The CEO of David Harilela Group and director of Harilela Hotels shares with Tatler how he celebrated closing his first deal and what it means to have this famous surname
It’s been said that your father, the late George Harilela, gave you a US$3 monthly allowance. How did that impact your determination and drive to succeed?
I was in high school at the time and it wasn’t even enough money for me to pick up a date. I’ve seen my father work from scratch and I idolised him. I didn’t mind it. I had a driver, car, food and I was pampered. But it made me think about how to make my father’s life easier. My whole life, I’ve been very independent. I went to study business at the University of Southern California and was the first person to go to university in my family. I thank him for these lessons. I always taught my kids that they need to sustain themselves. I have always tried to prove to my father that I could be at least half the man he was, because he was totally self-made.
You’re considered an expert in the licensing world and have worked with companies like Disney and Warner. How did you first get into this line of work?
I was in trading first and I always wanted to add creativity and value. I partnered with an Australian company and we owned many notable Disney licences. The biggest licence we ever got was for the World Cup in 1994 in the US. We created a store with 250 items. You could buy a towel, a stuffed toy or a soccer ball. It was challenging and a lot of fun.
Was the dream always to join the family business?
I either wanted to be a successful businessman or a fantastic singer. I realised early in life that I wanted to contribute to my family and prove myself as a businessman. I was offered a recording contract before college in the late 1960s. Our band was called The Balladeers; we practised like mad and we played every night for two months in Tsim Sha Shui. But musically, I was mediocre. It would have been the wrong path.
What are the core values that drive your business decisions?
The key is service and integrity. I always deliver what I promise—never less. If anything is wrong, I will pay the penalty. I also learnt to not only sell to clients but to profit-share with clients. That makes you a team. It was very alien for a businessperson in the 1970s and 1980s to do this, but I did. Everything good, I learnt from my father: strategy, how to grab a big client and how to understand a client.
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What was the first big deal you closed?
The first big one, which I thought was the easiest money I ever made, was when I was the licensing agent for the World Cup for Mexico in 1986. I made over US$1 million net profit. That was beautiful. I went to a restaurant to sing and dance with friends afterwards to celebrate.
How has your family supported you throughout your entrepreneurial journey?
My father and my grandmother, Devibai— whom I am named after—gave me all the good values in life. When I really want something, I go full steam ahead. When I saw my wife, I knew I was going to marry her. When I started my charity [The One], everyone thought I was crazy, but I just did it. It’s the same with business. I’ve been blessed. My dad never interfered and my wife never complained. You can’t build your business sitting on your butt. I’m a workaholic. I always wanted to rise to the occasion and not run away from it.
You have three daughters. Have you ever tried to lure them into the family business?
Is the Pope Catholic? [laughs] They didn’t enjoy it. We’re an investment company now; over the last few years, I’ve had some health problems, and Divia [Harilela’s eldest daughter] has been very good [working in the business]. Divia is very creative and the investment world is very dry. One day, Divia will run this company and she will run it very capably. She’s smart and a workaholic like me. She doesn’t shy away from any task. I can go away knowing my children will float—and that is every parent’s dream.
Is the Harilela name a blessing or a burden?
My father and my uncle Hari built a legacy and created so much goodwill. The challenge for the new generation is to create their own legacy. I’ve never misused the name, though. I have always wanted to be my own king and make my own success. The name has never been a burden. The name has good vibes. When God has given you success, you must use it to give back to society. My family name has opened a lot of doors. At the end of the day, I’m simply a nobody trying to be somebody.