In celebration of our 5th birthday, we asked some of our oldest Kitopians to walk us through Kitopi’s journey in the last 5 years and how much they think it has changed.
WHAT MADE YOU JOIN KITOPI?
EKTA:
Bader Ataya, Kitopi’s Chief Growth Officer, really sold it to me. Me and Bader are old friends, and when Kitopi was starting out, he was extremely passionate about its future. He knew my work style and saw it mesh well with Kitopi’s culture, and invited me over. That, combined with my love for food, really sealed the deal for me to join Kitopi.
JAWAD:
Meeting with Mo and listening to his vision, I remember thinking that if I miss out on this opportunity, I will regret it later. I was surprised that this model did not already exist in the West and Kitopi was working on a completely new operating model created within the GCC. I wanted to work in a challenging environment and Kitopi was the perfect fit for me. The concept was very innovative & bold for the industry and was filled with challenges I was ready to conquer.
HOW DIFFERENT IS IT NOW, 5 YEARS LATER?
GHASSAN:
We are a lot more structured, with almost 5000 Kitopians, versus the 20 Kitopians in the beginning. Kitopi’s name is widely known now, and it’s wonderful to see that!
HUSSEIN:
My experience at Kitopi has encompassed everything from a single kitchen, to huge expanded CKs and SKs. We have overcome so many challenges to achieve success, and the leadership have continuously contributed to our work environment to ensure a culture of safety in the company.
JAWAD:
I can describe the difference through a metaphor of two different basketball teams: in our first year, we were like a team playing street-basketball. Filled with individual talent, playing with no pre-set rules across multiple leagues; where we got a bunch of wins and that led us to the Top league. 5 years in, we are playing as one team, focusing on one league we chose to be in, and marching to win every game with a concrete plan.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING HERE?
MARY:
What I love most about Kitopi is how there is always room for improvement and new challenges. Moving from a CX Team Lead, to Assistant Unit Manager, to now working with the Vice President of Operations as a Frontliner Training Specialist, has been exciting.
GHASSAN:
I love working at Kitopi because everyday is different. There is not one mundane routine set in place, and everyday is a new challenge and new project to work on. Kitopi has provided me with a massive opportunity for growth.
HUSSEIN:
I like how much the company invests in their employees. The culture allows us to grow within the company, and you would feel well-groomed for your next career goal.
EKTA:
Three things come to mind for me.
It’s the smartest group of people all in one place.
Never a dull day at work - there’s always something to do, and new problems to solve.
Filled with fun and great people that I work with everyday.
JAWAD:
It’s a culture of high growth potential for every Kitopian. I love the dynamic and competitive environment that pushes you to your limits, as well as the diverse and respectful culture.
WHERE DO YOU SEE KITOPI IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS?
MARY:
With the continuous innovation and improvement here, through new training programs, recruitment processes, promotions and even further growth, I can see Kitopi expanding globally.
GHASSAN:
I see Kitopi being one of the leading companies in the market, and more global.
HUSSEIN:
As Kitopi continues to maintain a strong culture within the organization, I see it growing exponentially, and expanding as globally as possible.
EKTA:
More recognition of Kitopi as a Consumer Brand globally, and not just across the GCC!
JAWAD:
Spreading joyful and memorable experiences through the food we serve, from semi-autonomous kitchens across the world.
