Today we’d like to introduce you to Elson Beluli.
Hi Elson, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From a seventeen-year-old who left home with a suitcase of dreams to a seasoned entrepreneur shaping spaces where people feel seen and inspired, this is a story of resilience, curiosity, and the belief that service is a powerful engine for business and community. Across Berlin, New York, and beyond, the path blended warmth with sharp business instincts, evolving into Mega Group Construction—a company built on care, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to people.
– At 17, I left my home country to study international business management in Germany. Finances were tight, and the road was rough, but I treated every challenge as a doorway to growth. Hospitality spoke to me because it honors people—making them feel seen, valued, and cared for. I began in the restaurant and hotel industry not merely to earn a living, but to learn how service, culture, and efficiency intertwine to create meaningful experiences. Balancing relentless work with learning, I discovered that daily acts of care compound into a credible future. Frontline roles taught humility, empathy, and the power of a warm welcome in turning a guest into a loyal supporter. Leadership emerged as a form of service: uplifting others, smoothing the path for teammates, and aligning joy with results.
Berlin: Berlin’s First Certified Organic Restaurant
– At 22, my best friend Marie and I opened what we believed could be a beacon of conscious dining in Berlin. Our mission was simple yet ambitious: serve delicious food that respects people, producers, and the planet. Hospitality was in my bloodstream, and business fundamentals provided the backbone to turn passion into a tangible space.
The venture was grounded in integrity—transparent sourcing, a focus on quality, and an unwavering guest experience. It demanded budgeting discipline, resilient supply chains, and a brand guests could trust. The joy came from moments when a guest felt nourished not only by food but by the values behind it. The experience taught me the delicate art of balancing purpose with profitability and the power of leading with transparency.
New York Chapter: Leadership on a Bigger Stage
Two years after Berlin, I followed family ties to New York, eager to grow within a city renowned for its pace and possibility. I joined a prestigious restaurant brand (Balade- Roland Semaan (Founder/ Mentor) as Director of Operations, a role that required operational excellence and deep respect for people.
I learned to balance strategic vision with the heartbeat of daily service, ensuring every decision honored both guests and staff. The experience broadened my understanding of brand storytelling, guest engagement, and cross-functional leadership. Adaptability in a fast-paced urban environment became a competitive edge born from listening first and acting with care.
Pivot to Real Estate and Construction Business: Recognizing a Shared Thread
As my network expanded, conversations revealed a common thread: spaces shape lives, and real estate investments offer a meaningful way to amplify hospitality’s impact. The pivot was both bold and intentional. I sought guidance from my brother Ardi (Founder of Golden Team) who would at a later point become my business partner, to align values, timing, and risk with a long-term purpose. The pivot was more than a business shift—it was a commitment to building environments that uplift communities and endure over time.
Mega Group Construction: Building with Care and Craft
A few months after deciding to pivot, I secured the license and launched Mega Group Construction. The name embodies a promise: to construct with rigor, integrity, and a people-first mindset.
The business marries hospitality principles—attention to detail, respect for every stakeholder, and dependable commitments—with construction mastery and disciplined project management. Each project is an opportunity to create spaces that endure and elevate daily life, reflecting a philosophy that people and purpose precede profit.
What Keeps Me Moving
The core belief that drives this journey is simple but powerful: I have to succeed because others are counting on us—clients, teammates, families, and communities who will share in the outcomes of our work.
This conviction fuels perseverance through setbacks, sharpens focus during growth spurts, and invites mentorship and a trusted network that keeps me honest and hungry. I view growth as a shared journey—advancing my own skills while lifting those around me.
A Journey Defined by Joy, Grit, and Transformation
The path has been rich with moments of elation and learning, transforming me into a more thoughtful leader, a steadier contractor, and a more compassionate person.
Rapid business growth mirrored changes in my personal life, presenting challenges and beauty in equal measure. Every obstacle became a chance to refine systems, empower teams, and clarify a vision that aligns profit with purpose.
Through it all, the guiding thread remains: lead with empathy and clarity, listen first, and act with integrity. Invest in people and systems that support sustainable growth, and always align financial success with a broader good.
My vision is to deepen impact by creating spaces that are safe, functional, and inspirational for the people who use them daily. I will continue to blend hospitality with construction to deliver projects that improve communities and lives, ensuring that each endeavor honors the people who make it possible.
The journey is a lifelong commitment to service-driven leadership—mentoring others, nurturing strong partnerships, and building an organization where care, quality, and accountability are the standards.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Building Mega Group Construction has been a journey of both beauty and challenge. One of the biggest risks in starting a ground-up business is surviving financially while you’re still in the red—investing in licenses, back-office systems, and early projects before steady cash flow arrives. Early on, not knowing the ins and outs of the construction world—permits, codes, DOB processes, and the complex regulatory landscape—felt like navigating a maze without a map. There were high-stakes moments, tense cash-flow days, and decisions that tested my nerve. Yet through it all, I kept faith in the vision and leaned on mentors, a growth-minded team, and a relentless commitment to quality. Yes, there were ups and downs, good days and bad days, but I love what I do. That love always makes the tough parts worth it and propels me to keep building spaces that matter for people and communities.
We’ve been impressed with Mega Group Construction, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Mega Group Construction is a client-focused interior services partner that blends hospitality-grade care with rigorous construction craft. What sets us apart is our people-first approach: we start with listening to clients’ needs, culture, and daily workflows, then translate those insights into seamless, on-time interior solutions—whether it’s sophisticated fit-outs, space planning, or high-end finishes. We prioritize transparency, meticulous project management, and quality control at every stage, backed by a team that treats every space as a living environment that supports people’s routines and aspirations. Our service offering spans concept development, design-informed budgeting, procurement, site coordination, and meticulous detailing to ensure spaces are not only aesthetically compelling but durable and easy to maintain. What I’m most proud of, brand-wise, is the trust we’ve earned from clients who see us as a true partner rather than a vendor—consistently delivering projects that honor the client’s vision, elevate experiences, and reflect a shared commitment to integrity, reliability, and people-centered outcomes
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
How a NY restaurant director built Mega Group Construction with purpose, craft, and care
From directing operations at 5 prestigious NY restaurants to founding Mega Group Construction, my career is defined by purpose-driven risk. The most pivotal move wasn’t a bigger project or team—it was switching careers itself, leaving a proven hospitality track record to enter construction with a clear vision: to shape spaces that uplift communities and endure through craft and care.
The pivot you can trust: Leaving a high-profile hospitality role to start a construction business demanded more than courage; it required reimagining my skill set. Leadership, brand standards, and client relationships from hospitality translated into governance, uncompromising quality, and a people-first culture on every job site.
Financial and strategic boldness: I pursued licenses, bonding, and early project pipelines without the comfort of a steady backlog. This was a calculated plan: prove a differentiated value—hospitality-grade care, meticulous project management, and transparent communication—and win trust fast enough to sustain growth.
Credibility beyond a traditional background: Entering a new sector carried risk to my credibility.
Pricing:
- Bathroom Renovation 12K-25K
- Kitchen Renovation 14K-50K
- Full house Renovation 100K-140K
- Build Deck 8K-50K
- Small Repairs 75-120 $/ Hour
Contact Info:
