My dad is my boss

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Aaqib Khwaja, works closely with his father Iskander Sultan Khwaja
Aaqib Khwaja, works closely with his father Iskander Sultan Khwaja

If you are under the impression that those working under their fathers have it easy, then think again

by

Janice Rodrigues

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Published: Fri 24 Jun 2016, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Fri 13 Jan 2023, 9:29 AM

Anyone who has ever been inducted into a family business has probably heard the rumours. The subtle digs from friends and acquaintances insinuating that they 'don't really need to work that hard' or the underlying assumption that they don't have to take responsibility to get ahead. But those who have worked with their fathers will be able to tell you that none of it is true - from navigating the minefield of personal-professional relationships to dealing with increased pressure and expectations, these professionals have to do it all. Here, they tell us about some of the many myths they've heard - and why they couldn't be farther from the truth.

"The myth is that you don't have to study or work hard"


Hailing from Pakistan, Aaqib Khwaja did his preschooling in Canada, lived in the UAE for most of his life and later went on to work in Germany for about a year. When he returned to the UAE, he decided to join Al Borj Machinery, a family business that supplies sewing and embroidery machines to newly setup garment factories and tailoring stores. He settled into his new position just six months ago, and he admits that it took quite some getting used to.

"I needed to wrap my head around the change in work culture," Aaqib explains. "When I was in Berlin, I noticed that employees didn't always give their 100 per cent to their jobs. And I thought that was okay because it was just the work environment. But when you're joining a family business, you're shocked that everyone else doesn't want to put in extra hours."


Aaqib admits that being a part of a family business means he always has work on his mind, from the time he wakes up to when he falls asleep - even on weekends. There are several benefits, he says, of working for a family business, one of them being that it gives one a more holistic view of a company. But, according to him, the biggest difference between working for another company and working with family is the increase in responsibilities and pressure.

"In my opinion, when you're working under your father, you always feel like you have big shoes to fill," he says. "Deep down, you understand that your father has worked really hard to bring the company to the position it is in today and when you start working, it's not about keeping the company as it is but taking it to the next level. So, yes, pressure is always there."

This pressure can be daunting - especially for people just starting out. Not only do they have to get used to a different work dynamic, they have to prove themselves and earn the respect of their colleagues and acquaintances. Aaqib admits that there's a certain assumption that those working under their fathers have it easy - but he wants to lay those rumours to rest.

"I've had people tell me 'you don't need to study, you're going to join your dad's company anyway' and 'you don't really have to work'," says Aaqib. "But it is not like that. If you're not good at what you do, you are just going to end up failing."

"The myth is that you have an easy income"

Anand Kumar was in university when his father's organisation, ABRA Visual Merchandising and Store Design, started to grow. In spite of having only done part-time jobs in the past, he decided to become more hands on with the family business. That was nine years ago, and today, Anand has quite a bit of experience of working with his family.

"I think the most important thing is communication," he says. "When I first joined, it was a learning experience. We had differences in opinion. But once we managed to agree on a common goal, it was all about improving our understanding of the business over time. It is important to set milestones and ensure that roles do not clash."

Having worked for nine years, Anand knows all about the stereotypes associated with working for one's father. He also admits that some may not be too far from the mark.

"I've heard people say that I never really had the hassle of looking for a job. And to be honest, there may be some truth in that," he admits. "But the other stereotypes - believing that I have an easy income or that I don't have to really work is completely wrong. Just because getting the job wasn't difficult doesn't mean that it's easy to be accepted. It's a lot harder to prove yourself to your father than it would be to another boss."

Proving yourself means more than just hard work - it's about being responsible 24/7 and making decisions that work in favour of the company. According to Anand, that's the only way to gain the respect of colleagues in the long run.

"On the plus side, working for your dad means you have the chance to learn from your mistakes," says Anand. "That's important."

"The myth is we only get to work on things we like"

Beirut-born interior designer, architect and founder Wajih Nakkash, opened Nakkash Gallery in Garhoud in 1983. The second branch came only 30 years later, and by that time, the interiors business had turned into a family company with his son Omar and daughter Aya stepping in.

"You learn to get used to it and separate the personal from the professional," says Aya, who admits that she only refers to her father as Mr Nakkash while in the office. "But it is much harder than people think. Others assume that we only have to work on the things we like and can pass on the rest to someone else, but actually it's the opposite - we have to understand and be involved in almost every department."

Wajih never pushed his kids into a career in design. While Aya was gradually drawn to the family business, her brother Omar always knew it was what he wanted to do. In fact, his earliest recollection of working for the company was when he 'interned' at the age of 12. However, the brother-sister duo also made sure they got experience working outside the company first.

"I wanted to have my own ideas before I started working for my father," says Omar. "Just because you're the son of the founder doesn't mean you can come in and wave your diploma around. In fact, there is always this need to prove yourself. When it comes to a family business, I feel like there is an unspoken rule to go above and beyond."

Another challenge of working under your father is learning how to deal with conflict, says Omar. After all, there are always differences in opinion, especially when there is a need to help a traditional company make the jump into the digital realm.

"Differences in opinion are a natural part of the process. You have to deal with it calmly with debates and discussions. And to be honest, 90 per cent of the time, my dad is right!" says Omar.

According to Aya, it helps that the family doesn't bring work home. However, light discussions at the dinner table simply cannot be helped. "I've worked outside the company, but now I believe that there's nothing better than working for the family," says Aya. "We all have this common goal: to make the company thrive and take it to the next level. Who better to do that than your own flesh and blood?"

"The myth is getting preferential treatment"

Zeina Akkawi did not grow up knowing she would one day join her family business. In fact, she worked in several media organisations and PR agencies before her father had even decided to start PAZ Marketing. Once he set up the company in 2006, both Zeina and her brother, Joe, joined ranks instantly, and there was no looking back from that point on.

"There are several advantages of working for a family business," says the Lebanese-Jordanian. "In the end, you get to control and influence how work is done. Moreover, you learn how to earn more and spend less - the hard way."

Zeina says that some of these advantages give way to the myriad stereotypes about those who work under their fathers. And, as unfair as it is, sometimes the stereotypes can be true - there are always people who take advantage of a family business and their father's good nature and feel a certain sense of entitlement. However, she also believes that most people do not understand the real responsibility that comes with working for your own business.

"People underestimate the stress of having multiple converging deadlines and the endless hustle to get new clients when you are self-employed, as compared to the luxury of being a regular employee and earning a salary without any headaches," she says.

According to her, another common misconception that people have is that the same cordial family relationship finds its way to the workplace. In reality, working with your father means learning to separate the personal and the professional, which means absolutely no preferential treatment.

"In any family business, you shouldn't go in thinking you're working with family," she says. "The atmosphere should be of one team where everyone is using their own unique skills and talents to help the company. In the beginning, we used to act more relaxed at work and boss each other around at home - but we've learnt to stop doing that now. You have to learn to separate work from home life or everything can spiral out of control."

janice@khaleejtimes.com


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