"If you cling to the image of who you were yesterday, then you are already lagging behind in life," businessman Armaz Tavadze says while speaking about the "new era" of Georgian business, challenges, his successful projects, and the current political reality.
We'd like to present a brief interview with businessman Armaz Tavadze.
Mr. Armaz, how do you assess the year 2025?
It was a year of global rule-breaking and the start of a new, turbulent era and nobody knows how long it'll last. The time in business when you could just keep things going based on how they'd always been done is over.
Could you be more specific about the changes you're talking about?
"The illusion of predictability in the business world has shattered. The idea that experience automatically grants security has also shattered. Nowadays, if experience isn't continuously updated, it turns into a burden. If you cling to the image of who you were yesterday, then you are already lagging behind in life."
"I see, so what does 'new era' in business mean?"
"It means that the rules aren't found in textbooks; they're being forged in real-time. They're being made in real-time. Those waiting for stability have already missed the boat.
— Could you please elaborate on why you believe this?
— Because the world has truly never been this dynamic. You will not find in history an era during which so many revolutionary changes could happen within the lifetime of a single generation.
I personally remember the era of black-and-white televisions. That wasn't so long ago, but today we are already talking about the colonization of Mars. Everything that is slow, bureaucratic, hierarchical, and based on the fear of failure will disappear. If you think today that you will have time to "think" tomorrow, you are already in the past.
Who will triumph in this era?
Someone willing to take risks and bold. Without risk, all knowledge will result in failure. Risk, by its very nature, means leaving your comfort zone and venturing into the unknown.
In one sentence, how would you define what is currently happening in business?
The old rules are outdated. The new rules of the game are not yet clear.
So, what is the biggest problem for Georgian business today?
Georgia has many "rich" people and very few real businessmen. This is a serious problem for business. The country cannot have public servants who are richer than businessmen. Money and prosperity should be linked only to business or professional activity.
What’s the difference between being welathy and being a businessman?
A wealthy person accumulates money through any available means and produces nothing. A businessman creates material value that yields profit.
Do you possess significant wealth?
No, I am a businessman. I can't imagine a businessman having a lot of free money. It should always be reinvesting in their business.
Is there any Georgian businessman you particularly admire or see as a benchmark?
Anyone who has created something of value, including yourself.
What valuable things have you done in your business career?
Are there many examples where someone has successfully launched three brands in the same sector?
What exactly do you mean?
Insurance companies "Irao," "Ardi," and "Avtograf." I started all three from scratch.
Is insurance your professional field?
Not really, I'm not a pro when it comes to insurance. My strength lies in building successful companies in any industry.
You had an insurance company in Ukraine as well...
Had the war not broken out, we would have been one of the successful ones on the Ukrainian insurance market. Unfortunately, we were unlucky and had to close the company. Never waste time. We've got tons to do.
What can you say about Commersant radio station? When you talk about your business projects , you never mention Commersant.
For me, "Commersant" isn't really a business; it's more a hobby. My friend Goga Samushia and I launched Commersant radio back in 2008.
What problems is the Georgian business media facing today?
Many believe that the biggest problem for Georgian business media is a scarcity of professional journalists. My view is that the fundamental problem lies in the lack of professional experts. It's a pity that so few people can actually talk on business topics.
What advice would you give to the new generation of businessmen?
I would no longer divide the new and old generations solely by age. I consider myself a businessman of the new generation. If you mean aspiring businessmen, my recommendation is not to take anyone's advice into consideration. Someone else's experience is just someone else's experience, nothing more. If you know how to swim, you shouldn't test the bottom with your feet; you should just jump into the water. The flow will take you somewhere, and you'll gather unique knowledge and experience.
All businessmen avoid talking about politics. What can you tell about the current political reality?
We mistakenly believe that political reality is created solely by politicians. To a large extent, political reality is shaped by active voters with their mentality, expectations, inner moods, and behavior. The current political climate in our country has been created by voters from the generation born and raised in the 20th century. We must also consider the fact that over 700,000 people, a significant number of voters, are socially vulnerable. These people are most easily manipulated by any political force. Ultimately, considering all of this, we get what is known as the modern Georgian political climate.
What solution do you see?
— The 21st-century generation, with all its strengths and weaknesses, has already become part of public life. Very soon, they will gain a dominant advantage. This is a law of nature, and nothing can stop it. They instinctively sense the processes unfolding in the world today This is their era, and no one can stop them. They will change a lot in Georgia.
