Find out why Lynsay found moving back to the capital was a dream come true
Starting a business in a new city can be both exciting and daunting.
For Lynsay Kilbane, Founder of The Mama Consultancy, moving back to Abu Dhabi from London in 2019 was a dream come true.
As a British Governess, she found her perfect position in the city she had left behind a few years earlier. Abu Dhabi has always felt like the one place where she could be her authentic self and the best version of herself.
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This connection inspired her to establish The Mama Consultancy in January 2022.
With a strong background in the nanny industry, she was often approached by clients’ friends and associates for help in finding nannies like her.
After years of politely declining, she decided to create a company that specialises in household recruitment and other services tailored to UHNW families.
Initially running the business part-time alongside her Governess role, she eventually transitioned to full-time, marking the official birth of The Mama Consultancy.
Can you share a bit about your journey starting a business in Abu Dhabi and your background?
In 2019, I moved back to Abu Dhabi for the second time from London.
As a British Governess, my dream position came up in the city I had left behind a few years previously, and I grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Abu Dhabi has always felt like the one place in the world where I can be authentically me and the best version of myself. I founded The Mama Consultancy in January 2022.
What led to your decision to start a business in Abu Dhabi, and how has the experience been so far?
Being in the nanny industry for several years, I was always approached by clients’ friends and associates asking to help them find a nanny like me.
After a number of years politely declining to get involved, I decided to go for it and create a company that not only specialises in household recruitment but also a number of other services tailored towards my target audience of UHNW families.
The Mama Consultancy was born, and I ran this part-time for a couple of years alongside my full-time Governess role before going full-time.
How has being an entrepreneur in Abu Dhabi influenced your connection to the community and your sense of belonging?
I have recently started attending professional networking events in Abu Dhabi, and it has been incredible.
Very quickly, I have been able to make connections and relationships with the entrepreneurs of Abu Dhabi, and what a supportive and collaborative community we have here.
Being part of the Abu Dhabi community creates such a sense of belonging.
Could you highlight someone in Abu Dhabi who has played a significant role in supporting your business journey, and what impact did they have?
I would like to nominate a group of ‘Supermums’ in Abu Dhabi.
I have had the pleasure of getting to know various superwomen here in Abu Dhabi during the past five years.
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Watching them raise incredible children, nurture strong, powerful, and supportive friendships with each other, hold down their relationships AND create their own businesses has been truly inspirational.
This ignited confidence inside me that has fuelled my ambition to have it all, just like them.
What do you appreciate most about conducting business in Abu Dhabi, and how does it contribute to your entrepreneurial journey?
The sense of community. Abu Dhabi is a close-knit community. Everyone is connected in some way.
My experience as an entrepreneur here has been so positive and supportive, particularly from the female entrepreneurial community.
Most of my business is gained by referrals, and I would not be in the position I am in today without being based here in Abu Dhabi.
What common misconception about starting a business in Abu Dhabi would you like to dispel based on your experience?
Abu Dhabi has this reputation of being too ‘sleepy’ for things to take off here. On the contrary, Abu Dhabi has SOUL, and the people that live here love to support up-and-coming businesses and events to help the Emirate grow.
I love being part of Abu Dhabi’s vision and journey to an outstanding future!
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