An angel investor and serial entrepreneur, Foued Khalfaoui currently leads as the CEO of aqwa Studies. Parallely, Foued is also the Co-founder and COO of aqwa Recruiting, and the founder of aqwa Cars S.A.R.L. With a mission to source and recruit the best talents from around the world, with aqwa Studies, Foued crafts a bridge connecting the best talents with the right opportunities. Bringing together diverse perspectives with a global network, Foued Khalfaoui is empowering organizations with top-notch professionals. Starting his career path as a technician to currently redefining recruitment globally, Foued Khalfaoui’s journey is nothing short of an inspiration.
Career Trajectory of Foued Khalfaoui
Starting his journey later than most, Foued Khalfaoui unconventionally pursued his goals. At the age of 25, he decided to complete his high school diploma through evening classes. After graduating, Foued enrolled at university and studied Economics, while working in Sales to afford his own apartment, a car, and the other “luxuries of living”. Driven by ambition, he pursued his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot. Trained in Greece and Hungary, Foued successfully obtained his ATPL license.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic severely affected the aviation industry, forcing him to rethink his career path. Eventually, Foued Khalfaoui shifted into IT, working hands-on as a Technician, which made him realize that the real opportunity lies in building teams and placing skilled professionals rather than only doing the technical work himself.
Starting with just a few colleagues, he grew his network and knowledge, and by 2023, Foued successfully placed over 500 technicians on different projects. Foued Khalfaoui reflects, “That same year, I founded aqwa Studies – an advisory service that helps individuals with or without a high school diploma to access training programs across Germany. Our mission is to create opportunities for people to advance their careers, just as I created mine through unconventional paths.”
Growth of aqwa Studies over the Years
In 2023, Foued Khalfaoui started the company completely on his own as a one-man show. Within just a year, he managed to build a team of 12 people, and within a period of 12 months, they successfully managed to reach break-even and, shortly after, scaled the business to 7-figure revenue with a strong 40% profit margin.
Empowering Talents across the Region
Sharing about the contribution of his business to the ecosystem in the region, Foued mentions, “Our mission goes beyond education. Many of our candidates, after completing their programs, return to Tunisia to start their own businesses, invest, and build or purchase property – opportunities that would have been out of reach if they had pursued a career path solely within Tunisia.”
Currently, the team is expanding aqwa Studies into the GCC region to support and create across MENA and GCC, creating sustainable career paths and fostering economic growth through education and workforce placement.
Qualities for Successful Leadership
Foued shares his perspective on becoming a successful leader, and mentions, “My professional approach is defined by authenticity, loyalty, and transparent communication.”
Embracing Innovative Practices
With technological advancements playing a crucial role in business operations across sectors, aqwa Studies has adapted to the digital revolution. Foued Khalfaoui believes, “Between launch and growth, the most critical challenges are structure, organization, and team functionality. If these elements do not align, a company can fail before real growth even begins.”
Recognizing this early, Foued Khalfaoui made several decisive changes: he restructured the team, replaced key roles with more qualified professionals, and established a dedicated IT department. This department, led by one of the organization’s top talents, developed a tailor-made in-house CRM and project management SaaS solution that now forms the backbone of its operations.
Words of Wisdom for Beginners
As a seasoned leader in the field, Foued’s professional journey has evolved through challenging phases and obstacles. Addressing the aspiring professionals, he shares his advice to navigate the challenges, “Listen to those with experience who are willing to share their knowledge. In a billion-dollar industry where success depends on placing the right people quickly, you must learn to work both fast and in a structured way. My advice: don’t waste time chasing perfection in every procedure.
Instead, invest in your team and in strong software solutions, so you can stay focused on what truly matters — whether it’s operational excellence or strategic growth. But no matter what you do, without my faith, family, and my team, I would’ve not been able to achieve all this.”
To learn more about Foued Khalfaoui journey, connect with him on LinkedIn, and find aqwa Studies on LinkedIn and visit their website http://www.aqwa-studies.de/
Also Read: Business Transformation with Expert Solutions from Monocorp Software: Venkatraman Mukundan
Empowering the Blockchain Ecosystem of the Middle East: Mohamad Abdulrazak
