La Mia Colazione Café Founder
Her name is Khanim – not Lamia, as many mistakenly assume. At 33, she is a proud mother of two. Khanim graduated from the Classical Gymnasium No160 and went on to study Japanese at the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Baku State University. Her journey began in 2021, inspired by the challenges of the pandemic. That same year, she launched a delivery service, gaining valuable hands-on experience. And, in March 2022, the doors of her café La Mia Colazione opened for the first time.
What is your main quality that has helped you build a successful business?
Purposefulness. I’m a Sagittarius – and we’re known for our determination. And I have a strong ability to achieve my goals, no matter the circumstances.
Intuition or calculations – what is more important in business?
Both calculations and intuition are essential. I always try to listen to both – my head and heart.
What inspires you to develop your business?
The feedback from our satisfied guests and of course, my children. I’m deeply grateful that I can show them that it’s possible to chase your dreams, start from nothing, and achieve your goals, no matter what.
What advice would you give yourself ten years ago?
Choose yourself. Listen to your soul. And never be afraid of anything.
What is the biggest fear you’ve overcome in business?
The fear of starting. It’s always daunting because it means stepping out of your comfort zone – but that’s exactly where growth begins.
What is the most “out-of-the-box” yet successful decision you’ve made in business?
Opening a place dedicated solely to breakfast, while everyone else was focusing on serving three meals a day, was quite a bold move. But I chose to follow my own path and focus on what I believed in.
What bad experience or crisis has been the most useful lesson for you?
The moment of my burnout, when at one point I realised that I control everything – from purchasing to running a page on Instagram. True success is knowing how to trust others and delegate – something I’ve always struggled with. But it’s a lesson I’ve learned along the way.
When did you realise your business was taking off?
When I consistently started seeing queues outside the café and guests patiently waiting for a table.
What role do customer relationships play in business?
Building a genuine connection with guests always leads to positive results. If you make them feel welcome, they’ll want to return – again and again.
In 2025, Visa together with Birbank Biznes, is launching an educational and competition program called “Create your success story.” Program participants will acquire key business skills, receive support from experienced mentors, and at the end of the program, they will have a chance to compete for cash prizes to grow their business. The total prize fund of the competition is 60,000 azn.
Applications can be submitted until June 10, 2025 (inclusive) on the program’s website: https://shesnext.emergingeurope.org/az/
