In business, are two heads better than one? The answer is undoubtedly yes for sibling double act George and Mariam Gogidze. These alumni studied on our London campus and put their entrepreneurial heads together to blitz through business and their studies—as a team. Here they are in their own words: 

The first spark 

George: I think I had my first business when I was in the fifth grade. It was a telescope business when there were so few of them in Georgia, our home country. We could buy them on eBay and then just sell them for a profit. It wasn’t a sophisticated business model but it gave me a taste. 

Mariam: And then he went on to work for our grandfather. He asked for investment for a hotdog cart, and it was pretty useful in terms of helping him figure out what he wanted to do. 

George: It failed! I was studying at the time and didn’t have the skills to keep it running. My studies were the most important thing and I knew I needed a business education if I wanted to make this entrepreneurship thing work.

Twin ambitions

Mariam: I was always a huge supporter of my brother. While I now have my own ventures going on, back then I would just fill in where I could to make his business ideas work, as he is older than me. We complement each other so well and our working together has always been intuitive.  

George: I first heard the word ‘Hult’ when a careers advisor at school said it. I heard the tagline ‘For Those Made to Do’ and thought ‘That’s me!’ The rest just fell into place so naturally. 

Mariam: So, as I’ve said, my early life was more of a supporter to George. I had no idea about Hult, but my parents were keen for me to stick with my brother. Honestly, I was apprehensive at first, but things worked out. There are so many clubs and opportunities here—that’s really important to me. I entered the Hult Student Association elections and emerged as head of clubs and societies. That was my proudest moment outside the classroom, I think.  

I first heard the word ‘Hult’ when a careers advisor at school said it. I heard the tagline ‘For Those Made to Do’ and thought ‘That’s me!’
– George Gogidze

Yin and Yang  

Mariam: Our skills have always felt perfectly matched. For example, he’s more of a doer and I’m more academic. These are the two components of business education at Hult, so we supported one another where we needed it. Together we make the perfect business professional.  

George: Yeah, I prefer to get involved with a task straight away rather than think too much. I work hard but sometimes forget to put my head up, socialize, and collaborate. Mariam is very good at bringing that side out of me.  

I work hard but sometimes forget to put my head up, socialize, and collaborate. Mariam is very good at bringing that side out of me.
– George Gogidze

Venturing as one  

George: The first business we really started together as adults was a growth agency. Its goal, simply put, was to get the elderly online and active in the community during the pandemic. 

Mariam: The pandemic was a difficult time because all classes were online, and I was missing some real human interaction. George and I always had each other, though. Soon, we fell back into old patterns and our partnership was flourishing. The growth agency soon became a content agency as that’s what was required. 

George: Through creating content, we naturally moved into creating software. All of our business growth together has come very organically. We adapted to new challenges for our ‘brand’ to stay relevant. We feel there’s nothing we can’t turn our hand to.  

All of our business growth together has come very organically. We adapted to new challenges for our ‘brand’ to stay relevant.

– George Gogidze

The conditions for success 

George: Hult was a good place to put our ideas into practice. Studying at a business school together meant we were in an entrepreneurial environment. All our interactions somehow become about the business. We feel pushed to have higher and higher standards—that’s because of our time at Hult. 

Mariam: Also, we worked out our relationship even more when we were at Hult. For example, George is better at the big picture. I leave tasks like that to him. I’m much more meticulous and have an eye for detail. Learning how to divide labor smartly was a great highlight of our time. 

George is better at the big picture. I leave tasks like that to him. I’m much more meticulous and have an eye for detail.
– Mariam Gogidze

Future plans 

George: I want my own empire. I don’t feel shy about saying that. My businesses are currently going well, but I have an expansionist attitude—no venture is too big. And I hope that Mariam will always play a part in that. There would be no success without her. 

Mariam: This is true, and I’ll always be involved in George’s plans, but I have my own ambitions. I currently have my own branding consultancy. I’m building it slowly, but it’s on the rise. Also, I have to remember sometimes that I’m only 21! And George is only 23! The future is bright for us as a partnership, but our time to shine on our own is coming too. We’ve achieved so much and yet it still just feels like the beginning.

We’ve achieved so much and yet it still just feels like the beginning.
– Mariam Gogidze

Hult is full of talent—and the next business superstar could be in your contact book. Refer a student today to pack Hult full of those made to do.