PUBLIC SPEAKING
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THOMAS LUNDGREN THE One Total Home Experience THE Office Villa No. 758, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah 3 P.O. Box 50171, Dubai United Arab Emirates Tel: +971 4 3955889 Fax: +971 4 3955778 |
Married to Ewa and father of three daughters, Thomas is the inventor and CEO of THE One Total Home Experience - a major home fashion chain across the Middle East with revenues of USD100 million and over 700 employees. In his world, CEO stands for anything from Chief Emotional Officer and Chief Evolution Officer to Chief Empathy Officer and even Chief Enlightenment Officer. Never Chief Executive Officer though, as Thomas holds no college degrees or any other prerequisites, which could possibly have contributed to him becoming a retail mogul in charge of a global home fashion empire. He is simply living his dream… A dream he had in 1993, in which an angel set him the task of saving the world from IKEA. While Thomas has been described by some as the creator of a Middle Eastern furniture retail revolution, he describes himself as a passionate idealist in search of his own happiness; an obsessive-compulsive, frustrated artist on a mission to change the world. He ascribes his entrepreneurial success to sheer naivety, curiosity, creativity and gut-feel, as well as stubbornness, luck in employing the right people and good old-fashioned hard work.
THE One opened its first Theatre in Abu Dhabi in 1996 and today the brand has 14 stores across the Middle East. It has received many accolades over the years, including being recognised by the Gulf’s leading business magazine, Arabian Business, as one of the ‘50 Most Admired Companies in the GCC’. It has also scored hat-tricks at both the Retail Middle East Awards and Retail City Awards, scooping Lifestyle Retailer of the Year and Best CSR of the Year respectively, three years in a row. THE One was named Recommended Employer of the Year at the IIR Middle East Business Achievement Awards 2007, where Thomas was also unanimously voted Entrepreneur of the Year. In addition, following THE One’s much publicised sole sponsorship of Robbie Williams’ Dubai show in April 2006 (which dramatically increased THE One’s ‘Brandwidth’), the gig won Best Concert of the Year in the UAE at the What’s On Awards 2007.
Sounds good, doesn’t it? Success, fame, fortune and a bit of Rock ‘n Roll! But Thomas isn’t happy. He doesn’t believe the world needs another retailer. He feels THE One has a higher purpose - a responsibility to try to improve the world we live in. That’s why, apart from hiring physically and mentally challenged individuals, THE One supports several causes through regular local volunteering initiatives. That’s also why Thomas recently kicked off THE Onederworld - a Sustainable Village Community programme funded by 1% of THE One’s turnover - with a visit to the Pimbiniet community in Kenya. Joining forces with Free the Children on this project, THE One is working with the villagers on holistic community development through Balanced Quality Primary Education, Healthcare Services, Alternative Income Projects and Safe & Clean Drinking Water & Sanitation Systems.
7 Comments Add your own
1. Parag Desai | February 27th, 2008 at 6:22 am
Hello Thomas,
I am really glad to see that there is some one on this planet earth who wants to change the world and who is not just a Retailer or an entrepreneur but who is working for a bigger cause. The cause which I always wanted to work for. When I read that The One spends 1% of their revenue for a noble cause, my reactions was “Thats the thing”…….I always believed that if all the big companies spend 1 % fo their turnover for charities, then this world can become a wonderful place to live.
You are really making a change by helping under-previlaged kid for their education and tools to become something in life. You know I always believed that its a chain effect, if we help someone and then that person starts helping others, then we can reach to many people.
Its amazing to Love, Dare, Believe and Live……I would love to meet you and share my dream with you.
Regards,
Parag Desai
0506338931
2. Jen | February 12th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Hi Thomas,
I’m impressed of your business success! Congratulations. Are you from Sweden? Your name sounds swedish and mentioning IKEA sounds like you have connections to Kamprads home country. I really love your concept and the products. But when will you come back to Sweden, need your concept store here badly!!
Kind regards
Jen
3. Nayeem Dakhway | April 8th, 2009 at 9:32 am
It is important to identify the success, but more important to identify failures.
To see the best side of the world is what all aspire to, but to check whats the worst is best to see, and even super best to work towards its improvement.
There are millions of people accross the globe who are not even been able to fulfill there necessities; here there is a sense of responsibility to work towards.
I understand you as working towards it.
Great thoughts, make a role model.
All The Best.
4. selin Mani | October 13th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Having a dream and living for it is not an isolated story. But the real passion matters
5. Thomas | October 15th, 2009 at 1:58 am
Hi Selin
Nothing extraordinary has been achieved without passion.
Love T
6. ramesh | June 10th, 2010 at 5:50 am
passion and the burning desiers is the key to success and the urgency of nescessity makes people more towards it which you have got…..god is always with THE ONE who do good for others….the more u give the more u recieve….
7. Omar | June 29th, 2010 at 5:51 am
Curiosity mixed with Passion always keeps flowing like a river.
God bless you Thomas….
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