Returning to Sri Lanka in 2008, Hasib Omar became a part of the family business – Brandix Lanka Limited as a Management Trainee. Over the course of the next decade, Hasib Omar worked his way up the company’s hierarchy, ultimately becoming the Executive Director/CEO of the Moose Clothing Company.
CREATING A LEGACY: HASIB OMAR
The grandson of M. H. Omar, the Founder of Brandix Lanka Limited, Hasib proudly bears the legacy he has inherited from his esteemed forefather. According to Hasib, his grandfather still attends to his duties at the company despite his advanced age. “There are many lessons to be learnt from him. His legacy lies in risk taking and his entrepreneurial spirit. As he migrated to Sri Lanka from India at the age of eight following the division of Pakistan and India, he never received a formal education, but his spirit and enthusiasm helped him achieve his dreams.
He tried many different businesses before succeeding in the Apparel industry. Thereafter, his three sons joined the family business and further developed it into what it is today. So, the legacy to fulfil is immense, and I would also like to create my own legacy for the work I do, rather than be known for what has been accomplished by my family.”
Questioned about the foremost lessons he has learned over the course of his journey to his current position, Hasib Omar replied,
“Enthusiasm and passion for what I believe in, not accepting “no” for an answer, and commitment to hard work help me stay on course in order to achieve my goals.
These are the strengths that I have developed over the years that helped pave the way for the birth of ‘Moose’, where some convincing was required to launch our own brand/label.
This was a passion and dream for me. When I was the General Manager of Operations at Brandix, I saw an opportunity to create a product during the off-peak season.
I utilized a little bit of open capacity at the factory to create the product under our own label. This test project became very successful and went on to make the Moose Clothing Company what it is today.”