Dubai is a city of gold and opportunity, and if you’ve been there, you’ll notice a sense of people constantly on the move, working and striving to improve their lives and earn a living.
In our third installment of the work-life balance series, we speak with Dania Abdelqader, a senior customer success manager and founder of The Daughter’s Closet, a popular online boutique specializing in women’s and children’s fashion.
We ask her how she manages the two ‘jobs’ and the boundaries she sets to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Balancing a full-time role in Customer Success with running The Daughter’s Closet is no small feat – how do you manage your time and energy between both worlds?
Honestly, I don’t believe in perfect balance. Some weeks I’m very “corporate-brain,” and other weeks I’m fully in creative mode. What helps is accepting that it’s okay for one world to be louder than the other sometimes. I try to be present wherever I am, instead of feeling guilty about where I’m not.
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What systems or routines help you stay organized while juggling corporate responsibilities and a creative business?
I’m a big believer in simple systems. Nothing fancy. Clear weekly priorities, notes on my phone, and a lot of batching.
How do you switch mindsets between the structured nature of Customer Success and the creative demands of designing dresses?
The switch is very intentional. Work is about structure, deadlines, and people depending on you. Designing is emotional – it’s intuition, colors, fabrics, and stories. When I design, I let myself slow down. It’s almost meditative. And funny enough, being creative makes me a better leader at work – it keeps me human.
Has being a business owner changed how you see work–life balance in your corporate role?
Completely. Owning a business taught me that energy is a limited resource, not just time. I’m more protective of my evenings now. I’ve also learned that rest isn’t something you earn; it’s something you need to function. That mindset has changed how I show up at work and at home.
What boundaries have you set to protect your personal life?
I stopped saying yes to everything. I don’t take tedious custom orders, I don’t rush timelines just to please people, and I don’t sacrifice family time unless it’s truly necessary. I used to think boundaries would limit growth, but they actually made everything more sustainable.
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How do you involve your team at The Daughter’s Closet without burning everyone out?
I don’t… I’m alone on this ship.
How has living in Dubai shaped your ambition and creativity?
Dubai makes you feel like it’s okay to want more. More growth, more creativity, more ambition, without having to choose just one path. There’s space here for women to be multi-dimensional, and that’s incredibly empowering.
Was there a moment when managing both felt overwhelming?
Yes, many. Especially during busy work cycles mixed with custom orders and family responsibilities. In those moments, I learned to pause rather than push. I reassessed, delayed what could wait, and reminded myself that everything doesn’t need to move at the same speed.
How do you recharge between corporate deadlines and creative work?
Designing actually recharges me; it’s my creative escape. Outside of that, it’s really simple things: time with my kids, quiet moments, switching off my phone, even short breaks. I’ve learned that recharge doesn’t have to be dramatic; it just has to be intentional.
What advice would you give women who want to start a side business while working full-time?
Start small. Start imperfect. And don’t compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel. Build something that fits your life – not something that consumes it. And remember: you’re allowed to grow slowly and still grow beautifully.
