very definition of the American success story. He has continually set new standards of excellence while expanding his interests nationally and internationally. Mr. Trump is personally involved in everything that his name represents. This commitment has made him the pre-eminent developer of quality real estate around the world, and in all his endeavors the Trump gold standard is apparent. He is the archetypal businessman—a deal maker without peer and an ardent philanthropist.

Mr. Trump started his business career in an office he shared with his father, Fred, in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. He worked with his father for five years, where they were busy making deals together. Mr. Trump has stated, “My father was my mentor and I learned a tremendous amount about every aspect of the construction industry from him." Likewise, Fred C. Trump often stated that “some of my best deals were made by my son, Donald….everything he touches turns to gold.”

In New York City, the Trump signature is synonymous with the most prestigious of addresses such as the world-renowned Fifth Avenue skyscraper, Trump Tower and the 52-story super luxury hotel and residential building designed by the famed architect Philip Johnson, opened in 1997, after bouncing back from financial challenges. In 2008, the 92-story Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago opened and was touted by Condi Nast Traveler as the “hottest new hotel in North America.” The Trump Hotel Collection also has projects going up around the world including one in Dubai. Mr. Trump, an avid golfer, also develops world-class golf courses, with award-winning courses in several American cities, and the Caribbean.

As an accomplished and best selling author, Mr. Trump has had numerous best sellers including ‘The Art of the Deal’, which is considered a business classic; ‘Think Big’ ‘Never Give Up’ among others. His books are seen to be sources of inspiration by many.

In a departure from his real estate acquisitions, in January of 2004, Mr. Trump joined forces with Mark Burnett Productions and NBC to produce and star in the television reality show, ‘The Apprentice’. The show quickly became #1 on television and is currently in its eighth season.

Steven Jobs

Steven Paul Jobs who was born February 24, 1955 is an American businessman, and the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc. Jobs previously served as CEO of Pixar Animation Studios.

In the late 1970s, Jobs, with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, started their business from a garage house where they were able to create one of the first commercially successful personal computers. In the early 1980s, Jobs was among the first to see the commercial potential of the mouse-driven graphical user interface.

After losing a power struggle with the board of directors in 1985, Jobs resigned from Apple and founded NeXT, a computer platform development company specializing in the higher education and business markets. NeXT's subsequent 1997 buyout by Apple Computer Inc. brought Jobs back to the company he co-founded, and he has served as its CEO since then.

Steve Jobs has become a well-known Silicon Valley entrepreneur from the history he went through to start up his business. In 2007 Steve was listed as FORTUNE magazine’s most powerful businessman.

Apple now leads the industry in innovation with its award-winning Macintosh computers, OS X operating system, and consumer and professional applications software. Apple is also leading the digital music revolution, having sold more than 200 million iPods and over eight billion songs from its iTunes online store. Apple has also entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

The total assets of Apple Inc. are now up to $39.57 billion. (2008)

Steve also co-founded Pixar Animation Studios, which has created eight of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time: Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars and Ratatouille. Pixar has won 20 Academy Awards and its films have grossed more than $4 billion at the worldwide box office to date. Pixar merged with The Walt Disney Company in 2006 and Steve now serves on Disney's board of directors.

“Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.” – Steve Jobs

Richard Branson

‘A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts’ – this is the view of one of the most successful international entrepreneurs, Richard Bronson. Known best for his successful companies under the “Virgin” brand name and their products, Branson is also famous for his extreme world record breaking attempts.

Richard Branson was born on July 18, 1950, and started out as an entrepreneur with the publication of his magazine - “Student” at age 16. He also started a Student Advisory Center when he was just 17, with the aim of helping young people. At the tender age of 20 he also started a company called “Virgin” which operated as a mail order record store with is friend Nick Powell.

Soon after, he opened a Virgin record store in Oxford Street, London and then a recording studio in Oxfordshire in 1972. Mike Oldfield was the first artist to sign with Virgin records creating the album "Tubular Bells" which was released in 1973. The album sold more than five million copies. During his ownership of Virgin Records Branson turned it into a major success signing big names including Steve Winwood, Paula Abdul, Belinda Carlisle, Genesis, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Simple Minds, The Human League, Bryan Ferry, Culture Club, Janet Jackson, and The Rolling Stones. In 1992 Richard Branson sold the Virgin Music Group record labels, music publishing and recording studios to Thorn EMI in a $1 billion deal.

