After hours
Khurshid Vakil Co-Founder & Executive Director Marina Homes
1The job: My work is always progress-in-motion because of the industry I am in. My work is about interiors and interior design. When one is passionate about work, every minute is full of excitement and a certain level of adrenaline. My greatest joy at work happens when my staff (I prefer calling them associates) are motivated, have the same passion for their respective roles and are switched on and, when our customers provide positive feedback about our business concept and standards of service.
Every day at work is a learning curve. The competitive and service oriented business environment is always challenging, where you face challenges from the oblivious to the expected. I am always prepared for that and do not get surprised at the unexpected.
2The weekdays: I live and work in Dubai, as our company is based here. My day starts at 6.30 am, however, work starts at 9. I put in approximately 10 hours at work every day when I am in Dubai. I travel every alternate week during which work hours have no limits. The work day then extends to 12-15 hours straight. Our Indian expansion is now in full gear and I expect to be visiting India every month.
A typical work day is full of decision making strategies, planning, execution, delegation and forward thinking. Never a dull moment. I have a great team to work with, in all the countries Marina Homes operates in, and their interaction and involvement at all levels is always fulfilling. Quite often I get to learn from their vast experiences.
3The weekend: With weekdays usually loaded with work, weekends are a bliss and are exclusively reserved for my family. Family time is about bonding and unwinding and we try and keep it that way. Weekends are spend in many ways. It could be a short trip out of town in an idyllic location, or desert driving/camping, a spin on the tracks with fast cars, lazing around on the beach, a boating trip on the high seas or sometimes just some relaxing time at home.
4The toys: I try and keep myself updated with the latest technology and am intrigued by some useful gadgets. The other ‘big boy’ toys that fascinate me are certain cars.
5The logos: I am fond of a few select labels but mostly for their good quality and not the perceived value of their tags. As such, branded products are a natural choice. I also pick up clothes from any store, if they catch my eye for a certain design or look.