#Interview with Andrea Zampolini at Roberto's DIFC
L'Officiel Arabia: Congratulations on your new position! Please tell us a little bit about the importance and uniqueness of Roberto’s.
Andrea Zampolini: Ten years ago, Roberto’s was just an idea of a team of hospitality-passionate people. Roberto’s vision to create something more than a restaurant is now a reality, and a decade later, it’s still standing as one of the best lifestyle venues in town. Located In the heart of DIFC, we were one of the first high-end standalone venues to open, and some of our key employees are still working with us from day one.
Roberto’s is a unique place; we offer fine dining experiences and an extensive programme of entertainment after dark. We are highly accessible, you can either come for an aperitivo or plan an entire evening out.
L'OA: What are your company’s core values?
AZ: Respect for the people. We value every single individual skill and recognise and reward the best performers. We really look after our talents and make sure they feel part of the company rather than feeling like just an employee.
L'OA: What is your vision today for Roberto’s?
AZ: Roberto’s always had tremendous and skilled leadership in the past. Everyone was able to make a positive impact on the brand. My current role is to ensure that what was done in the past will continue. My vision is to bring new ways of doing business, strengthen the relationship with our business partners and make sure we build a strong accountability culture within the leadership. The brand has a strong foundation, and I have a clear direction of what we need to achieve moving forward.
L'OA: What are the biggest challenges to being a managing director?
AZ: Operations are the backbone of my career experience, and having worked in a corporate environment, gave me a better understanding of my team. It allows me to clearly see what the team thinks and does, what the owners want and what we need to give to our customers. It is an honour to oversee a prestigious brand like Roberto’s and call myself the Managing Director of this fantastic venue. However, with this honorary title comes great responsibility. As Managing Director, I see the team's potential and the efforts to ensure we deliver our promise to our guests.
L'OA: What are your main priorities and goals in your role?
AZ: I have many responsibilities and targets, and now, I am focusing on the DIFC flagship. We have recently celebrated our 10th anniversary. With it, we committed to essential improvements, such as creating a new exclusive cocktail bar and beautifying Piemonte—our fine dining jewel. We are also looking to hire new professionals.
L'OA: What is the motto you live by professionally?
AZ: I do not really have a motto, but I will never forget the line that my father taught me as a young child and has since then stuck to me, “Always respect others, and treat them in the same way you want to be treated”.
L'OA: How do you define success? What is your take on the ways to achieve long-term success?
AZ: Every time we achieve a goal, mission, or simple task, it must be considered a success, no matter its size. I believe success is always learning something from an outcome, whether achieving a goal or making a mistake. From my years of experience, I have learned that a leader needs a team of people to achieve the desired goals. I am lucky to work with a group of professionals that give their 100% every day, and when they have a bad day, it is my duty to make it better. The best part is that when I have a bad day, my team does the same with me. Long-term plans require a good strategy. Once we have the system, the key is how you present this to the team and how you set the expectations. A good leader needs to be able to make decisions, help teammates make decisions, and back them up in case of a negative outcome.
L'OA: What living person do you most admire?
AZ: My first role model is my father. He had a significant impact on my career and my life. Over the years, I have come across many people I have worked with that have made a positive impact on my job too. Whether it was things I grasped and learnt from them on how to be a good leader or things to avoid in order to be a professional and motivational leader.
L'OA: On a personal note, what is your favourite way to spend a weekend?
AZ: I am extremely focused on work during the week, so I like to spend quality time with my family on weekends. We always think that work is challenging but raising kids and being a role model for them is the most critical job of any parent.
L'OA: What book are you reading at the moment?
AZ: I am reading “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi. It is a lovely book that talks about the importance of networking and the power of relationships. Forming and maintaining relations is not one of my strengths, and I need to continue working on this. Sometimes, we tend to contact people only when we are in need, which has happened to me numerous times—it is wrong. We must be able to keep relations with people and ensure positive people always surround us. Sometimes an invitation for coffee or a simple message to check on them is enough to keep connections alive. So, it’s a work in progress for me.
L'OA: If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
AZ: Do it again! Every single decision I made since I was able to make them myself helped me be the person I am now.
L'OA: What do you say ‘no’ to?
AZ: Disrespect and what comes with it. This is one of the causes of bad things happening around the world.
L'OA: Which statement best describes you?
AZ: I believe I am an honest, loyal, and respectful person and have a steady motivation source. When it comes to skills, I have my way of being “organised”, but there are some things I need to improve on.
L'OA: Is there anything exciting that you are working on at the moment that you would like to share with us?
AZ: I am working on a fascinating project that will change how we operate here in the region, in addition to the ongoing projects at Roberto’s DIFC, the regional expansion plan, and the opening of Roberto’s Mare in Porto Montenegro for the new 2022 season.
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