Jigar Sagar, the founder of Triliv, is a seasoned entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in influencing the business landscape of the UAE. His entrepreneurial journey commenced during his youth, under the guidance of his father, who introduced him to the world of business. After school, Jigar gained valuable experience by working at his father’s gold retail store located in Sharjah’s Gold Souk. His love for entrepreneurship was sparked by this early experience, which also established the groundwork for his subsequent endeavors.
Jigar studied finance and accounting in school and then worked in a variety of industries, such as startups, call centers, and banks. He eventually became an entrepreneur when he joined Creative Zone as their finance director. Driven by his passion for finance, he established a bookkeeping and financial services entity, thereby initiating his involvement with more than 15 companies spanning various industries. Jigar’s entrepreneurial achievements are attributed to his versatile skill set and self-awareness, enabling him to thrive and succeed in different sectors.
Jigar provides valuable insights on staying abreast of industry trends, motivating and guiding teams, and the significance of genuine professional connections. He also delves into his company’s transition towards digital innovation while maintaining a human touch, along with offering perspectives on environmental sustainability initiatives and corporate ethics in the evolving business scene of the Gulf region. With his extensive entrepreneurial experience, Jigar Sagar journey reflects a continuous pursuit of growth, innovation, and dedication to shaping the business landscape of the UAE.
The Journey of Founder and Co-Founders?
Founder – My father introduced me to the concept of entrepreneurship when I was around 10 or 11 years old. At his modest gold boutique in the center of Sharjah’s Gold Souk, he served as my tutor. This store served as my practical business school, giving me invaluable experience in customer service and sales, among other areas.
I wanted to increase my practical business expertise after finishing my academic education in finance and accounting, where I fell in love with logic, numbers, and mathematics. I took on roles in banking, call centers, and early-stage startups to gain further experience. Joining Creative Zone as their finance director marked my transition into the entrepreneurial world.
Driven by my passion for finance, I initiated one of my first ventures—a bookkeeping, financial services, tax, and accounting entity. This marked only the beginning; currently, I am engaged with over 15 companies spanning various sectors such as technology, free zones, healthcare, and more. Facilitating fellow entrepreneurs has also become a central focus for me.
Key results that ignited my entrepreneurial journey undoubtedly include the hands-on business experience gained from my family’s retail store during my childhood. Witnessing my self-made father’s success story served as a major source of inspiration for me. As I matured, I realized I possessed a natural knack for recognizing challenges and formulating solutions, which manifested as new business ideas. Additionally, my formal education in finance equipped me with the knowledge and confidence needed to take the leap and launch my own ventures.
What factors motivated your decision to enter this particular industry?
My path to entrepreneurship was shaped by a number of important strengths. I’d always had an innate ability to understand statistics and quickly identify the core of an issue. This innate skill has proven invaluable in swiftly devising effective solutions. Recognizing and being self-aware of these abilities has instilled in me the confidence to explore diverse industries.
It’s the amalgamation of these skills and self-awareness that has molded my trajectory as a serial entrepreneur. I’ve demonstrated adaptability and achieved success across a spectrum of sectors. This combination of attributes has not only enabled me to navigate various industries but also to thrive and innovate within them, shaping my entrepreneurial journey.
How do you ensure you’re informed about the latest trends and advancements in your industry?
Every day, I make a concerted effort to stay knowledgeable and up-to-date with the current evolutions and trends in various fields. To achieve this, I have developed a structured routine that allows me to consume a wide range of information from both global and local sources.
First and foremost, I allocate time each day to read two global newspapers and two local newspapers. This helps me gain insights into global affairs as well as stay abreast of local news and events that may impact my work or surroundings. Additionally, I dedicate a portion of my daily routine to reading three technology-focused online magazines. This allows me to stay informed about the latest advancements in technology, which is particularly relevant given the fast-paced nature of the tech industry.
Furthermore, I recognize the importance of staying attuned to trends in the fashion world, as they often intersect with various aspects of culture and society. In order to achieve this, I make time each week to read through two or three fashion magazines. This gives me useful insights into broader societal shifts and influences in addition to keeping me up to date on the newest fashion trends.
In addition to traditional print media, I also leverage digital resources to expand my knowledge and understanding. One such resource is the Headway app, which offers summarized versions of books that I can listen to. This allows me to efficiently consume insights from a wide range of books across different genres and topics, even when I’m on the go.
How do you implement strategies to inspire and effectively guide your team?
In my role as a leader, I see myself as a mentor, navigator, and dependable sounding board for my team. My leadership approach revolves around leveraging individual strengths to ignite intrinsic motivation among team members. I strongly believe in fostering open communication and providing continuous feedback as essential elements for building trust and fostering ownership, which is crucial for nurturing a high-performance culture.
While my primary focus is on empowering the team and offering clear guidance, I also acknowledge the importance of exercising benevolent centralized leadership when necessary. During such instances, I do not impose decisions but instead gently guide the team through challenges, ensuring they understand the rationale behind my choices. This approach enables them to learn and grow from each experience.
Naturally, my approach to leadership involves finding a careful balance between direction and empowerment in order to foster an atmosphere that allows both individuals and the business to grow and succeed.
Describe a tough situation you faced at work and how you handled it.
One significant challenge I’ve encountered in my career is collaborating in teams where members hold opposing views. As a leader, it’s essential to manage team dynamics and promote collaboration. I address this by actively listening to all perspectives, encouraging open dialogue in a safe environment, and emphasizing respectful behavior among team members. Additionally, I ensure transparency by explaining the rationale behind decisions.
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