In 1984 Branson continued his entrepreneurial activities when he moved into the airline industry and started “Virgin Atlantic Airways” which has become the second largest English long haul international airline and operates a fleet of aircraft to major cities in the United States and Tokyo. The ‘Virgin’ brand extends beyond the airline and covers a wide range of activities such as publication & distribution of books, fitness clubs, credit cards and flights to space among others. Since 1985, he has been involved in a number of record-breaking land and air speed and distance attempts In 1986, with his boat, "Virgin Atlantic Challenger II," he crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the fastest recorded time ever. One year later, the hot air balloon called the "Virgin Atlantic Flyer" was the first hot air balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean, and was the largest ever flown at 2.3 million cubic feet capacity, reaching speeds in excess of 130 mph. Again In 1991, Branson crossed the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Arctic Canada, breaking all existing records with speeds of up to 245 mph in a balloon measuring 2.6 million cubic feet.

In addition to his business activities Branson is also a trustee of a number of charities, including The Healthcare Foundation. He became Sir Richard Branson after being knighted by the Queen in 1999 for his business ability and enthusiasm for the spirit of Britain. He lives in London and Oxfordshire and is married with two children.

Source: http://www.woopidoo.com/biography/richard_branson.htm

Alia Abdullah Al Mazrouei

Following the dream

“What do I tell everyone?” I said.

“Just follow your dream” she said.

Our idol in this story is an Emirati woman that many look up to for inspiration. She is proof that with hard work and strong will, we can achieve this dream. She is Alia Abdullah Al Mazrouei, a daughter, a sister, a mother, a wife and an employee of the government. Having said that, Alia is also a very successful entrepreneur.

Alia is one of the co founders of Just Falafel, a restaurant that sells delicious, tasty falafels inspired by the different regions in the world. The origin of falafel has been a hot topic of discussion among generations. What distinguishes Just Falafel from many others is that it plays the role of devil’s advocate by providing customers with all sorts of falafel; Greek, Mexican, Lebanese and Indian, you name it. Just Falafel is not just a restaurant but a cool, clean, healthy falafel shop. All falafels are prepared on a bar in front of the shop with the choice of grabbing a seat at the bar or a snack box to go.

What makes Alia’s story so special is that with a simple concept and delicious recipes, she now has her customer’s attention on a national scale. Customers are really questioning the origins of falafel and believe that wherever it came from, it’s just simple and delicious. While creativity is abundant, creating something simple and turning it to a raving success is what makes Alia stand out from the crowd. It’s what makes her an idol.

Azza Al Qubaisi

Creating Business from Art

Can you turn your passion into cash? Azza Qubaisi, a female Emirati jewellery & sculpture artist would readily say ‘yes’. Founder of the Arabian Workshop for Jewellery & Gem (ARJMST), she has been building her own brand of high quality, custom made jewellery and corporate gift items for the past seven years.

Upon graduation from university with a bachelor degree in Silversmithing, Jewellery and Allied Crafts, despite strong encouragement from relatives to search for a job, Azza decided to use her creative passion to start her own business. (She did in fact submit her CV to a newly established department in the Abu Dhabi Municipality that would be responsible for gem testing, but she did not pursue that path.) She uses her knowledge of local Emirati culture to design unique pieces that reflect aspects of the country’s history while encompassing contemporary lifestyle.

Recognition of Azza’s art came after her first exhibition in 2004 which was inaugurated by Sheikh Nahyan. This was the launching pad, and participation in many other local and international exhibitions soon followed. Her first order for corporate gifts came a year later – 500 pieces at a cost of AED 1,000 each. There were many challenges, but not enough to discourage this resourceful young lady who came up with innovative solutions including going outside of the country to find alternate production methods. Delivery was a couple weeks after the initial deadline, but her hand-made coffee cups were well-received by the client. This first order was by no means a financial success, but Azza learnt many lessons that would prove beneficial for other projects. Other constraints presented themselves in the form of financing (all the money invested in the business was provided by her father); affordable space to set up and expand the workshop; and support services such as accounting. Despite these hurdles, however, Azza has persevered, confident that her investment would pay off in the long run. And she has come a long way; she can now deliver orders within two days, down from the 6 months that she was given for the initial order; and the business has been fully independent, paying its own way since 2005.

Azza wants her art to survive, her business to succeed, and she works hard at both. She has received many awards for her hard work, determination and for being a trail-blazer. These include the nomination to represent the UAE at an international workshop for women entrepreneurs in Malaysia. She gives back to her community through sharing her experience as entrepreneur in workshops and seminars for young Emirati students in schools and colleges. She thinks the market is huge for local artists to use their designs and ides as business ventures, and sees this as a way of merging Abu Dhabi’s art with the growing business community in the emirate. She remains confident that ‘her future is in her own hands’.