Mahmud Jafri Builds on a Pakistani Legacy in America

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on
LinkedIn
+

This week on JobMakers, Host Denzil Mohammed talks with Mahmud Jafri, who built on a legacy started by his grandfather and began importing hand-knitted rugs from his native Pakistan, creating opportunities especially for women who traditionally couldn’t work outside the home. Today, he has three Dover Rug & Home stores across Massachusetts, including the Back Bay, which have experienced an uptick in sales during the pandemic’s “renovation revolution.” Jafri discusses why he made the journey to the U.S., and challenges he encountered, such as the “concrete ceiling” in the corporate world for foreigners at that time. He also shares thoughts on how to ensure the United States remains a welcoming country, and what can be done to more effectively integrate all immigrants for the benefit of everyone.

Guest

Mahmud Jafri is Managing Director at Dover Rug & Home, an interior design business which he founded over 30 years ago, and CEO at Dover Squash & Fitness. Mr. Jafri has received numerous awards, including the 2013 Immigrant Entrepreneur Award, and was appointed by Governor Deval Patrick to his Advisory Council on Immigrants and Refugees. Mr. Jafri is a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, International Furnishing and Design Association, and World Floor Covering Association. Dover Rug & Home has been the recipient of the “Best of” Boston Home award, as well as the CNC Reader’s Choice award. The company is consistently recognized for its philanthropy, as it supports over 50 charitable organizations on a regular basis.

 

Get new episodes of JobMakers in your inbox!

Related Posts

Mahmud Jafri Builds on a Pakistani Legacy in America

This week on JobMakers, Host Denzil Mohammed talks with Mahmud Jafri, who built on a legacy started by his grandfather and began importing hand-knitted rugs from his native Pakistan, creating opportunities especially for women who traditionally couldn’t work outside the home. Today, he has three Dover Rug & Home stores across Massachusetts, including the Back Bay.

Larry O’Toole on Workplace Culture & Immigration Policy

On this week's episode of JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks to Larry O’Toole, founder of the multi-state Gentle Giant Moving Company that started in 1980 right here in the Boston area. They discuss Mr. O'Toole's journey at a young age from Ireland to Brookline, Mass., the challenges of being uprooted, and the ability to thrive despite barriers such as skills gaps, that many immigrants face.

Amar Sawhney on Sikhs, STEM & COVID

On this week's episode of JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks to Dr. Amar Sawhney about his journey from India to Boston, and how he is using his chemical engineering background to save lives through remarkable local therapy innovations. To date, he has founded eight companies accounting for 4,000 jobs and more than $2 billion in revenue.

Max Faingezicht on the Skills Gap & the Future of Work

This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Max Faingezicht, an immigrant who founded ThriveHive, a marketing software company for small businesses, and Telescoped, which uses remote software engineering to connect Latin American engineers with U.S. companies in need of their skills. The entrepreneurial ecosystem of Boston and Cambridge have allowed Max to achieve dreams he didn’t even know he had when he arrived. In this episode, he shares his fascinating immigration story, as well as his ideas on where workers go next.

Hilda Torres Makes the Grade

This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Hilda Torres, an immigrant from Mexico who runs My Little Best Friends Early Learning Center in Malden, Massachusetts. One of the most successful businesses in the city, the center enrolls over 100 students whose parents come from more than 25 different countries. In this episode, Hilda shares how she used the tools of education, and her own grit and determination, to make her mark in the land of opportunity.

Hong Tran Goes from Refugee to Realtor

This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Hong Tran, a Worcester, Massachusetts-based realtor and small business owner who emigrated to America as an orphaned refugee from Vietnam.