Moving to the UAE for Real Estate, Progressing to VP of Sales & Marketing in SaaS

In this week’s episode, we chat with Emma, VP at Sila, about her remarkable sales journey. From starting in UK real estate to becoming a leader in Dubai’s competitive startup ecosystem, Emma’s story is one of resilience, adaptability, and seizing opportunities.

Emma dives into her early days cold-calling in Dubai’s real estate scene, building her career from scratch, and eventually transitioning into the tech world. Along the way, she shares valuable insights into sales, leadership, and thriving in the UAE’s fast-paced market.

This episode is a masterclass for anyone looking to break into sales or elevate their career in a highly competitive industry.

Topics Covered:

• Emma’s transition from UK real estate to Dubai’s fast-paced sales environment.
• How early failures shaped her approach to resilience and persistence.
• Key lessons from leading teams at Magnet and Scylla.
• Understanding when to walk away from the wrong deals.
• Emma’s advice on navigating the UAE sales market.

Show Notes Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and Emma’s career beginnings in UK real estate

08:12 – Moving to Dubai: Early struggles and breaking into real estate

16:24 – Lessons learned in resilience and leadership

24:48 – Transitioning to tech startups: Magnet and Scylla

35:10 – Emma’s top advice for thriving in the UAE sales market

42:28 – How to know when to walk away from the wrong deal

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