UK
www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 16th February 2013
Leading Lights
Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor
Ismael Aumeerally The New Face of Luxury Ismael Aumeerally is a Partner as well as Head of Revenues and Partnerships at MGMT Concierge, a private members concierge service based in London. Catering to discerning individuals, MGMT operates within the glamorous world of super yachts. In summer 2012, MGMT Concierge was exclusively responsible for providing concierge services to all super yachts that came to the City for the 2012 Olympic Games. MGMT Concierge provides clients with the very best of what London and the UK has to offer – from red carpet events to Michelin star chefs, to private jet trips and luxury yacht charters. Ismael was invited to join MGMT when he was in his previous position, which was the Jaguar CEO/chauffeur programme manager, UK. Ismael’s grand parents are from Gujarat in India and settled in Mauritius in the early 1930s. He was born in Mauritius and had an idyllic childhood there, before studying Law in London in 1994. As an only son and the youngest, he was guided towards a legal career although his mother allowed him to follow his dreams – “As long as I had a degree in my back pocket. With her blessings I entered the automobile industry in 1999.” He told us. Being from French Mauritius helps Ismael on two levels. He said, “Multi lingual abilities help in any profession. In the lifestyle and high net worth industry clients expect a one stop shop where there are not dozens of layers of people involved in delivering a single aspect of an experience. Being from Mauritius helps because I have lived the sun, sea and sand lifestyle. I use my experience and my professional relationships back in Mauritius to help make our clients’ dreams come true.” Being Asian, Ismael feels, is an advantage in any industry. He says that we distinguish ourselves from others not only through our work and work ethics but also through our family values and abilities to work as a team. Asian philosophy is always to respect elders, so we value business mentors and leaders. It is
Ismael Aumeerally
why Indians in the UK are seen as hard working and dedicated, he commented. Ismael is generous with his contact database and nurtures his relationships. I told him that this is a rare quality. “In French there is a saying; ' show me the friends you have and I will show you the man you are'. That applies to business too since the kind of relationships in your network are what make you what you are worth. In the current business environment, it is even truer since business is done with people who can bring other worthy deals to the table. Relationships take ages to build and minutes to break which is why people are right to be protective of how they use and open their network to others. However, there has to be a right balance as people will mirror your behaviour.”
In French there is a saying; ' show me the friends you have and I will show you the man you are' We asked Ismael to tell us some characteristics about his clients. He says that they may differ in background but share a common love of super yacht ownership and the lifestyle it brings. Although by definition they form part of the top
rich list in their country of origin, they are still primarily people who value great service and transparency in all that MGMT does for and with them. Different nationalities have different perceptions of great things and great experiences, Ismael observed. But his clients also enjoy learning and embracing other cultures. He says in any case, a lot of what he offers his clients is the experience of the quintessentially British lifestyle. Ismael said that his company is selective about who it welcomes as members of MGMT concierge. “Unlike other concierge companies we do not act primarily as a restaurant table booking service or conduit to tickets for a Wimbledon final. Although these can easily be arranged, we focus on creating experiences for our clients (as we know what they like and enjoy) while trying to get them to try new things. Our clients are by invitation only and need to meet two criteria. First they must be super yacht owners or be part of the super yacht world and secondly must be recommended by an existing member. With regard to our partners we are as selective, since we must make sure that they can deliver a service that is of the level that is expected and that we can trust to exceed those expectations.”
National Hindu Students Forum (UK) By Kiran Patel
Heavy snow will not stop a visit from Hanuman Ji The National Hindu Students’ Forum (UK) North Zone Hanuman Chalisa has created a fantastic atmosphere in the North of the country whereby students and the wider community await to flock to the host City each year. Being such a renowned everlasting experience which attendees take away, the bhakti event has built strong ties amongst the students and the samaj. The North Zone 108 Hanuman Chalisa has created an amazing legacy in numerous cities and also has a living legacy of its own. Starting off as a NHSF Manchester initiative, students of Manchester University gathered to hold a Hanuman Chalisa, and invited all other NHSF chapters in the North of England to join in at the Bhakti event. The event then created its mark in Bradford during 2011
where there was a powerful imprint left amongst the wider community with over 600 attendees. This then expanded in February 2012 where Hanuman Ji once again proved that heavy snow on the day of the event two years in a row would not prevent students and the samaj coming together and building bridges to show love and devotion in exactly the same way Hanuman Ji did to Lord Ram by being his biggest bhakt. On Saturday 9th February 2013, NHSF Liverpool hosted the annual event which in its true form, integrated students and the Hindu samaj. As a gesture, each guest was given a scroll which had the Hanuman Chalisa printed on upon entering the Mandir, the morning started off with a havan where the priest explained to students
why a havan is carried out. The havan was followed by attendees showing their prem (love) of the forty Chupai’s written by Tulsidas Ji based on Hanuman Ji as the perfect model of a devotee. Reciting these forty verses, students, friends and families were singing with such passion and devoutness that one could see the strength come alive in each individual through the bhakti yoga. Young children were also greatly involved with some taking to the microphone to show that at a tender age, they too can recite the Hanuman Chalisa. The evening ended with Siva, the NHSF Liverpool president saying “Sangathan Mein Shakti Hai” that in unity lies strength as shown through the day where bridges were built between the students and the wider samaj.
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