This week, we interviewed Rania Afisah, the CEO and Founder of RMA Representation Companies. She is a recognized entrepreneur and business leader who looks into operations strategy and execution.
With extensive expertise in her field and consistency, she focuses on solving problems that can lead to growth. During the interview, she also tells us how businesses achieve successful achievements. Learn more about Rania, her business ways and more through this interview below.
What is your biggest strength?
My greatest strengths come from my ability to be empathetic to people, especially in listening to what they need. I have the ability to solve their problem in a way that gives a win-win situation to both parties involved. For example, I successfully closed long-term agreements with Asian suppliers in China, South Korea, and Iraq, and I also established deep relationships with store managers, business owners, and distribution partners back when I was working with Farusi Brothers. My ability to create harmony between team members also allowed me to train at least 35 high-performing individuals and also strengthened connections with the Apparel providers in Syria, China, Turkey, and France when I was a Chief Executive Officer at Afisah Trading Company.
I strongly believe that for a business to thrive and develop, you need to be really great at dealing with different kinds of people. You have to find out their interests, and you have to clearly communicate how you can help them, and that will happen by asking them a lot of questions and lots of information and also digging up what their problem is. That is where you formulate a variety of strategies to solve their problem. That is also where you will understand what they need and how you will make them feel that they are cared for, which will create strong relationships with them.
What is your biggest challenge?
One of my greatest challenges in this business endeavour was when I decided to start everything in Dubai after losing everything in Syria. Back then, I didn’t have enough resources to establish my business once again. I had no connections, to begin with. I didn’t know anyone when I went to Dubai and found my path again. And I didn’t have any support systems to lean on whenever days got tough. I felt hopeless and lost back then, and I felt that my situation was the dead end of my career.
What makes you excited about Mondays?
For me, Monday is like a RESET button. Mondays are the first day of the week; it feels like another starting line for the business marathon. This first working day of the week marks the start of a new week, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something good and exciting. Mondays give us another window to welcome any challenges or experiences to be exposed to.
Monday brings a new set of adventures, a chance to shine, and another chance to take your game, whatever it may be, to the next level.
Mondays bring a whole week of new beginnings and possibilities. If you program your mindset to be excited about something, I think your actions will follow through. Hence, setting your mind to make Mondays exciting will make you look forward to Mondays like never before.
Where is your leadership going? What benefits do your clients get from your company in this competitive world?
Leaders lead by example. That is why I always walk the talk. I always encourage my team members to maximize their capabilities. I tell them that our excellent services are crucial for our clients’ benefit. Therefore it is really important to bring your A-game performance every single day. Excellence must always be observed in all the things that we do to provide the best service we can give to our clients.
Aside from that, I always tell them that I believe in them. I also tell them that there’s always room for growth and improvement whenever mistakes are made. One essential trait to have as a leader is always trusting your teammates. If your co-workers know that you trust in them, they will feel a sense of openness and will welcome any constructive criticism for their personal and professional growth.
Finally, we always maintain a healthy learning environment in our company to nurture growth in every individual. Team members will thrive when grown in the right soil. With the right leaders, along with a healthy culture in the work environment, growth will surely take place. That is why I always give enough motivation and clear delegation of tasks for them to perform well in their designated roles.
What are the key aspects of succeeding in business?
Always be organized. To achieve business success, you need to be organized. It will help you complete tasks and stay on top of things to be done. A good way to be organized is to create a schedule of activities on your list each day. As you complete each item, check it off your list. This will ensure that you’re not forgetting anything and completing all the tasks essential to your business’s survival.
Second, always analyze what your competitors are doing. To be successful, you can’t be afraid to study and learn from your competitors. After all, they may be doing something right that you can implement in your business to make more money. Always be looking for ways to improve your business and make it stand out from the competition. Recognize that you don’t know everything and be open to new ideas and different approaches to your business. If you believe that you already know everything, then there will be no growth in your business.
Next is to be consistent. Consistency is a key component to making profits in business. You have to keep doing what is necessary to be successful day in and day out. Stay consistent in monitoring daily progress, maintain strong relationships with your clients, and keep on performing to your best in every work you do. This will create long-term positive habits that will help you acquire income in the long run.
Connect with Rania Afisah on LinkedIn.
