Not every day do we come across entrepreneurs like Mr Khalid Turk, CEO of Ali Abduljalil Turk Sons Co. W.L.L., who has learnt the ropes of running his family business by starting at the lowest rung and moving upwards gradually and progressively acquiring hands-on knowledge of the business. Additionally who has been multitalented with his skills in sports and music. BTW talks to him to know more about the man, his journey and his dreams.
How would you describe yourself and recall your childhood?
As child I was always very active and very social. Growing up in a large household living with in addition to my parents and 4 sisters at that time, plus 6 aunties, grandparents all living in a large house, I was never alone! I grew up in Manama, next to the Police Fort, the street was called Fort Road, and our family owned more than half of the buildings on that street.
My grandfather was well known in those days to the extent that when people from the airport needed to go to town and they lived near where we lived they used to tell the taxi drivers Garage Jalil Turk! They all knew where to go ϑ
Tell us about your academic and professional background in brief.
I studied at Sacred Heart School from kindergarten to Secondary school.
I spent 4 years at the Gulf Polytechnic studying business, and then travelled to the USA to complete by Bachelors in Business Administration, and continued with my Masters in Finance.
Returning to Bahrain in 1988, I joined the family business at the bottom rung. Without experience, but theoretical knowledge. I wanted to work in the financial sector for sometime, but my father insisted that I stay with the family business and learn the trade, which was transportation of cargo business.
Tell us about the company Ali Abduljalil Turk Sons Co. W.L.L. and your association with it.
Well, after joining the family business in 1988, I joined the company as a foreman, working in the port, delivering invoices, collecting payments, depositing cheques/cash in the bank, all the basic trainee stuff. It wasn’t easy for me psychologically, because I had my own plans that I wanted to achieve. I had ambitious plans. I wanted to work in a financial institute, learn the trade, and then start my own business in trading. Searching for new products and services that didn’t exist in Bahrain. We are talking about 1990’s, when so many opportunities, yet to be tapped into. But I guess my destiny was in another direction.
So I drowned myself into learning the family trade, applying my knowledge, learning quickly and climbing up the rungs. I had several challenges ahead
of me.
What had been the initial challenges when you took over as the CEO of Ali Abduljalil Turk Sons Co. W.L.L. in Bahrain?
It was not an easy journey to being the CEO of one of the major transport companies in Bahrain. Between 1988 and 1990 the company had to go through a lot of changes. It was difficult for my father to listen to a young man just out of university. He was not willing to listen to new ideas. His old ways worked. So why fix something that is not broken. My father’s experience was vast, and he was a self made man, successful in his own right, and I had to tap into that experience to learn the ways. But old ways was not the best. The clashing of the heads was painful but it had to be. With a lot of difficulty I had to force people to leave, who had worked with us for so long but adding absolutely no value!
I needed to change a lot of things, and fast. Times were changing, competition was growing and I had learned one thing. If you want to succeed, you need to develop a form of uniqueness. Adapt to change or fall behind. I introduced new services to the business, specialized heavy lift systems, where no other company in Bahrain could do. But sadly, Bahrain being so small, no new idea stays unique for long, as there are so many ready to copy you, without coming up with new ideas of their own. But that didn’t stop me. Every challenge opens doors to new opportunities and new ideas. I kept adding varies services, hiring professionals, adding new equipment, training internally etc.
My father, and his entrepreneurial blond, had established a Mechanical engineering company called Turk Mechanical Industries Co. The management of that was placed on my plate, in addition to property development etc. All this time the company was a sole proprietorship.
It was then decided that we should convert the establishment into a shareholding company, having all our divisions under the group name, called Ali Abduljalil Turk & Sons Co. Bsc. After that I developed other new activities in the oil and gas, and electrical sector. Our company has grown over 300% since I took over the helm of the company. In 1991, I got my own trade license, called Synergy International Marketing Establishment. I was not going to give up my ambitions!
What according to you are the essential qualities of a successful entrepreneur?
There are so many books written on this subject. So many qualities, but it all comes down to a few that are imperative to be adhered to.
- Ambition and passion,
- Innovation and creativity,
- Knowledge and its application,
- Adaptability to changes,
- And finally never giving up!
What is the most rewarding aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Three rewarding aspects. Achieving the goal that you work so hard for and it finally bears fruit. And second, sharing your knowledge and experience with young entrepreneurs, mentorship. Third giving back to the community.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
In the next 5 years, I want to have branches of our different divisions in the GCC region. I have already started the ball rolling. First step is Saudi Arabia. Then Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
I hope to retire after that, and follow my passions.
What is your message to aspiring entrepreneurs of Bahrain?
Do not copy! Be passionate about what you want to do. Never ever give up. Constantly improve yourself.