ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWS: Welcome, Ms Merve. Can you tell us a little about yourself? Who is Merve Akbas?
Merve AKBAS: Hello, I am the happiest person in the world. At least every day when I wake up I remind this to myself. Merve is a woman who follows her dreams and never give up in her life. I am the person who fined new goals and try to challenge myself to achieve it one by one. One of those goals was to move London and improve myself as much as I can; lately I am working on this.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWS: This is great! Where are you from? Where do you live now? Where did you live before?
Merve AKBAS: I am from Turkey. I have moved to London on 2023 to follow my dreams. I lived in Turkey whole my life however, I had change to work in Saudi Arabia for a while and study in Italy as well.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWS: Alright! What is your profession?
Merve AKBAS: I am an architect and restaurateur. On other side, hospitality was always in my life at some point I found myself much happier in hospitality, now I am a Restaurant Manager in the one of the best Hospitality Company in London. (D-ream International)
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWS: Wonderful! How would you describe the restaurant industry in London? As advantages and disadvantages.
Merve AKBAS: It was totally my dream to have a management experience in London especially in Mayfair. I believe the heart of F&B is in Mayfair in the world. You have very high level on the food quality, with very high service standards and really very well guest profile around you. London is the city never stops. Therefore, everyday there are something happening and you need to adapt your daily, weekly, monthly operation accordingly. If you can consider yourself, successful in your position in Mayfair you can work everywhere around the world as long as you have enough passion and ambition. Of course, there are also disadvantages but as I said as long as you motived yourself, there is nothing you cannot do it!
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWS: Right! Regarding inspiration, Can you give us tips on being a successful entrepreneur abroad?
Merve AKBAS: Of course, I have worked a lot in my whole life. I have planned my whole life to be an Architect then finally when I start to work an architect I realized that I am not happy as much as I was in the Restaurant. The day when I decided that, the place where I will be happy is Restaurant. I promised to myself to be the best of it and in that time, I was just a hostess. I have worked 3 times more than others to learn and do more than I have to do because I was dreaming to be leader for the team and improve that team to be the best. That is how I found myself in London. To learn more, to do more then to teach and guide the others…
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWS: Well! How does it feel to live in London? How did you adapt?
Merve AKBAS: It was a bit difficult in the beginning. I moved to London without even see it literally. I have no family or friends in this country. I knew that it would be difficult probably that why it was so exciting for me. I am an approachable person and I can have communication with everyone in the world. First 10 months was very intense to start over again on everything in my personal and professional life. In addition, it was big pressure on my shoulder; I have to show I am doing well in my role at the company to the people who hired me even without seeing. Now I believe I proved myself and it is time to start to create my own comfort zone, my future here in London. I grow up in small city (Marmaris / Turkiye) and I never felt I belonged there. I think London is amazing city to live in with big potential and many opportunities to improve yourself especially when you are young.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWS: Super! Do you travel a lot? Where do you feel most comfortable?
Merve AKBAS: I do travel as much as I can. Most of the time I travel alone and enjoy the new cities. I feel most comfortable at the place where I needed as a person. At the place where I can help or guide people around me or just opposite the place where I can learn more and improve myself. That is the reason I left my family home when I was 18 years old.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWS: Could you tell us about your dreams and goals? Are they close to each other?
Merve AKBAS: My dreams were always my goals. I do not dream anything, which I cannot achieve. Now my goal to become a GM. in one of the best restaurants around the world. In addition, I never had a dream, which did not come true. I dream something, I plan it then I work for it like crazy until I get it. Then I put next goal as a dream and never stop… I would like to be one of the successful woman in my own role, which shows that woman can do anything and can be so strong when she wants without any help. In addition, there is one dream more of mine, which is not close to actually life at the moment, to be an amazing mother in future and be happy with my own family.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWS: Well! Do you have any hobbies? If so, what are they?
Merve AKBAS: Unfortunately, I noticed that I worked a lot in life but I do not have many hobbies. Now with my new life in London I will discover myself again and find new hobbies but so far, playing volleyball, playing the piano at least trying, dancing and listening to classic music are a few of my hobbies.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWS: Where and how do you imagine yourself in 5 years?
Merve AKBAS: What a nice question! I am not sure where it will be as a location but it will be the place where I will be happy the most. I imagine myself as a GM in 3 years in the Restaurant where I believe it has vision and inspiration where people will work with good energy not just for money also for career and prestige.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWS: Each of us has learned some of the secrets of life. What have you learned about life?
Merve AKBAS: I have learned with a few experiences in life that if there is something in my personal or work life needs to change instead of complaining and waiting for someone to fix it for me; I should be the person in charge who has full power to change it. If I do not have that power to change it immediately, there is no sense to make drama, chaos, or difficulties for myself. I believe, everyone should try their best for anything what they want in their life, and then life will take it from there. I always do my best then leave it to the destiny. There is something above us; we need to trust it.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWS: Let us hope the whole world hears you! What would you like to say? Do you have a message? Thank you for this nice interview.
Merve AKBAS: There is nothing better than being humble but confident. Knowledgeable, but hungry for more knowledge. Sincere but knows the limit, dreamer but realistic. We all have limits but also no limits for anything in this world. We all should do our best to find our way with this limits and limitless world and there is no time for regret. Everything is an experience in this life. We should enjoy it!
Please let me know if you need any assistance.
Best regards,
Merve Akbas
Thank you for this nice interview.
ARTTMODERNMIAMI NEWSPAPER
