What I didn't learn at school and learnt at Olympic Group!(1)

You never know! .....

    I remember back at college days when I used to attend courses that were arranged by "Bridges" foundation. At that time I can assume I was a more spiritual person and I am sure I used to remember God much more than nowadays. I was invited to attend one of their courses that were supposed to show us how to represent Islam and logically fight for it by understanding what it really is and what it really calls for. That course was held at the premises of Olympic Group Company, which sounded too ruthless to me to attend a course at, just from the name, even though I had never been there before! I thought I'll be visiting an old, dull, dirty factory, especially when I got to know its address; behind "nady el sekka el 7adid" and in "emtedad share3 Ramsis"….All this gave me an impression that may be, just may be "I shouldn’t really be going to that place and wait till it's held at any other respectable venue" (from my point of view back at that time).

Days passed me by while thinking whether to go or not, eventually, I decided to go, unfortunately cannot recall what exactly was my motive, but the moment I entered the building was a moment of radical paradigm shift.

Since I was an addict to management and HR literature and practices at that time, the second thing that grabbed my attention, after the completely different reality of the building against my prior imaginations, were the frames hung on the walls demonstrating the mission and vision of Olympic Group. I even thought, entering the bathroom there, that I'll find them hanging it on the toilet cabinets’ doors, just in front of your head while using it, as I studied that Sony used to do at that time.

I didn't find it hung there, in case you wonder!

At that precise moment and in front of one of the hung frames with the Mission of Olympic Group written, infront of Abdallah Sallam Hall where the course was taking place and  with my virgin business awareness that of a university student in her third year with zero contact with the business world as she never really wanted to waste her summer time working, I wished to work in that place. I remember I didn't even pray. I just wished.

A year passed by and I became in the fourth and last college year and I had to have a dream. I had at least to think about what I want to do after graduation. I and my best friends' group focus and ambition were to graduate with high scores and submit at the GUC to work as Teacher Assistants. We had worked so hard and studied diligently to get the scores needed. By good chance, my grades all along the 4 previous years were good enough , so that my final overall grade as planned could easily swift me to my goal; TA at the GUC. Graduating in 2006, meant only one year after the GUC opening and which meant a GREAT opportunity. Just exactly what I wanted; to teach HR and Management. Nevertheless, life bounced back with one unexpected event I couldn't foresee by all means. I have failed in one topic; Portfolio (Related to Stock management and investment, in case you didn’t come across it before), i.e I should be fare-welling my "TA at the GUC" ambition and the effort of the last year in specific along with it! From the other side, I had to handle my ego to accept some simple facts; that I FAILED, that I failed while OTHERS succeeded and that MY dream is now becoming the REALITY of OTHERS!  That was, at that time, a tough kick in the ass from life. Particularly, because I didn't have another dream or ambition to switch to, so I felt lost, may be! 

Two weeks later, after receiving the bad news and several checking with the university that this grade of failure was right; I received a telephone call from my cousin offering a job at his office in replacement to his office manager who was resigning. Didn’t seem cool to me, the job itself was far from interesting, besides the idea of working with a relative was not comfortable to me, specially that my father works at the same office too. In case you wonder why this wasn't comfortable to me; I actually don't know, but it was never a good idea for me to work with a relative or with a friend when there's a possibility of conflict. However; Later on, this conviction changed!

I started working there with a verbal agreement that once I pass my make-up exam, graduate and find an HR, specifically a Training and Development job, I would leave. Yeah, I decided I'm option-less at that time and corporate field is my future career, for a couple of years and then I'll start my own business that serves the quality of people’s life.. 

On the very days I was desperate finding an HR job, and when I was trying to apply anywhere possible; I received a telephone call from a stranger at that time called Reham Youssry inviting me for an interview with the HR Director of Olympic Group. I was enlightened at that moment, wondering in the glance of the call how a door I completely forgot about was opened. Olympic Group was probably the only company I didn't think of applying at despite how much I was eager to work for back at that day I attended the course in its building. I also wondered from where did Reham receive my resume from to be able to contact me. I remember I asked her about that, she then kept me on hold for a relatively long time, then resumed the call saying "I don't know, I just received it on my mail". Since my interview was the next day from that telephone conversation, I didn't have any time to chat with my closest friend;  Marwa Awad about the incident that seemed surprising to me and worth chatting about.

The next day I went to the interview. Entering the building was an inspirational experience to me and it became even more inspiring when Yasser Zaazou, the HR Director at that time, came to welcome me by himself at the waiting area and escorted me to his office to start with our interview…by himself! For me, that was an enough reason to have a crush for Olympic Group. From that moment, Yasser became my role model in many behaviors and ways of thinking. Not only for this reason, but also for the delightful experience I had during his interview with me. How he introduced the interview, put me at ease, asked questions and probed my answers and closed the session, were all very impressing techniques to me. Yeah, maybe it was my first professional and official interview; however I haven't yet had any other remotely similar interview until this day.

Once we started the interview, Yasser asked me from where I know Akram Afifi, as if rest assured I definitely knew him. Actually, I didn't. He proceeded with the interview as if nothing happened and I kept thinking “who is Akram Afifi who sent him my resume.”

Later that night, I talked with Marwa Awad to share the surprising plan of God and she even surprised me further by telling me "Marwa, Akram Afifi is my uncle and I sent him your resume when you told me you are searching for an HR vacancy"

Today, after 7 working years, I thank God I didn't work as a TA at the GUC. Comparing experiences, challenges faced, and character built, I thank God. 

 

You never know!

…Until you know.

 

To be continued...

Editing done by: Sarah Menoufi