Six and a half years ago, Khadija Hussein left the country for Dubai. She had just secured a well-paying job as a relationship manager for a credit card company.
“The salary was a dream come true and the job gave me an opportunity to live in a foreign country, work in a new environment and interact with new business people,” she says.
However, despite the high salary she earned, Khadija Hussein felt dissatisfied.
“The routine was monotonous and the work did not fulfill my ambitions. I also felt that I had untapped potential to start my own business that would allow me to run my own schedule without limitations or boredom,” she says.
In early 2013, Khadija quit her job in Dubai and returned to the country determined to start her own company. At first she joined hands with her sister and set up a property management company.
But it wasn’t the line of business she dreamt of starting. Instead, her dream was to run a concierge business for wealthy individuals and companies. Such a business involves researching and making travel plans and reservations for clients, planning conferences for big companies and handling whatever requests, no matter how odd, she gets from clients.
“I noticed that Kenya is among the 10 countries worldwide with the fastest growing luxury spending potential according to the Luxury Opportunity Index published in The Wealth Report and realised that there was a gap in the market, with many Kenyans having huge spending power but lacking information and service providers to assist them live their dream lifestyles. That is where my business came in.”
She chose the name Thamani Concierge for her business, because she wanted her company’s name to reflect the valuable services it would offer, and registered the company.
To begin with she bought a laptop and took a month’s training in ticketing, and then she started selling air tickets to family, friends and neighbours. From the profits she made, Khadija hired a web designer to build Thamani Concierge’s website and her father offered her office space which helped ease her operation costs.
When all that was done, she was now open for business. “I began marketing the business by word of mouth, and then I began to approach companies and individuals. I was often disappointed but I didn’t give up. Eventually, I started getting clients and some of my first big clients were a multinational manufacturing company and a leading audit firm.”
Khadija’s company operates for 24 hours. “The long hours are a major challenge especially because I have to find a balance between my work and family,” she says, adding that her laptop and phone are always with her, at home or when travelling, just in case she needs to attend to a client. At work, having an impromptu, unusual customer request is one of the big challenges she faces.
“The challenges are often interesting. Recently, a group of clients asked to attend the traditional Maasai eunoto ceremony during which young men become junior elders. I didn’t know what that was or where I could find it.” In a span of 24 hours, though, Khadija was able to find a Maasai translator and personally take her clients to Kajiado for the ceremony.
Two years after starting her business, Khadija takes pride in having the highest level of customer service and an extensive private aviation network of trusted brokers in 66 different countries. “I established my contacts from my interactions back in Dubai,” she says.
Her large network has been the backbone of her company, enabling her to charter a yacht for any customer, sweep them on board the world’s most luxurious vessels to over 200,000 of the world’s top luxury hotels or book them to any top live match at the English Premier League within short notice. Unlike her previous job, Khadija says that her business is never dull or predictable because she can never be sure what a client will ask for.
Last year, Khadija’s company was charged with the task of being the day sponsor at the Capital Club East Africa during the grand opening week.
“This was a major milestone for my business. The Capital Club is a top private members club in East Africa and from the event I was able to show what I offer and get more clients.”
However, her climb to the top of the lifestyle management business has not gone unchallenged especially because she is a female entrepreneur.
“When I started, I quickly realised that people expected me to be either nice or ambitious. I noticed that successful women who set their goals high are seen as overly aggressive while those who come across as too nice aren’t taken seriously.”
Subsequently, Khadija Hussein has grown by striking a delicate balance between efficiency, elegance and assertiveness. Looking through the past two years, Khadija Hussein is confident that her company can only achieve more growth.
“I was the employer and the employee when I started. But today, my company has grown and I have four employees on permanent basis. I also hire casual staff when there is a lot of work.”
Having attained the fulfillment she sought after, Khadija Hussein does not miss the safety of employment. Says she: “I love writing my own schedule and putting my skills to action without looking over my shoulder. I no longer feel unfulfilled and cannot miss a chance to help someone build their own dreams.”
She is also optimistic that the luxury management industry in Kenya is ripening.
“We’re a growing business hub with tourism and multi-national companies setting base here, spurring more opportunities for my company and the industry at large. Things can only get better,” she says with conviction.
