“Much like a puzzle, every idea starts with a dream which you turn into a vision that you fulfill piece by piece. For me, my undergraduate degree led me to casually develop an interest in the food service and hospitality industries,” said Mustafa in a statement. “The ‘Sam Mustafa Charleston Scholarship Program’ is a way for me to give back to the community.”

We all know that the Charleston Hospitality Group produces outstanding restaurants with the highest quality of food in the south. The restaurants include Toast! All Day, Eli’s Table, Queology, Tabbuli, HonkyTonk Saloon, and JK Grill & Bar. From endless menus, to one of a kind cocktails, and live entertainment, there isn’t anything you can’t get at one of Charleston Hospitality Group’s restaurants. What about the brains and creator of it all? That would be Sam Mustafa. Sam is the CEO of Charleston Hospitality Group and has a passion for this industry. Authority Magazine just recently interviewed Sam as part of their series of immigrant success stories where Sam shared his experiences he’s had throughout his life. Check out the story below.

Sam Mustafa, CEO of Charleston Hospitality Group shares his thoughts on productivity in the workplace and how to increase efficiency across all employees.Let’s first touch on what productivity is. How do you define productivity?Productivity in the workplace matters. Ask any business leader and they will say that the success and efficiency of their people are directly related to the ROI in their company.When comparing this to being the CEO of Charleston Hospitality Group, the productivity of all my employees is crucial to scaling my business and operating efficiently day-to-day. But what does this mean in terms of real world applications?

Be humble and show gratitude. I have never lost sight of where I came from and I try to use that frame of mind in dealing with the people I encounter everyday, from employees to colleagues. I may be the CEO, but I also sweep floors when the situation calls for it. I have some employees who started with me in 2005 from humble beginnings and are now holding executive level positions. Our Vice President, Christina Tsang, came to us from a temp agency and now she’s my right hand.

Sam Mustafa, CEO of Charleston Hospitality Group shares his thoughts on the importance of having strong business negotiation skills and how this translates into the success of your company and standards for future contacts.

Let me ask you this. You may or may not be a business owner, but you are reading this blog because we have a thing or two in common, and I can attest that starts with being a leader. With that being said, what are some characteristics commonly associated with leaders in your industry? In the industry of my company, Hospitality the few that come first to mind include dedication, sweat equity and a lot of trial and error. It is for certain that these characteristics do not describe all CEOs in the hospitality industry, however, I can say that most share these commonalities.