An interview with the COO/CMO Enis Bayik

Can you briefly tell us who you are, and where you are from?

My name is Enis Bayik and I’m from an idyllic small town called Weiden in Upper Palatinate in Bavaria, Southern Germany. At the age of 26, I was drawn out into the world. This was, for me, the starting point in the field of student living and coliving. Nowadays, I live and work in Berlin. I’m a visionary with a love for detail and an urge to do things differently. The love for detail also characterizes my private life, from my passion for interior design to architectural photography.

What is your role at Home & Co? 

I am the COO/CMO at Home & Co. Our vision is to create a cool living concept for an international and intercultural community that’s both easily accessible and digital.

What do you like most about your job?

I love that we work and grow as a team every day. And you can see results and progress in everything we do. That’s what drives us. We create a home for people from all over the world. That’s my biggest motivation for the job.

How did you get to what you are doing now?

I moved to Munich for my dual studies in 2014. This gave me the opportunity to gain work experience in the field of student living with the first vendor in Germany. I quickly realized that there is a lot of demand for furnished living from people abroad. I personally experienced how difficult it is to find an apartment in Germany with a foreign surname. I wanted to change that. 

After working in Munich for six years, I took the next career step: I moved to Berlin and started working for Nido, an international company. At Nido, I worked as the managing director and built up the German market. I’m now happy to build my own vision of a home for young people with Home & Co.

How did you come up with the idea for Home & Co?

The idea grew out of my personal and professional experiences over the past years. I had been unsuccessfully searching for an apartment in Munich for a year. I had sent 100 applications and had at least 30 viewings. According to some brokers, my origin was a problem in combination with the general shortage in the housing market. When I published an article on social media, I noticed that there were many people who’d had similar experiences. I received lots of messages and even the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper and local radio stations contacted me. I then started looking into different forms of living worldwide and realized that there was a growing demand for smart living concepts due to urbanization and growing populations. Digital, easy access, community–all of this is sought after not only by students but also by expats, young professionals and entrepreneurs–generally, anyone who is in a transition phase in their life.

What does Home & Co mean to you personally?

To me, Home & Co represents that warm feeling of being at home. It’s not just the brand itself, but the entire team that transports this emotion to the outside world.

Tell us a highlight or anecdote from your job.

A highlight is the team which has practically grown into a family. We laugh a lot, and first and foremost remain human, which keeps us–and the brand–authentic. We never lack ideas or solutions to problems and challenges.

What is your favourite place in Berlin?

Monbijoupark, a park on museum island: you can exercise surrounded by amazing architecture and a lot of culture. I love it there. For me, the park reflects the throbbing metropolis of Berlin. My favourite restaurant is Baba Pirzola Meze & Grill. I grew up with Turkish culture, and usually go there when I miss my mum’s food.

What’s your advice for new Berliners?

Berlin is very diverse. Try out as many restaurants and visit as many places in the city as you can. Berlin is very dynamic and reinvents itself every day. Engage with the city and you will quickly fall in love with it.

What is your career advice for young professionals?

Don’t plan too far into the future in regards to where exactly you want to end up in your career. You need to be passionate about what you are doing. If you find that you aren’t passionate about your job, then move on. And always remain flexible in your mind.

What is your favourite book?

How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Cannigan.

Which is your favourite Home & Co home?

Dresden North. I love its architecture and the history of the building and we use it in a unique way. We’ve combined historical architecture and design with modern elements to create a concept unlike any other.

What’s your favourite spot at Home & Co, and in which building?

I like the Yard in Berlin. In a throbbing and noisy city like Berlin, the green outdoor spaces create a relaxing retreat, perfect for unwinding.