President of Capital Club Grigor Arakelyan: Business clubs are a game in the major league
YEREVAN, March 11. /ARKA/. In early March, Yerevan hosted the business forum "International Markets Are Within Reach," organized by Capital Club, a member and president of the international network "Alliance of Clubs." In an exclusive interview with ARKA news agency, Capital Club President Grigor Arakelyan discussed the environment that shapes leaders and helps businesses grow. He is convinced that a business club is not just a community, but a powerful development tool where entrepreneurs exchange ideas, find partners, grow together, and empower each other.
"ARKA" – You have established yourself in business and are known as a coach and facilitator. What inspired you to create Capital Club?
G. Arakelyan – I entered the business world very organically, realizing my abilities in coaching. I initially studied accounting, then founded an accounting business. Simultaneously, I developed an interest in psychoanalysis from my school days. After starting my first business in the financial sector, I founded the "Alarm Clock" project, which over 10,000 people participated in. Later, I received business education in Moscow and created a product to help businessmen and businesses grow, called "Praktik."
Building on the social capital formed during these two projects, I created Capital Club. The first 80 members of the club were participants in my educational project. After that, the club began to attract entrepreneurs from large businesses in Armenia.
"ARKA" – What opportunities does your club offer to Armenian entrepreneurs?
G. Arakelyan – Since the club is a space where a large number of entrepreneurs gather, it becomes an environment for accessing a vast array of resources for entrepreneurship and business. It’s a place for development, where the phenomenon of a supportive environment and community can be found.
"ARKA" – Your club now has about 300 members. What are your goals for the next five years?
G. Arakelyan – Our immediate goal is to increase the number of entrepreneurs from Armenia to 500. Globally, the "Alliance" (which includes business clubs from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Europe, and Dubai) already has around 2,000 entrepreneurs, and we aim to grow that number to 5,000. All of them share our ideology and values.
"ARKA" – Does your club have branches abroad?
G. Arakelyan – As I mentioned earlier, we don’t have branches yet, but we do have partner clubs in Dubai, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the United Kingdom, and 85 cities across Europe. We are not opening branches ourselves at the moment, but we cooperate with established clubs in their countries. We are building strategic partnerships and, in turn, represent them in Armenia while they represent us and our interests in their countries.
"ARKA" – Has your successful background in taekwondo helped you in business?
G. Arakelyan – Taekwondo, an Eastern martial art, has always served as both a physical and spiritual foundation, which I rely on in tough times. I now practice Muay Thai, which is also an Eastern tradition very close to me. I believe that an entrepreneur should maintain a strong physical foundation. If you're not physically strong and don't keep yourself in good shape, you won’t be able to withstand the immense pressures entrepreneurs face. It's similar to astronauts who need specific physical training to endure the extreme stresses of space travel.
"ARKA" – In one of your interviews, you said that "sales are a sport." If we think of it in terms of sports categories, do you see the club as a team sport, in contrast to individual sports?
G. Arakelyan – Possibly. I once joined a training session with professional athletes and experienced incredible personal growth in just a few days. I was amazed at how much you can grow in such a short time, simply by being in the right environment. This is the power of the environment, which I discovered for myself. What does this mean? For instance, if I need to learn a new language, it requires effort. But if I immerse myself in the appropriate language environment, it happens almost effortlessly and organically. The environment changes you effortlessly, without draining your energy. Instead, it fuels your development, providing both energy and growth. Our club is a place where business champions gather, a kind of team of entrepreneurs, and this phenomenon kicks in. Champions become even stronger, develop faster, and grow their businesses as well.
"ARKA" – You also mentioned that one key to success in business is love. Do you agree that Armenia lacks love, especially in business relationships?
G. Arakelyan – Yes, I agree.
"ARKA" – And what can be done about it? How can we learn to love, at least starting with ourselves, and then our team members, partners, and even competitors?
G. Arakelyan – Love is a powerful force for a person. If an entrepreneur or anyone else discovers this for themselves, then, as Nietzsche says, “If we have a why, we can find almost any how.” So, those who want to be stronger need to learn to love. If you are consistent in your love, you can succeed in nearly any situation. I can "defeat" almost any enemy by turning them into a friend or partner using the power of love. Unlike Western sports traditions, fighters in Eastern martial arts show each other respect and love, and win in the duel primarily thanks to respect and love. Interestingly, in this case, the opponent is not injured in a way that could be fatal. In contrast, aggression and negative emotions make the aggressor vulnerable, and not always the person they are targeting.
"ARKA" – Your club is very democratic, with members ranging from large corporations to small and medium-sized businesses. Given the role of SMEs in Armenia's economy, what needs to be done for their development?
G. Arakelyan – A well-developed infrastructure of clubs is essential. We have a special club for small and medium businesses called Club Capital Business. It is focused on developing SMEs by creating a favorable environment for growth. We assist with education and provide resources for development. After all, development requires energy and the correct direction for that energy. The club provides both. That’s why business clubs in Armenia and around the world are crucial for entrepreneurs. By developing business clubs, we are developing business in Armenia as a whole.
