From Merchants to Entrepreneurs
Pearls of wisdom from prominent leaders of the Chaldean Community
By Caitlyn Norma Hakim, MPA
The Shenandoah Young Adult Committee (YAC) was established three years ago by the Shenandoah Executive Board, with Anthony Shallal serving as chairman for the first two years, alongside Annie Acho Tartoni and Nicholas Anton.
Over time, the YAC has grown with additional volunteer members who organize professional development and networking events. These events aim to connect young adults and emerging leaders within the Chaldean community with seasoned entrepreneurs, paving the way for their success.
The YAC kicked off the Spring season with a professional development and networking event held on the evening of Thursday, April 11, at Shenandoah Country Club. The event was moderated by the charming and witty Paul Jonna, a real estate and business attorney and former COO of the Chaldean Community Foundation. The panel was comprised of four successful leaders from the Chaldean community: Johny Kello (MatchRX), Ron Boji (Boji Group), Saber Ammori (Wireless Vision), and Zaid Elia (Elia Group).
While their businesses differ, the same basic principles apply. These leaders all share the values of a strong work ethic, perseverance, and entrepreneurship that continue to be a staple in the upbringing of the Chaldeans today. A key takeaway is the importance of company culture, people and processes, and how entrepreneurs must keep their employees fulfilled so it can translate into higher retention and customer satisfaction. It is essential to be able to know where to apply the learnings as it is dependent on the circumstances; it’s not black and white.
Back when Chaldeans first came to America, they had to build a foundation from ground zero. Over the years, technology has advanced at an exponential rate, resulting in the need for high adaptability to survive. Ron Boji emphasized that “times have changed” with younger generations now having a “choice” that didn’t exist in his youth.
Saber Ammori emphasized the importance of young professionals maximizing accessible tools and resources for personal growth instead of relying solely on companies to train them. It’s predicted that artificial intelligence (AI) will dominate, particularly in certain industries such as Johny Kello’s MatchRX. Zaid Elia, who works in the entertainment industry, underscores the enduring value of face-to-face interaction. Social connection is a strong pillar of our overall culture and community.
Overall, AI is reshaping the workforce by augmenting human capabilities and creating new job roles. Adaptation, upskilling, and ethical considerations are key in navigating this evolving landscape, allowing for further mental development.
One common norm discussed among the panel was succession planning. Chaldean entrepreneurs, having built their companies from the ground up, emphasize strategies like politics, creating opportunities, and forging relationships, especially with banking institutions, all while cultivating an esteemed reputation. Their goal is for the younger generations to expand on what has been built and continue the legacy of success.
Johny Kello encouraged younger generations to lead by focusing on their strengths and learning without feeling compelled to take the entrepreneurial route. Zaid Elia stressed the importance of leverage along with being focused on achieving the goal, not on the money, or else you’ll never win. The hard work and hurdles these entrepreneurs had to undergo are often overlooked; most only see you where you are.
A key takeaway is never giving up, paired with the power of persistence and delivering value with the confidence that one day you will reach your goal. Leaders will always recognize employee commitment through consistent presence; the trend Elia’s witnessed has been higher growth for reliable middle performers versus the high performers.
The entrepreneurs touched on their personal journeys and the mindset required to overcome the myriad challenges they encountered. Zaid Elia recounted a pivotal moment where he faced a seemingly insurmountable dilemma, showcasing his ability to navigate adversity and make decisions that transformed him into a respected role model.
Saber Ammori expressed the importance of learning from failures, saying, “it’s only a mistake if it happens twice.” Paul Jonna highlighted how everyone can relate to the troubles of facing challenges with the panel sharing how a strong support system and partner serve as a substantial contribution to their ongoing success, making past sacrifices worthwhile and resulting in the freedom and flexibility to do “what you want when you want,” which is how Johny Kello and Zaid Elia define success.
Zaid Elia emphasized that everyone has their own version of success and at the end of the day, it’s never about money. Ron Boji, with a touch of humor, articulated that it is not a “dictionary,” there is not one central formula to success. “Success is not based upon dollars generated or the generational wealth, success is based upon the team that you bring yourself around as a businessman and the happiness to come to work every day,” Ron Boji explained. Saber Ammori ended with the notion that it is rewarding when you’ve had enough experiences to share and foster growth in others while continuing to rise in your own endeavors.
We are so very proud to have such inspiring leaders in our community who take part in sharing their expertise, mentoring others, and continuing to grow while being humble.
As Zaid Elia said, “There’s always another mountain to climb.”