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Leaving It All Behind: One Woman’s Move to the Middle East
Manage episode 477554114 series 3402064
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This week on Work It Like a Mum, we sit down with Susanna Gray Jones — founder of Chime Search, recruitment powerhouse, and expat entrepreneur — to chat all things life, work, and the bold move to Dubai. From her career in recruitment to launching her own business overseas, Susanna shares candidly about what inspired her to make a major life pivot after a personal health scare and how she's built a fulfilling life (and company) in the UAE.
In this episode:
- Why Susanna swapped corporate life for entrepreneurship
- The wake-up call that pushed her to leave the UK
- What moving to Dubai is actually like — emotionally and practically
- The realities of expat life (spoiler: not just brunch and beaches)
- Job-hunting in the UAE and how it really works
- Raising a family abroad: the good, the hard, and the unexpected
- How to find your people and build a support network
- Cultural shifts to know — especially for women and families
- Why Dubai’s booming… and Saudi might be next
Key Takeaways:
💡 A fresh start abroad takes guts, research, and resilience
💡 Dubai offers a luxe lifestyle, but it comes with trade-offs
💡 Job-hunting? You’ll likely need to be there in person
💡 Women in Dubai have more freedom than you might think
💡 Networking is your secret weapon
💡 Saudi Arabia is rising — keep it on your radar
Show Links:
Connect with our host, Elizabeth Willetts here
Whether you're curious about expat life, want to work abroad, or are dreaming of starting your own business, this episode is packed with real talk and inspiration.
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Chapters
1. Introducing Susanna Gray-Jones (00:00:00)
2. Taking The Leap to Move to Dubai (00:04:27)
3. Finding Work in Dubai (00:11:59)
4. Experience as a Woman in Dubai (00:22:24)
5. Chime Search: Building a Recruitment Business (00:28:49)
6. Advice on CVs and Cover Letters (00:34:09)
7. The Counteroffer Podcast (00:39:13)
140 episodes
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