Founder and managing director of Hind Hotels & Properties and the Ovolo Group, Girish Jhunjhnuwala knows a thing or two about taking chances. He moved out of the comfort zone of running a well-established family watch-manufacturing business less than 10 years ago and ventured into the unknown by starting up in the serviced apartment business. Since then, the 47-year-old entrepreneur has seen his hospitality empire grow from one block of serviced apartments to six apartment buildings and one serviced office block across Hong Kong. He attributes his success to his desire to follow his dreams and the daredevil inside him that wants to take chances. Now, Jhunjhnuwala has set his sights on another adventure, ready to expand into developing full-service hotels in Hong Kong and the region. He talks to Luisa Tam
Tell us about your career
I was exposed to business at a very young age. We were accustomed to helping out my father in our watch manufacturing businesses, be it working in the shipping department or on the factory floor. After completing high school in Hong Kong, I moved to the Marshall School of Business at USC [University of Southern California], where I graduated within two years. Upon completing that, I dived right back into my family business, creating brands from Japan to America.
How did you get started in the serviced apartment and hotel industry?
In 2002, I chanced upon this building at No2 Arbuthnot Road, an area where I lived for the first 18 years of my life. One thing led to another. I sold [my family's] watch business after eight months. I always thought watch manufacturing was a sunset industry; you can't increase the capacity of the business, you can't make watches go faster. They are mere accessories. I have no regrets leaving the watch business behind. I can't count my lucky stars enough.
What does your day-to-day work involve?