← Living Your Legacy
Living Your Legacy
Iranian Jewelry Entrepreneur on Rebuilding Success in Agriculture and Global Business
00:21:56
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- [00:00]
Behror (Bibi)
I delivered everything I had earned during my jewelry business to him. And after a few months I found out he betrayed me. I lost everything I had.
- [00:13]
Narrator/Host Introduction
Bibi Hagdan is a visionary, resilient and globally minded CEO and serial entrepreneur and the leader of Hagdan International llc. From building a jewelry empire in Iran to launching ventures across Oman in Canada, she has repeatedly turned adversity into opportunity while mentoring founders and helping startups scale with strategy, courage and lasting impact.
- [00:34]
Behror (Bibi)
After exploring different opportunities for business, I should get back to my roots and I should start to marketing and selling agriculture things. Other people just are crazy. Who is growing, you know, the crops here?
- [00:49]
Podcast Host
I think your story is a, you know, is. Is that great story of resilience because it's, it's not a straight line to success. What are the biggest lessons from all of this? Because we've talked a lot about the story but for people listening, what would you tell them after all this?
- [01:02]
Behror (Bibi)
If someone is resilient, it doesn't mean they never go and cry. The difference for the people like me, we learn to be resilient because we define for ourselves there is no choice. We should be successful.
- [01:21]
Podcast Host
It spans the globe like a super high Internet Elvis.
- [01:25]
Podcast Intro Voice
Read your Today Apple is going to reinvent the phone. It's not over up until I win the living your legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary. The impossible has. Oh that is sensational. Jordan open Chicago with the lead. You said Paul is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream.
- [02:00]
Podcast Host
Hello and welcome back to another episode of Legacy Makers. Joining me today is BB Fascinating journey. A journey that may resonate with a lot of entrepreneurs. Built a business, lost it all, relocated and now she's back for round two and doing great things. So excited to dive into her journey, her story and all the personal development and mindset tips you'll get from it. Welcome to the show.
- [02:21]
Behror (Bibi)
Thank you.
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Podcast Host
So let's start with who are you, where you're from and what do you do?
- [02:26]
Behror (Bibi)
My name is Behror and people call me Bibi. It's easier. I was born in Iran. Yeah, I born and raised in Iran and When I was 32 I moved to Oman and since that time I'm running a business agriculture engineering firm which I'm leading the company as a CEO. I had another immigration to Canada. I have been there for four years and right now I'm Canadian. And yes I'm here with you.
- [03:03]
Podcast Host
And tell us about your, you know, your, your kind of story of your entrepreneurial Journey and lessons like, you know, you had an E commerce business, now you're back into the family business running a big worldwide company. Give us a summary of that.
- [03:18]
Behror (Bibi)
Since childhood I have been really ambitious. Although I grew up in a wealthy family, but never it was enough for me. I wanted more and more and more. My first sale, it was when I was 10 in school. Then I started to do some different businesses on that age As a teenager and in university I have decided to go and work with my father. After few years, my father promoted me to be CEO of his company. But after a time I found out it's not for me because always I have been under my father name and you know, I get bored. Yeah, I decided to start my own business. I found out the jewelry is my passion and I start to take a step to become a designer and manufacture the a jewelry. I start, I think when I was 24, 25, with support of my husband because my father was disagreeing.
- [04:27]
Podcast Host
Yeah.
- [04:27]
Behror (Bibi)
As I wanted to, you know, leave his business, I start from scratch. My husband and I decide to sell everything we had to, you know, provide the capital.
- [04:39]
Podcast Host
I mean, I love that part. I think so many people resonate with that. Like, you know, some people call it the burn the ships moment. Right. You know, you left, you know, CEO role, family, family company, you know, and then it's like you have nothing, you got to start all over again. You've got to fund this venture. Right. And there's a very, you know, not, not a high chance of success. Most businesses fail. Right. So what made you believe in this and why did you do that?
