Meet Zafer Sevimcok

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zafer Sevimcok. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zafer below.

Hi Zafer, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

As a first-generation immigrant, I came to New York with a dream: to build a better life in a country where justice prevails. After earning my Journalism degree in Istanbul, I moved here, excited to experience the city I had only seen in movies.

The journey wasn’t easy. While studying English full-time, I also worked full-time to support myself. For the first time, I felt the pride of standing on my own in a new country. That mix of excitement, determination, and hard work shaped the strong work ethic I carry with me today.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

When I arrived in New York, it felt like starting life over. My Journalism degree from Istanbul, while a cherished part of my past, had little relevance here beyond fond memories and lasting friendships. With limited English, I knew I had to support myself first, so like many young newcomers, I began working in restaurants.

Over time, I gained experience in different roles across various restaurant concepts, and the idea of owning my own restaurant started to grow within me. Seven years after arriving in New York, I partnered with a close friend to open our first restaurant, Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar, in 2007.

We wanted to stand out among the boutique wine bars of that time by incorporating a unique chocolate concept. We crafted our own chocolates, created signature chocolate martinis, and developed wine and chocolate pairings to provide our guests with a one-of-a-kind experience.

Our goal was, and still is, to offer more than just food and drink – we strive to create memorable moments through our products, ambiance, and the expertise we’ve gained over the years. While our primary focus is wine and chocolate, we also offer dishes from around the world to complement the experience.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Loving what you do, working hard, and quickly adapting to change and growth—these are the top three qualities I’d highlight.

The advice I’ll share might sound familiar, perhaps even cliché, but it’s something I’ve experienced firsthand: creating something new is never easy. The journey can be filled with challenges and setbacks, but those tough moments are what shape and strengthen us. Perseverance is key. What may seem impossible at first often becomes manageable over time as we learn how to tackle problems and navigate obstacles.

The most important thing to remember is that challenges are a natural part of life. Our mindset should always be solution-oriented. As we achieve success, the scale of our challenges will inevitably grow as well. That’s why it’s essential to first define what we want and be honest with ourselves. If our goal is success and a better life, we must be prepared for the accompanying challenges and hardships. Success and struggle go hand in hand, and being ready for that reality is crucial.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Obstacles and challenges are a part of life, and as I’ve said before, we need to face them with a solution-focused mindset.

Right now, we’re finishing up a tough situation with a former employee and his lawyer. They tried to scare us into settling a baseless case, even though they had no real evidence. Despite our efforts to resolve things the right way and avoid court, we were pressured into a settlement. This situation showed us how a system built on fairness can sometimes be abused by people with bad intentions.

Thankfully, we’re almost done with this issue. The biggest lesson we’ve learned is the importance of having solid insurance and being prepared for unexpected challenges. My advice to new business owners: make sure you’re protected because, unfortunately, not everyone will act in good faith.

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Image Credits

image credits to AYZA

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