Ayman Baky, the Founder of Baky Hospitality, has dedicated 18 years of his career to gaining valuable experience in the hospitality industry. Throughout his journey, he has built an impressive portfolio of successfully managing operations in various renowned establishments. With a strong focus on finance and logistics, Ayman possesses a deep understanding of these areas, complemented by his exceptional skills in F&B project management.
In 2009, he joined Tamarai’s management team and rose to the position of managing partner before leaving in 2013. Ayman founded his own Hospitality group with the goal of elevating the hospitality experience in the capital’s F&B industry.
As CEO, Ayman is determined to hire the most skilled and inventive employees in order to provide the greatest quality services while keeping up with ever-changing market trends.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World’s Leaders and Ayman Baky:
Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace.
As Ayman Baky, I have been passionate and dedicated about the hospitality industry since before I can remember. From introducing the party scene in my university years to creating a company which now has 3 restaurants ranked in MENA’S 50 Best. I am a true advocate for walking in humility and patience in everything I do.
Describe your background and what did you do before you started/joined the company?
My journey started early, when I was a student in university, I began planning major underground parties and after a few years I realized I wanted to continue in this line of business. I became so passionate about it. As I grew out of the party scene, I decided I wanted to own a small neighborhood bar and lounge in Zamalek. A year after, I did just that after partnering up with one of the most reputable chefs in the industry at the time. Ever since, taking this step many doors started opening. However, that did not mean I didn’t face any challenges. Before Baky Hospitality, I had opened several places and closed them down a few years later due to unsuccessful partnerships or bad timings.
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
The inception of the company was born out of a desire to create exceptional hospitality experiences for our guests. I had decided to leave the nightlife scene and go for a more family friendly atmosphere as well as introduce fine dining to Cairo. We started with the opening of Sachi, a small 80-seat restaurant in an upscale neighborhood, and quickly grew from there. Today, we operate a number of award-winning restaurants, including Kazoku, Sachi Restaurants, and Shinko, Reif Kushiyaki, Megumi and Lexie’s offering a wide range of cuisine and styles to cater to our guests’ diverse tastes.
What has made you successful? What do you value?
I believe that our success is due to a number of factors, including a strong commitment to customer satisfaction, a focus on quality and attention to detail, and first and foremost is our passionate and dedicated team.
We value teamwork and collaboration and empower our team members to take ownership of their roles and contribute to our shared success. I like to say that we’ve created an extended family. We always aim to make each and every customer feel at home, by being humble, friendly, honest and most of all dedicated to the service we provide.
Which are the major services of the company and how do they the company to get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide?
Baky Hospitality Group offers a range of dining experiences, from fine dining to more casual concepts. Our restaurants serve a variety of cuisines, from contemporary Japanese to modern Italian, and we are constantly developing new concepts and ideas to keep our guests engaged and coming back for more. We are working on exciting new additions such as Baky Catering and Baky Hotels.
I believe the value-added services is the one-to-one relationship our team has with our clients truly embodying the company’s mission of always have guest’s feeling like extended family.
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
At Baky Hospitality, we believe that the most important aspects of a company’s culture are humbleness, integrity, and a commitment to excellence. We strive to create an environment where our team members feel valued and supported, and where we work together to achieve our goals.
What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company?
Innovative ideas are critical to our success, and we encourage our team members to think outside the box and come up with new and creative ways to enhance our offerings and improve the guest experience. Today’s world, everything has become fast-paced so one of the biggest challenges is keeping up. It’s very important to do so as everyone is exposed to new experiences and their needs and wants change. It is our job to adapt to that.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?
I firmly believe that organizations rely heavily on both individual heroics and team processes. While it is important to have strong individuals who can contribute their unique talents and expertise, it is equally important to have a cohesive team that can work together towards a shared vision and common goals.
What are your responsibilities as the Founder of the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
As the Founder of the company, my responsibilities include business development, and fostering a positive and collaborative work environment. The happiest part of my daily routine is when I wake up in the morning, read my Bible, and work out. It sets a positive tone for the rest of the day and helps me stay focused and energized.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
For someone going into a leadership position for the first time, my advice would be to lead by example, listen to feedback from your team members, and focus on building a positive and collaborative culture. It’s important to stay true to your values and vision, but also to be open to new ideas and perspectives. Above all, be humble, patient, passionate and committed to your position and success will follow.
