Dr. Aly Gamay embodies the achievement of American Dream. The head of DreamPak Company has navigated some of the stiff challenges in the world of business including intense corporate culture barriers and business competition but always persisted with search for something new – innovation.
Having learnt the tricks of the trade both with pursuit of higher studies and professionally as an inventor, the Egyptian-American businessman has a simple advice for young entrepreneurs – follow the dream steadfastly and pursue your new ideas.
“People need to come up with their own ideas and not be afraid to dream and envision the future,” he told Views and News in an interview.
Gamay is a Ph.D. food chemist and nutritionist, established several companies including Gamay Flavors and DreamPak, which employ hundreds of people in the industries of shelf stable dinners, food flavors and manufacturing of cold and hot drinks, liquid vitamins and sports nutrition is a known enterprise in the field. Dr. Gamay holds more than a dozen of US patents covering various fields in food, beverage and nutrition.
He says the U.S. system – from education to work and from financial institutions to society – supports innovation.
“They (new entrants) should first of all realize that (being in the United States) they are in the best place for innovation and business in the entire world. There is no other country that supports innovation (the way America does).”
It was early in his career that Dr. Gamay felt that he must make the best use of his expertise to avail potential opportunities. So, one day, he took the daring step of quitting his job in quest of new inventions and innovation. He was able to develop and market the world’s first technology to produce fat-free cheese.
Years later, he developed technology that would allow people to take medicine in the form of liquids instead of hard-to-swallow pills. Now he has an array of drinks from coffee to energy drinks and his buyers and sellers include some of the largest American companies.
But all this journey from an expert in Food Science to a successful entrepreneur with a head office in Tysons Corner, Virginia and manufacturing facilities in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has only been possible after years of determined work.
“There is no appetite for failure. You have not failed until you accept it. Keep trying and one day you will succeed, never stop dreaming and working hard.”
Gamay has also some reflections on the ongoing challenges facing American communities.
American Muslim immigrants, he feels, can be effective ambassadors of goodwill for the United States.
“American Muslims are an integral part of the society, they are part of the very American fabric. They are not different in their ideals from the mainstream population,” Gamay says.
Gamay notes that despite stiff competition, he has never faced discrimination on any account.
American Muslims are “pretty much part of the United States, they want to be included in the society,” he says while underscoring the importance of inclusiveness.
“They also spread word to the parts of the world they come that America is a great country and that American dream is great. They can be ambassadors of goodwill for the United States.”
For their part, American Muslims too should reach out to mainstream population and platforms.
“American Muslims should play a prominent role in the society. They should make themselves more noticeable so that people recognize their role and contributions.”
“Immigrants have always played a vital role in the U.S. advancement, they fuel growth and innovation.”
He says America should never lose the advantage of attracting talented immigrants to come and follow their dreams while keeping the United States as the pivot of innovation of the world.
“Look at my own example. If I had not come here, I would not have innovated or succeeded — I employ several hundred people, pay a lot of taxes, do a lot of community service, we contribute back to the society and that is exactly the essence of a successful societies.”
