Javed Akhtar
Gourmet Burger Kitchen
Job title:
Operations Director
How did you get into the sector:
By default - had to pay the rent and got a job washing dishes. Had planned to go to University to do Urban estate management.
What do you enjoy about your role:
Likes being out in the restaurants - being with the staff and teams.
Career high:
Being part of the expansion of GBK from 14 sites to 55.
Career low:
When becoming an area manager for Pizza Express - had to apply 4 times - Perseverance paid off!
What are your plans for the next year:
Continue with brand work and expansion of GBK.
What was the biggest break of your career:
Becoming an area manager at PizzaExpress and being .
What are you most proud of in your career:
Loves seeing people who he has developed moving on to greater things.
What advice would you give to people keen to progress in the industry:
Hard work, work with right people (and find a good recruitment).
Who inspires you:
My family and my children inspire me to.
What do you do in your downtime:
Spend times with my kids.
What question do you always ask in interviews:
What's your favourite burger.
Tips that have made you a success:
Hard work and always believing in what your heart tells you.