"People are an organization’s best asset," says Juvy Castro of Reem Al Bawadi

Juvy Castro is the Acting Office Manager of Reem Al Bawadi, a leading Dubai-based Lebanese restaurant chain. She is responsible for the successful leadership and management of the organization according to the strategic direction set by its founder and CEO, Ayman Abdel Jaber. A major part of her role involves leading and directing employees, delegating administrative tasks, ensuring administrative efficiency and the implementation of proper procedure, as well as managing and increasing employee morale. In this interview with Bayt.com, Juvy talks about the ways she employs to attract talent in a competitive industry and what the corporate culture at Reem Al Bawadi is all about:

How would you describe the corporate culture at Reem Al Bawadi?

At Reem Al Bawadi, we encourage an atmosphere of confidence where all employees take part in teamwork and support each other. We have no place for discrimination, and everything is debated and discussed in a positive manner. Constructive criticism is encouraged, and we are always open to feedback. Our shared vision and values empower employees. Our culture rewards and appreciates everyone equally and regularly. We always strive for excellence and advocate introducing improvements and changing the way things are done.

How do you plan to attract local talent in the Middle East region?

Reem Al Bawadi has been serving cities in the Middle East for more than a decade and we have defied the odds during recessions and negative growth. We managed not only to sustain our profitability, but also to expand and grow our business with every passing year. This is due to our uncompromising commitment to superior quality and outstanding customer service. Reem Al Bawadi won two major awards in 2014, the Best Middle Eastern Restaurant award at the What’s On Awards and the BBC Good Food award. Competition is tough as the hospitality industry keeps improving and evolving, making it extremely challenging to be recognized as the best! One of our main objectives this year is to grow our global franchise network with a number of franchisees already open in the UAE and abroad, and a few more in the pipeline globally set to open soon. With our continuous and rapid growth, we strive to attract the best talents to share our vision and be a part of our success story.

What is your number one advice to professionals who want to work at Reem Al Bawadi?

Our top advice to professionals who want to work with us is to be committed and grow with the brand. We want to hire people who are proud of our achievements, and as a result, proud of their own.

Any advice for employers who want to retain their top performing talent?

Our main advice is to always have a vision in mind and to lead by example. Your staff will really appreciate working for a company with a great vision. People are an organization’s best asset so you must do your best to motivate them.

What would you say has been your proudest moment as an executive office manager?

My proudest moments would be when I see employees under my supervision rising up the ranks, either by being promoted or receiving appreciation. It’s always heartwarming to see successful results for teamwork across all departments. Our employees are committed and continuously strive to make our brand the best, in every way possible.

Do you have any predictions for trends in hiring and training that you think will be particularly visible this year?

Since the market is booming, I see a positive trend in hiring. Simultaneously, corporations, especially in the hospitality sector, will be focusing more and more on deliverables and service standards to ensure high quality service. Competition will be tough for organizations who want to stay ahead and hire the best talents. Hence, I foresee many improvements taking place in terms of the training and development of talent.

Can you tell us about your experience with Bayt.com? Which Bayt.com feature do you think is the most useful to you as an employer?

We are very satisfied with the services provided by Bayt.com, especially when it comes to the high quality of applicant CVs. We really appreciate your customer service and want to take this opportunity to say “thank you very much” for the great service we get every day!

Roba Al-Assi
  • Posted by Roba Al-Assi - ‏06/06/2016
  • Last updated: 06/06/2016
  • Posted by Roba Al-Assi - ‏06/06/2016
  • Last updated: 06/06/2016
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