“A day within the life” lets you step into the footwear of a UAE resident and expertise a typical 24 hours of their work and private life
Martial arts fan Dr. Dmitri Koutsoubakis had youthful visions of changing into a scientist however is now CEO of rising fitness center model Wellfit within the UAE.
The Greek citizen spent his early years in Zimbabwe, then referred to as Rhodesia, after his household fled navy rule earlier than unrest prompted a return to Athens.
Dr. Dmitri, 56, served within the Greek navy service between college levels in Britain, earlier than incomes his PhD and taking over educational posts in London and the American College in Dubai.
Jobs at Chinese language pc large Lenovo and Microsoft within the US and Dubai led to him co-founding FitRepublik in Sports activities Metropolis.
In 2020, he left and returned to Athens, however turned a visiting professor at Hult Worldwide Enterprise College in Dubai earlier than property developer Arada recruited him to discovered and develop Wellfit.
The daddy of three kids shares his energetic working day with this The nationwide one.
6:00 am: Day disruptor
The boss’s alarm clock is completely set for 6am at Jumeirah Village Circle, the place he lives simply 5 minutes from Circle Mall, the location of Wellfit’s first location, which opened in November 2021.
“I do not eat something. I do my morning ablutions, leap within the automotive and drive to work,” says Dr. Dmitri.
“I now spend most of my time at Wellfit Meydan, the place our head workplace might be positioned.”
7:00 am: Ft first
Each morning, seven days every week, Dr. Dmitri walks exterior for an hour.
“I do not care rain or shine, I am doing 6km in Meydan as a result of now we have a good looking little park, like a rustic membership.”
Dr. Dmitri says Arada is constructing new communities during which a wholesome, match life-style is an integral half.
“I fantasize about us rising. I’m searching for locations in Abu Dhabi.
“I’m lucky to have a corporation behind me with an extremely entrepreneurial and moral mindset.”
8:00 am: Martial legislation
In his spare time, Dr. Dmitri of jiu-jitsu, CrossFit and weightlifting.
“Now I will take some type of martial arts class,” he says.
“I rotate between totally different instructors, even between totally different golf equipment, as a result of I make it some extent to have skilled with each coach we rent, particularly in martial arts, that are near my coronary heart.”
Wellfit has simply handed the 250 worker mark. Thus far, 44 nationalities work there, together with three Greeks.
9:00 am: Assembly of minds
The work begins with scheduled periods with the heads of promoting, gross sales, HR and operations.
“I obtain six totally different studies and instantly see what they’re doing,” he says. ‘Later my monetary man will inform me how we’re doing. My profile and loss price range assembly is Thursday.”
Dr. Dmitri describes himself as “an instructional” and a “fitness center rat”.
“I am a numbers man, however on the similar time I dwell and breathe gyms. I am a martial artist/sports activities fanatic. I understand how to scent and look.
“Wellfit will not be a job. I really feel like essentially the most blessed man on the planet as a result of I dwell and breathe these things.”
10am: Reward or grumble
The overall managers will go to with their crew between now and a couple of p.m.
“When the whole lot is good and ‘inexperienced’, I give them a excessive 5 and ship them on their manner. If the whole lot will not be inexperienced, and they’re behind on one thing, I ask what the plan is.
“I’ve recruited the ‘A-team’, as I name them: the perfect folks accessible on this a part of the world.
“I’ve to be hands-on, know if they’re feeling glad or sad, and I prefer to let folks make their errors. You may’t suppress creativity.”
Wellfit at present has or is about to open 5 places, together with in Sharjah’s Nasma and Al Jada communities.
Dr. Dmitri calls the Meydan and JVC branches “monster gyms” as a result of the 60,000-square-foot golf equipment embrace a kids’s fitness center, in addition to the actions on provide, from Thai boxing and judo to powerlifting and boxing.
‘My elevator pitch is that we break up up and commercialize a very powerful Olympic sports activities.
“When folks hear about health amenities, they usually consider yoga, Pilates and Zumba, which is why we provide studio courses and supply areas for bodybuilders and Crossfitters performing practical coaching actions.
Dr. Dmitri provides that whether or not you are a coach potato trying to get fitter or a seashore physique man, semi-professional or enthusiastic novice, Wellfit is an inclusive fitness center.
“I wish to assist folks get fitter and really feel higher about themselves.”
12:00 – 13:00: Provide strains
The boss eats when there’s an ‘alternative’.
“There is not any set lunch. I eat one thing with protein at random instances; six protein shakes all through the day, and perhaps have one thing like an omelet or steak.”
He may even discover time to fulfill with suppliers or focus on the following website format.
“As we regularly develop, there’s an encounter with an actual property man who’s searching for new amenities or contractors and wonders what the following Wellfit goes to appear like.”
2 p.m.: Wander and be amazed
As a result of Dr. Dmitri is stressed, he tries to not sit for greater than 60 minutes.
“I stroll across the membership and discuss to folks, particularly private trainers or coaches.
“I do that every one day lengthy. I’ve to be like a shark; if I cease swimming, I sink. I reserve the calculations and information planning for the weekend.”
Wellfit at present has 10,000 members throughout all places.
“My youngest is 2 and a half years outdated, my eldest 74,” says Dr. Dmitri.
“We promote particular person memberships, twin memberships – not only for romantic {couples}, it is you and your exercise buddy – and household memberships.
“You see kids, adults, households, you see monsters [bodybuilders]and odd folks…all doing their factor collectively.”
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: The sweat spot
Dr. Dmitri makes use of this time to work on a slide presentation or the Wellfit roadmap for the following decade, previous to a second each day exercise.
“It is necessary that employees at membership stage see me within the fitness center and that I see them too.
“I am not incognito, so I additionally need members to have the ability to come ahead and say ‘we like this’ or ‘we do not like that’.
“We can have a most of ten golf equipment within the UAE and I wish to flow into.”
7:30 PM – 10:30 PM: Strings within the story
House and dinner.
“One thing tremendous wholesome from Spinneys; rooster and a few form of salad,” says Dr Dmitri, whose evenings would possibly contain studying or an episode of a Netflix drama.
“I am a disciplined individual,” he says. “I have been enjoying guitar for 30 years, so I observe my scales with a metronome for an hour day by day.
“If I do not go to sleep at half previous ten at night time, I will not get up at six.”
Up to date: November 21, 2023, 3:00 AM