- [05:06]
Behror (Bibi)
You know, honestly, I believe it's back to my childhood because my father always been a conservative person and he didn't take a risk. And every time I wanted to do something different, he mentioned, no, you can't do this. I'm not angry. So since childhood I learned I should insist for what I want. And I had to be successful.
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Podcast Host
Because now we have a choice right
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Behror (Bibi)
now, any choice in this scenario as well. I knew I don't have any choice. I should be successful. So we'll start from this. Correct.
- [05:44]
Podcast Host
But that's a big part. I just want to pause there because part of the battle that most people don't realize and I think so important is you have to believe. I always teach you have to believe to achieve. And it might sound kind of funny and we joke about it, but just believing that you're gonna be successful and you have no other choice, I think it is so important and it helps you through so many battles, right. Like when you fail or there's a problem or it looks bad. It's like if you just believe that you're going to be successful, you will. And this, you know, a kind of famous saying that as long as I don't quit, I will achieve my goals. And I really like me doing this. For 15 years I've had lots of ups and downs too. And I really believe that, you know, as long as I keep going, it's eventually the stars line and I hit what I want to do.
- [06:29]
Behror (Bibi)
Yeah. In, you know, the jewelry business, it's men dominated at least in my country, I think around the world. Yes. And it was really challenging for me. I was one of the first women start jewelry business in that industry with a different concept. I brought innovation because I think the only way I could survive it was bringing something new. I start to invite the VIP guests and sell my product in VIP shows in the hotels. And this make many differences because, you know, encourage people to come to see what's happening here. This is something new. And also all my product was the limited edition. And again, you know, I think motivate people who are looking for a luxury and wealthy people to come and buy. So fortunately I could make it in first year. I found out yes, this is the way and I can make it. And I grow fast, open different branches, you know, sell in different cities and everything. It was amazing. After eight years I found out I would like something else.
- [07:47]
Podcast Host
Yeah. In New Town.
- [07:49]
Behror (Bibi)
Yeah. And I decided to immigrate to another country to explore a global opportunity. And on that time it was a bit a certain political and economical situation in our country. So I decided to quit the Jewish business and move to Oman. I wanted to move to Canada at that time, but I was in the process and it takes. So I choose the first immediate opportunity and I moved to Oman. I start to be partner with someone we supposed to enter to restaurants business which I didn't know anything about that the country, it was new. I didn't know Arabic language, but I trust the guy I trust and I can say I delivered everything I had earned during my the jewelry business to him with my hand. Yeah, I gave to him and after a few months I found out he betrayed me and I lost everything I had.
- [08:59]
Podcast Host
Wow. How did you feel in that moment?
- [09:05]
Behror (Bibi)
It was terrible. First of all, I get back to myself what was my mistake beside the trusting the other people? I think my mistake it was I had a lot of ego at that time because I left a very successful business and I Thought, yeah, I'm amazing. I can make everything. No one can, you know, betrayed me. And in the other hand, because in jewelry business and gold business, the major point is credit, social credit and people trust to each other and to the network. So I was, you know, eight years on that industry. It. I couldn't understand someone can cheat others
- [09:50]
Podcast Host
the other side of the world, you know.
- [09:53]
Behror (Bibi)
It was really hard for me. I felt broken. I never have been in the situation that I should think about the rent, how can I survive? And my family called me, you should go back to the country still, you have your home, your support. I told them no, I don't want to, you know, have a regret when I back to this time in the future. And I tell them I'll stay here, just give me three months. And you know, my rent, it was behind, it was really scary. And the currency between our country currency and Oman, it was really different, you know, supporting from over there to the Oman. It was, it was really hard. I told them, please give me three months. I start to go and marketing for many different products, everything. It came to my mind. I went to the shops one by one and introduced myself and you know, I told them I have this product
- [11:00]
Podcast Host
and most of them, it's kind of funny, right? You go from, you know, this big jewelry business 8 years making lots of money vi big clients, big ticket items, you move, lose everything. Now you're going door by door sales basically right, to survive.
