More companies were founded in Switzerland last year than ever before. According to the St.Gallen-based IFJ Institut für Jungunternehmen, 22,247 new entries were made in the commercial register in the first half of 2018, which is a new all-time record.
Driven by a thirst for action and a love of freedom, young entrepreneurs enter exciting territory when they start their own company. From the idea to the business plan and finally the realization, one learns constantly and grows as a person and entrepreneur. Unregulated working hours, neither closing time nor weekends: This is not a myth in the start-up scene, but reality. When it comes to putting your own company on a firm footing as quickly as possible, a lot of things are put on the back burner.
This is also the experience of our interview partner of the month, Firass Chamas. After finishing high school in Liestal, the young entrepreneur completed a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Economics at the University of Basel, gained his first professional experience at a large financial services provider in Switzerland, and two years ago founded Swiss Premium Cosmetics AG with his business partner Jeffrey Schmidt. The company produces luxurious anti-aging skin care in Switzerland according to the highest purity criteria and markets it under the name of elline switzerland worldwide. Precious ingredients for maximum effectiveness and the luxurious packaging make the collection "Treasures of Youth" a new beauty ritual Made in Switzerland.
The young CEO from Basel juggles meetings in the Arab Emirates, his master's thesis for the Master of Science in Business and Economics, and on top of all that, found the time to face our "5 Questions". Learn more about Firass Chamas in the interview.
Mr. Chamas, if you had taken a different path when you were younger, what would you have become?
"My first career aspiration was first to become a lawyer and later a banker. So I decided to study economics, which gave me economic knowledge in this respect. Shortly before I founded Swiss Premium Cosmetics AG, I received a job offer with a large private bank in Dubai - an earlier dream of mine! However, in the end, the desire to start my own company outweighed this. I am very happy and proud to be an entrepreneur - with all that it entails."
What would you work for free for a week?
"At the moment, I am working so much without being able to give anything back to the community. However, once the company is firmly established and becomes more profitable, we would like to donate to charity as a company and also actively work on it. Environmental protection and animal welfare are especially close to my heart. I would even commit to this more than "just one week" for free. All products from elline switzerland are therefore also made vegan and cruelty-free."
What was the best professional advice you ever received?
"'Hiring the best is your most important task.' According to this quote from Steve Jobs, success depends on the team. I can subscribe to that one hundred percent. That's why we started working with Batterman Consulting to get the best possible candidates. Our success so far is based on the great people who have worked and are working on this project."
How do you face setbacks and deal with difficulties?
"Setbacks are opportunities: When one door closes, others open. I try to learn from setbacks and always take the positive out of them. In doing so, I always try to remember that so far most setbacks have ultimately turned out to be opportunities and positive changes. This change of perspective helps enormously and drives me on again and again."
What is especially important to you in your work environment and what is definitely not coming into the office?
"Particularly important to me is friendly interaction and a strong involvement with the company's development. I want to be challenged by my employees and partners and learn from them. That moves me forward myself and also the company as a whole. "I don't like 'talkers', but like to surround myself with people who exude understatement and are hard-working doers and makers. I value these qualities very much."
We would like to express our sincere thanks to Mr. Chamas for his contribution to this article. This interview was conducted in writing.
Editor: Neslihan Steiner
Batterman Consulting Basel AG
Executive Search,
Byfangweg 1a, CH-4051 Basel
T +41 58 680 55 55
basel@batterman.ch
