Would you introduce yourself?
Arshia Safaei, the CEO and chairman of the board of directors of Ekbatan Corporation
What is your definition of the company’s current status?
Since its establishment, Ekbatan has succeeded in gaining new knowledge in the realization of innovative methods through its efficient and effective experience in implementing civil projects.
The passage of time has made these growth and development areas more productive along with criteria of cost, time and quality. For achieving these goals in suitable organizational structure, Ekbatan Corporation has created QHSE infrastructures and innovative systems of project control through qualified human resources equipped with modern technologies.
As the work procedures improve, agility of the organization has also been increased in which by creating common prospects with stakeholders, it could gradually be promoted to a learning organization. On the other hand, by obtaining various certifications of Quality Assurance from international institutions, it could provide the conditions by frequent assessing of which public assurance could be achieved.
What is your purpose in stablishing the Ekbatan Corporation?
Since Ekbatan Corp. was stablished in 2016, we have believed strongly in providing any astonishing engineering service with day-to-day improving quality is only possible through comprehensive studies, accurate design and quality engineering services. To do so, the concentration of efforts has been based on commitment to quality and accuracy in the form of a multidimensional engineering problem-solving solution. Our perspective has been evolved by taking little but safe and wise steps. We believe that clients’ problems and concerns are also our own. In order to equip ourselves for solving all professional concerns of the clients which might not be limited only to technical issues, our solution would be to gather a team of skilled and experienced experts, adopt proved technologies and engineering solutions, utilize the most innovative and instructions, national and international standards, consult and collaborate with domestic or foreign institutions in special cases and to be benefited from our membership and participation in credible national and international associations. In order to keep our capabilities up-to-date, research, development and training affairs were integrated in our company and good and reliable communication with academic and research institutions through direct communication, recruiting researchers and scientists for specific cases, and holding training courses for our staff in different levels and expertise were stablished. Implementing a collaborative approach to solving a problem is inseparable from our professional background. Searching for collaborative approach for solving the problem is inseparable part of our professional background. In this regard, we have succeeded in establishing sound, robust and reliable mechanisms for inclusion of concerns of stakeholder in all of our engineering affairs and services. Ekbatan Corporations, with increasing commitment to high standards and ethical ethics, have become a prominent and confident name among Iranian engineering companies, which has been active effectively in several national research projects in Iran. Today, we proudly announce that we are fully prepared and eager to enter the international markets to provide employers and more communities with our good quality services and help them achieve their goals.
Two series of your books have been published by Urumieh University of Technology publications, how did you get their main idea, and will there be new works?
The main idea of the book, was created 2 years ago according to my own personal needs. Wherever take place, not only problems were not made but also problems were corrected and solved and practical solutions and effective decisions were made. In other words, inspection and supervision provide right, useful and necessary information for management, and within a few years, processing and reviewing the needs of the engineering community, were completed and turned into academic books. Currently, more research is needed for my new books. I I do not like to publish a book just to sell.
Currently, you are the youngest author of the country’s academic books, what do you think about the country’s scientific progress?
(Heads down and smiles) I did not know I was the youngest author of the academic books. I knew when I received the letter of gratitude from the Minister of Culture of the Education. This is not a special title. It’s just the kindness of the judiciary and the Minister of Culture and education toward me.
Unfortunately, the country’s scientific process tends toward being certification-centered, and changing this issue is important before it becomes popular. Most successful people I know have bachelor’s degrees and lower, and have done extraordinary things in their scientific fields. The second point is the way of utilization. If you do not expand the science base, progress in the higher levels will be meaningless, for example, imagine your engineering community cannot calculate a concrete beam, but in the news, you hear that the first tower with magnificent features was designed by the Iranian engineer. Investing must always be done on work, not on the result.
What is the secret of your success and progress?
I am the third generation of well-known families of Urmia city, Mohammad Ali Zakizadeh Afshar (the official judiciary expert in the field of building in the fifties and the director of the Hakim Nezami school), Nosratollah Safaei (director of the school of Bahman 15th and a specialist in Urmia Industrial Conservatory) and son of Reza Safaei (senior economist and student of Prof. hashroudi who worked with him in several projects, as well as the head of the Office of the Medical Sciences, head of the Public Affairs Office of the University of Medical Sciences). As a result, with such valuable records from my family, my success was not far from expectations but surely, the character and originality of my ancestors which have been passed to me were also the key factors of my success.
When do you have complete job satisfaction?
Human being, always seeks to achieve a greater achievement of the past, and naturally I do, too. I will be fully satisfied with my work when I make scientific and economic progress.
What ways do you know to transfer your experiences to others so that they do not experience your potential failures?
We have many advisory meetings with our colleagues and analyze the current and past corporate backgrounds and explain how to deal with problems in social networks right across the board, and I think this will transfer experience to other corporate executives.
What are the ways to create and develop entrepreneurship and success?
The creation of a link between university and industry is the only way to create and develop entrepreneurship and success. No one should merely experience as the work principle. Lack of knowledge is nothing but a reversal.
What is the requirement of the company at the moment and what do you recommend to expand your business?
For the time being, we are using the company’s existing capacity to develop new projects, and if shareholders participate, we can plan for larger projects, such as the realization of talented student scholarly research projects, and we are also looking to stream down the company’s stagnant capital.
What methods are you using to relieve fatigue and frustration spirit to come back to work?
I mainly play tennis to reduce stress and a cup of French coffee is enough to relieve fatigue.
Define a memory of your work.
(Looking up and smiling) In the early days of my management at the company, which had earned an profit of 170%, one of the shareholders said why you are less profitable. I said, “What else should we have done?” They said, “Get out” and “Work.” I said, OK. I do not know what they would say if the profit was not 170%.
What is your perspective of the business market?
Currently, the market resembles to a rocket, and only the most influential individuals and veterans own most of market share, so it is not far to believe the majority of young people lose their career at the start. The fair division of work should be turned into law, not personal authority.
In your opinion, what is the biggest problem?
The biggest problems are the instability of economy and jobbers’ abusive exploitation, lack of honesty and loyalty in the current business market and the uncertainty of government executives to the younger generation.
Private Life
Is it true that you have a library of exquisite books?
(heading down and smiling) True, but it’s a family secret. I do not know from where you were informed. I am one of the the heirs of a studious family and numerous books have been transferred from a generation to the other and finally have come to me, and in each generation, according to the taste of people, they have been selected and would be passed to the next generations, and this will also happen to me.
What kind of art are you interested in?
All the artistic creations of creative and distinctive minds appeal me, but I am particularly interested in abstract expressionism.
Do you have a luxurious life?
Not so much for the sake of flashiness. everyone wants a comfortable life, but it is different from being flashy.
We have heard that you are one of the sponsors of the Association of Cancerous Children. Is it possible to tell us about the amount of your donations?
(A little frown) Please do not ask anything in this regard. The reward of the good is to keep it hidden.
Your peers spend most of their time relaxing. How would you not have fun and spend time writing books and managing your companies?
I’m having fun. It’s just a bit different. Reading books, exercising, watching movies and much more. The only difference is that I am not interested in smoking or any health-harming habits and keep being away from people who have such habits.
Is there a famous person to be your example?
Yes, Ahmed Abou Hashima , the founder and CEO of the Egyptian Steel Corporations.
As the last word, what would you like to recommend to the readers?
I am currently in the beginning of my life journey, and I certainly do not have the experience comparable to those in the field. Not the secret of success, but I can say the secret of failure: Before anyone else, tell yourself “I can’t”.