- [11:15]
Behror (Bibi)
And it was. I'm not sure how much you are, you know, familiar with the, you know, the culture and the weather on that area. It's arid area. It's. Some people, they say, you know, it's a dessert.
- [11:29]
Podcast Host
Yeah.
- [11:31]
Behror (Bibi)
After exploring different opportunity for business, I found, found out that I should get back to my roots and I should start to marketing and selling agriculture things. And it was funny when I told other people, they said are you crazy? Who's growing the crops here? So tell them I can find it, give you time. And again, I think for two and a half months the door to door sell, I had to carry the large samples and introduce myself. And it was funny on that time because when I arrived there I didn't know I'm going to be broke. And I had my Mercedes and you know, my personality. And it was weird for the buyer that a girl is coming with these samples. She wear a Rolex, she's coming with Mercedes. But it was a good point for me. Again, sure, yeah, yeah, definitely catch their eyes. And sometimes when they ask me, I explain for them what I went through and in the same time I was involved with the courts and you know, legal things because I wanted to get back my money and involving with lawyer and everything. It was crazy time. But at the end I found a customer. He bought a small quantity like a truck. But it was good because at least, yeah, I could pay my rent.
- [13:07]
Podcast Host
Keeps you going for another month, right? You got another three months.
- [13:10]
Behror (Bibi)
Yeah. And I sold and my father supported me, my brother, my husband, they supported me to deliver it. And I didn't know anything about the shipment, costume, anything. I had to go and I didn't have money to pay to the people who are going normally for custom clearance. So I had to do this myself again. It was opportunity because I learned everything from the scratch. And maybe one of the point that made me successful in this business because I had to learn everything myself. I didn't rely to anyone else. But I got I need to do something else because still I was behind. And I lost almost half a million dollars. So I couldn't survive with just small quantity sale. And I start working with one of the largest development company. It was for the government as a sales consultant. And I received a good income to survive. It was really good income. And that time I found out money is flooding,
- [14:22]
Podcast Host
you just got to figure it out.
- [14:23]
Behror (Bibi)
And the only things could help me, it was my skills. I could leverage my skills from the jewelry store to the real luxury real estate. Because it was a normal real estate company. The only luxury and over 6 million 5 million property. So they were looking for someone who understand luxury.
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Podcast Host
Yeah.
- [14:49]
Behror (Bibi)
So yeah, I got a really amazing income. I have been working for three months over there. In this time I found more and more client. And from one small truck changed to be like two cantina three canteener. And Covid came. Covid came and Covid. It was really terrible situation for everyone around the world. But it was an opportunity for me because on that time all the shipping and supply chain around the world they faced the problem and the large company couldn't deliver the product, you know, in like from US to the Oman to the uae. It was really a struggle. It was opportunity for me. I gained lots of more clients because their, you know, their shipment delayed. They. They wanted to farm. And the only way they had it was reach out to me and asking for my product.
- [15:55]
Podcast Host
And yes, I think Elon Muskos, someone very famous, a billionaire, they say, you know, the biggest superpower in business is. Is luck. Right. And having luck on your side. And I think as entrepreneurs we have so much unluckiness Right. Like the, you know, your examples. But then sometimes you do get lucky. You're in a sector or a business where, you know, for some people, Covid's terrible restaurants, etcetera, can bankrupt them. But, you know, I had an online education business that blew up during COVID because more people were going online. Right. And, and, you know, I think luck is partly you can't control it, but partly you kind of craft it yourself and shape it based on how you react to situations. So, you know, and I think your story is a, you know, is. Is that great story of resilience that every entrepreneur and a lot of people in our shows have in common that we love to demonstrate because it's, it's not a straight line to success, you know, and, and I see that when I interview a list, celebrities, actors, Olympic, you know, Olympians and entrepreneurs. We all share that in common. So just, you know, just. I, I want, want love you to wrap the story, but I also want to hear from you, like, what are the biggest lessons from all of this? Because we've talked a lot about the story, but for people listening, what would you tell them after all this?
