My Migrant Soul | Episode 06 - Amol Kasaju
Once a Housekeeper. Now a Quest Franchise Owner. His Family Was Always the Why.
A migrant entrepreneur’s journey through persistence, purpose, and the people who believed in him.
He didn’t arrive in Australia with a grand vision.
He just wanted to wear a tie.
That one small desire became the spark that drove Amol Kasaju from housekeeper to co-owner of Quest Werribee. A journey built on rejection, resilience, and an unshakeable love for family.
In Episode 06 of My Migrant Soul’s Dreamer and Doers Series, Imran Abul Kashem sits down with Amol for a deeply honest conversation about what it really takes to build a life and a business from zero in a country that wasn’t always easy to navigate.
Watch the Episode 06 on YouTube
Coming from Nepal to Australia in 2009
Amol moved to Australia as a student with no hospitality background and no connections in the industry.
To generate income, he took a job as a housekeeper at Quest Apartment Hotels. Not because it was his dream. But because he needed to survive.
Every day, he would pass through the hotel reception and see staff wearing ties and suits. Coming from Nepal, wearing a tie represented something significant. It meant you had made it.
That image stayed with him.
And quietly, without fully realising it, a dream began to form.
Rejection after rejection and choosing to grow anyway
When Amol decided he wanted to move into a front office role, he applied. And got rejected.
He applied again. Rejected again.
The feedback was always the same. His English and communication skills were not yet at the level required for a guest-facing role.
He had two choices. Accept where he was. Or invest in himself.
He chose the second.
He read newspapers. He listened to the news. He worked on his communication with whatever resources he had. And then he applied for the graveyard shift. An overnight role from 11PM to 7AM where he could get his foot in the door without the pressure of constant guest interaction.
That shift quietly changed everything.
The moment that opened the door
After months on the graveyard shift, Amol wanted to move to the morning or afternoon rotation where he could interact with guests and continue growing.
He was declined again.
But one morning, the AM shift staff member called in sick close to seven o’clock. Nobody else was available. Amol volunteered.
Everything went wrong that shift.
But he showed up, and when the same opportunity came again, he was ready. That shift went smoothly. And from there, he never looked back.
Meeting Natalie Bui and the road to ownership
After progressing through various front office roles and relocating to Melbourne, Amol joined Quest Caroline Springs as a Front Office Manager.
It was there that he met Natalie Bui. His manager. His mentor. And eventually his business partner.
Natalie believed in him, mentored him, and constantly challenged him to think beyond the mindset of an employee.
In 2018, Amol and Natalie became co-owners of Quest Werribee. The business has since received industry recognition including TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards and continues to make an impact across Melbourne’s western suburbs.
When a dream evolves into a purpose
Amol reflects openly on how his motivation shifted over the years.
What began as a desire to wear a tie transformed into something far greater. The freedom to look after his family. To support people around him. To build something that lasts beyond himself.
As he puts it in the episode:
“Not forgetting where you started, and also not forgetting why you started. That’s very important. Because sometimes we get carried away and we forget why we start. But if we keep reminding ourselves why we started, that will keep us going.”
That clarity of purpose is what separates dreamers from doers.
When you share a story, it is not about you anymore
One of the most moving moments in the episode comes near the end.
Amol admits he was never the kind of person who shared his story openly. But a single comment from Imran changed his perspective.
When you share a story, it is not about you anymore. It is about the one person who needed to hear it.
That is why Amol shows up. Not for recognition. But because one story can be the hope someone else needs to take their next step.
More than survival
If there is one message woven through this entire episode, it is this:
You can have all the dreams. But if you do not have a plan, it will just be a dream.
Amol’s story is proof that the gap between dreaming and owning is filled with patience, persistence, and people who believe in you.
One rejection.
One graveyard shift.
One partnership.
One purpose.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
Amol’s journey from Nepal to Australia in 2009
Why wearing a tie became the spark behind his first dream
How rejection pushed him to invest in himself
The graveyard shift that quietly changed his career
Meeting Natalie Bui and becoming a franchise owner
The mindset shift from employee to business owner
Why purpose matters more than a dream
Why sharing your story is never just about you
Key Takeaway
“You can have all the dreams. But if you don’t have a plan, it will just be a dream. To turn it into reality, you have to walk towards it.” — Amol Kasaju
About the Host - Imran Abul Kashem
Imran Abul Kashem is the founder of Westend Business Hub, Westend Photography, Westend Digital, Westend Podcast, and Wyndham Entrepreneur Connect. An award-winning photographer and serial entrepreneur, Imran brings ideas to life at the intersection of creativity and business. As an author, investor, business advocate, and cultural ambassador, he is passionate about building platforms that empower communities and spark meaningful conversations.
About the Guest - Amol Kasaju
Amol Kasaju is the co-owner of Quest Werribee and has built a respected reputation within Melbourne’s hospitality and business community through his leadership, resilience, and community-focused approach. Originally from Nepal, Amol moved to Australia in 2009 to study Business Management. He began his hospitality journey as a housekeeper before progressing through multiple roles to become a franchise owner in 2018 alongside his business partner Natalie Bui. He is widely recognised for his hands-on leadership, mentoring, and community involvement across Melbourne’s western suburbs.
If this story resonated with you, share it with someone who needs the reminder: your starting point does not define your destination.
Special Thanks to Our Partners
This podcast is proudly supported by our incredible partner businesses, whose ongoing support helps bring these conversations to life:
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Keywords
Amol Kasaju, migrant entrepreneur Australia, Nepal to Australia story, Quest Werribee, franchise owner story, hospitality career growth, migrant success story, family motivation entrepreneur, resilience and purpose, housekeeper to business owner, Melbourne hospitality, Dreamer and Doers Series, My Migrant Soul podcast, migrant business owner, persistence and patience, mindset of an owner, mentorship story, immigrant entrepreneur, building a business from zero, community leadership Melbourne
