I grew up in a very driven family. The kind that challenges you, pushes you, expects you to do your best and expects you to be the best version of yourself. But my family wasn’t just about working hard and achieving greatness, there has always been a large focus on humility, kindness and generosity. Success was just an extra achievement, being a good person was the ultimate goal.
Although I was lucky enough to be born in Australia, my mother and her side of the family had to flee Egypt after the 1967 war. I have lived a privileged life and have never truly had to experience the horror of war or poverty or great economic challenge because the Australian government gave my family a chance. Saint Vincent De Paul helped my grandparents, mum and uncle survive; because people showed my family kindness and love I have been able to live, grow up, study and work in Australia.
Being reasonably young and while deciding what I want to do with my life, my Uncle Dominique Lyone gave me the opportunity to work in his company. To do work experience across the different fields of the business to discover the different aspects of the corporate world and potentially find my calling.
Growing up, my uncle had always been the man that could play the piano and would listen to my dreams. He was the one I turned to when I didn’t think my parents understood me. He was the one that continuously told me I could achieve anything I wanted, and never saw me as anything less than brilliant. I knew him in his personal life, but I was unsure of what he would be like as a boss.
However, when I arrived at COS, I discovered that all those qualities of courage, intelligence and kind spirit were prevalent in his business, alongside brilliance, excellent salesmanship and admirable leadership. Everywhere I turned there were employees that admired Dom. They spoke about him with such respect it was breathtakingly beautiful.
No one knew I was the niece of the CEO when I began working, but even when conversations about the business arose during lunch breaks; everyone had nothing to say but nice things. Nobody had anything to complain about because they loved their jobs, they loved my uncle and they loved the company.
“We work for the benefit of the company. We work as a team because we love the company and we like Dom. The smallest voice is heard, that’s why we all feel important” – John Chivers, Graphic Designer for COS
“I travel then I return and I feel that COS will always encourage me to live my dreams and support me doing them” – Rezaur Rahman, Graphic Designer for COS
“Yes, it’s a family business but everyone is family” – Afiyat Mustaq, Marketing and Communications Coordinator for COS
My uncle didn’t just build a company from scratch he built a life, for not just my family but for over 300 families. Every day he is feeding mouths across the country, every day he is giving chances to people who have limited qualifications, who have limited experience so they are able to survive in Australia. Every day my uncle stands up and speaks for the little voices that get lost in the crowd. Humility, courage, innovation, passion, family and love, these are the key qualities that underlay the company of COS.
Dominique Lyone was given a chance when Australia opened their doors to our family, and every day since Dom has been trying to give back. Dom gives opportunities to those who would have nothing without his help. That is why I admire him. That is why his staff, friends and family admire him.
He is the perfect example of the brilliance that come from immigration, he is the perfect example of the kind of success that can come from people working together and believing in each other.
The most important lesson I learnt from working in my Uncle’s company wasn’t “how to succeed in the corporate world” like you would expect, rather the lesson was how to be a good person.
Written by Genie Lyottier