- [17:16]
Behror (Bibi)
First of all, everyone talking about resilience, I want your, you know, audience belief that resilience, it's not being and having superpower. If someone is resilient, it doesn't mean they never go and cry.
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Podcast Host
Yes.
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Behror (Bibi)
They never feel frustrated. They never, you know, burn out. The difference for the people like me, we learn to be resilience because we define for ourselves there is no choice. We should be successful.
- [17:50]
Podcast Host
Yeah. It's a mindset. Right. And you can choose. And, and I think what I've learned with resilience is it's kind of like just working out in the gym. It hurts more at first, and then after a year or two, you're more used to it. So it's like, it's not that you stop lifting the weight so the weights get lighter, they actually get heavier, but you just get more used to it. And I think it's the same in business. Like the. It doesn't get easier. You just get more used to dealing with the problems because you've built that resilience, right?
- [18:18]
Behror (Bibi)
Yeah. Like when I was younger, if I face something difficult, I. Maybe for two weeks or three weeks, I was crying and I was frustrated. But right now, the worst case scenario, it takes two days for me to cry.
- [18:37]
Podcast Host
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And in another 10 years, it'll be two hours, you know, and then 10 more years to two minutes. That's how I. That's how it is. You know, same for me. When I used to have big problems, I wouldn't cry, but it would keep me up at night for a week. Right now maybe the biggest problems keep me up at night for one night. Right. And I know in 10 years the biggest problems will bother me for one hour. Right. That's I think how, how it is. Yeah. Well, any other big lesson to wrap up here that you know.
- [19:03]
Behror (Bibi)
You know, the big lesson it was I found out on that age that how much my network, my social credits could help me to, you know, stand up again. Because in a time that I haven't had anything, the only things, you know, helped me to move forward, it was the credit that I had in back home. People trust me to give me their product without asking the money in the first step. And even when I was involving with the, you know, court and everything without knowing the, the country main language, the people who I trusted them again and build the relationship, they. They back up me and you know, my network really helped me. And since that time, my, if you know, someone asked me what was most investment after that situation, I say I invest on my network.
- [20:06]
Podcast Host
Yeah, yeah.
- [20:07]
Behror (Bibi)
And the skills. Because without that skills, I never could find a job to be that stable. So I believe people should invest on their network and their skills. Then they will be, you know, bulletproof. When you have these two, you can get more power for take a big bigger risk because you have something on your back.
- [20:31]
Podcast Host
Yeah, love that last question then people want to find you, learn more about you, follow you. Where do they do that?
- [20:37]
Behror (Bibi)
Still, I think there is a lot of opportunity I'm looking forward to explore and I wanna, you know, explore globally more.
- [20:49]
Podcast Host
Okay.
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Behror (Bibi)
Develop my business more in the different countries. And my decision and my goal right now is to be a global leader.
- [21:01]
Podcast Host
Love that. And where can they follow you? Instagram socials website.
- [21:05]
Behror (Bibi)
I have Instagram. My Instagram is behrorbb. Yeah, underline hack done. They can find.
- [21:12]
Podcast Host
We'll put it in the show notes, don't worry.
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Behror (Bibi)
And LinkedIn they can follow me. Yeah. And if they have any question in regards to the my journey, I can love it.
- [21:21]
Podcast Host
Good. Well that's a wrap guys. I hope you were inspired by hearing that story which I think those stories are so incredible for every single one of us. We all have a journey to go through and that was a pretty fascinating one and doing amazing things now solving first world, you know, third world problems in, in the business that she's in. And it's this true story of resilience and just keeping going and believing in yourself as always. Keep working hard, build a legacy, and I'll see you guys soon. Take care.