#LifeLessons - Emma Ward

NAME: Emma Ward

AGE: 31

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @emmaflicc_

JOB TITLE: Freelance Marketing Consultant

Based in Dubai Emma is currently helping SME’s developing their marketing efforts using her 11 years corporate experience across 13 markets with brands like LEGO and Sainsbury’s Supermarket.

Emma been very fortunate to have been exposed to a whole host of industry leading marketing practices, and she loves to pass on that learning to her clients. Her aim is to develop and deliver cohesive marketing efforts which produce the best ROI given the smaller budgets these businesses naturally have.

Today Emma shares with us her personal 3 biggest life lessons:

#LIFELESSON – 1

Even when it doesn’t feel like it, it’s working out the way it’s meant to. I was made redundant back in October 2023, and over the last 9 months I’ve gone in waves of emotions on if staying in Dubai was the right thing for me. I have had countless step backs finding work and in all honesty it was feeling incredibly dehumanising. However if I had still been in work, I may not have found my relationship, I would not have been introduced to the family who needed a new home for their cat (who is now my best friend and I can’t imagine life without her), and I would never have been able to take a day off each week to go and spend time with my friend and her newborn. It’s all working out the way it’s meant to, even when I felt like it wasn’t.

#LIFELESSON – 2

Less is often more. This works across both personal and professional I’d say. I remember at LEGO people were coming up with these grand campaigns but ultimately LEGO is for children and children just want to play, and that is sooo much cheaper. Even in my personal life, I don’t need a wardrobe bulging with clothes, the hottest bag, and more shoes than there are days of the week. I need things I love, things I wear and cherish, things that make sense to me. Taking that step back and really considering what I have and spend my time and money on is so important.

#LIFELESSON – 3

I’ve really taken my life for granted, and I realised that when I moved to the UAE and met people from so many different cultures and backgrounds. Being from the UK and living in London for 7 years I really thought I was tapped in, but coming here I now know I was only scratching the surface. The biggest shock for me was travelling and VISA’s; as my friends back home all have dual passports, I had no clue how difficult it was for so many people to travel. The paperwork and money involved is insane, adding to that no guarantee of a VISA it really helped to open my eyes and the privilege I have being able to travel as freely as I can. It showed me you will never stop learning and growing as a person.