In this issue of Grazia, our international beauty editor Kaniz Ali styles and interviews entrepreneur / actor ADAM KIANI
Kiani highly renowned for his “villain roles” in The Gentle Man, Suspect & Man Like Mobeen talks exclusively to Grazia about his entrepreneurial life.
Kaniz: Talk to us about your background
Adam Kiani: After completing a diploma in freelance journalism and feature writing in 2003, I ditched writing to embark on a new journey within business. Having a keen eye for business from childhood, I started my first business in 2004 in telecommunications. It was fun, the company was profitable but it wasn’t giving me satisfaction. So, I decided to fuse my passions with business and enter into those sectors. Those sectors now are: Health and Fitness, Lifestyle, Hospitality, and Performing Arts. I am currently an Institute of Directors Ambassador for young directors. I also sit as a non-executive Director on several different boards.
Kaniz: What inspired you to start your own business ?
Adam Kiani: Growing up I had a very influential and inspiring uncle, Raja Adil OBE. in him I saw an entrepreneur who was successful, yet incredibly humble, and did amazing things for his community. From a young age, I knew that this was a pathway that I wanted to emulate.
Kaniz: What inspired you to head into the world of acting ?
Adam Kiani: As part of being directly involved in my organisation’s marketing, for one of the companies – PT Academy – we started writing and filming our own content. It became very popular, very quickly and we did collaborations with celebs like: Sideman and the West Twins.
The response was great, so I decided it was a pathway I wanted to pursue. Not only did I want to pursue it, I wanted to be brilliant at it. Because of this, I travelled to drama school in London for a year, and was eventually accepted into RADA, where I did courses in contemporary theatre, and Shakespeare. I am one of a handful of recipients of a Platinum Shakespeare Award from RADA.
Kaniz: What are some of the mistakes you wish you could have avoided ?
Adam Kiani: Success is never going to be easy. There will always be mistakes that you make. Acknowledging that you’ve made mistakes helps you formulate a contingency strategy. Contingency strategies are an essential fundamental of any business. Real entrepreneurs understand the significance and importance of making mistakes, overcoming those mistakes, and ensuring those mistakes are never made again.
Kaniz: How did you figure out the right structure for your business ?
Adam Kiani: Starting a business does not come with a manual, and sure, you can study business and have mentors and get advice, but inevitably, running a business comes down to you as an individual. Just because you’re successful in one business, does not mean you will be successful in another business or sector. You have to be willing to adapt and persevere.
Kaniz: What sets you apart from everyone else ?
Adam Kiani: I’m innovative, creative and I lead from the front. I take risks and I’m never afraid to disrupt any sector I enter into.
Kaniz: How would you describe success as an entrepreneur ?
Adam Kiani: For me success is quantified by the give-back. What have I been able to do from the success that I have been given? I am grateful that I have been given the opportunity to serve others.
Kaniz: Where do you see yourself in 5 years ?
Adam Kiani: With bigger dreams and bigger ambitions, and a bigger team to work with me to get there. God willing.
Kaniz: What’s the biggest challenge you have faced as an entrepreneur?
Adam Kiani: Being a trail blazer within the fitness industry, and setting standards that everybody else copied, the biggest challenge of being on top; is staying on top. Especially in this industry where everyone copies what we do. We put out an offer, 10 competitors put out the same offer. We release a new product, 10 competitors release the same product. All this does is make us sharper, more determined, and hungrier for success.
Kaniz: What is the best advice you would give to someone new starting out ?
Adam Kiani: Contact my agent to book onto one of my mastermind sessions or my business skills seminars, where I teach entrepreneurs to build, manage and sustain their businesses.
Kaniz: What’s the most favourite part of your job ?
Adam Kiani: Watching my team develop, grow and become successful within their own right. One of my biggest competitors was founded by two of my former team members.
Kaniz: What has been your biggest achievement ?
Adam Kiani: Following a visit to a refugee camp in East Sudan in 2018, we commissioned the building of a hospital. The hospital was completed in 2019, and proved to be a Godsend for not only the 45,000 refugees, but also the 30 villages that surround the refugee camp. The hospital is located in Kassala.
Kaniz: What do you love most about acting ? Adam Kiani: I’m an actor and do stunt work regularly. Stunt work is exciting because it’s tough and driven by adrenaline. Acting is great because I get to meet and work alongside really cool people, including the film stars I grew up watching.
Kaniz: How do you stay motivated?
Adam Kiani: So much depends on what I do and the organisations that I run, and I do not feel I achieved my full potential. I have so much more to give and to do, God willing.
Kaniz: If Adam was not an entrepreneur, what would he be ?
Adam Kiani: In an alternate life, I would have loved to have been a Doctor. But It’s highly unlikely I’d go down that career path at the moment…
CEO : Zahra Saifullah
Managing Editor: Nashmia Amir Butt
Creatively Directed by Kaniz Ali
Photography by Danny Singh
Creative Styling by Kaniz Ali
Assisted by Zaynah Javed at KANIZ Team
Location: Jeru, Mayfair – London UK www.jeru.co.uk
