Other Women's Jobs // A Day in the Life and Career of Sally Maddison

NAME: Sally Maddison

AGE: 44

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @mintmarket.ae

JOB TITLE: Co-Founder & Owner

MOVED TO THE UAE IN: 2008

I’m Sally Maddison, Owner & Founder of MINT Market, a purpose-led marketplace championing the UAE’s most exciting small brands through a curated online platform and a calendar of joyful pop-up events. With over 20 years of global experience in events and marketing, I’ve worked with powerhouse brands like Audi, adidas, Sony PlayStation, and Esquire, delivering everything from large-scale activations to beautifully crafted consumer moments.

Since moving to Dubai in 2008, I’ve been fortunate to be part of the city’s vibrant creative landscape. I produced some of ITP Publishing’s most high-profile events, including the legendary Ahlan! Hot 100 and Grazia ME launch in Bahrain, and later took on experiential campaigns for global brands like Jaguar, Sony PlayStation, and Heineken at LightBlue.

I hold a Professional Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), where I was awarded the “Regional Student of the Year,” and I’ve also lectured in Marketing and Events at Dubai College of Tourism. I’m passionate about curating community-centric experiences and elevating small, soulful brands that care about people, planet, and purpose. That’s what MINT is all about – a marketplace with meaning.

Let's discover a day in Sally's career and world:

8AM:

My mornings always start with mum duty. I drop my two little ones, Rosie and George, off at school. Then it’s straight to Boxica, my happy place, for a 45-minute hard workout. It’s not just about fitness; it’s a mental reset. Running a business and a household takes energy, and that class gives me the boost I need to take on the day with a clear head and full heart.

10AM:

Back home (or to my favourite café), I make myself a proper breakfast, usually something like avocado toast with eggs and a strong coffee. This is my first “work window” of the day, and I use it to go through emails, reply to vendor queries, follow up on invoices, and manage our growing online store. I’ll usually catch up with Maria, our MINT Online Manager, to check on new applications from brands wanting to join us. It’s amazing to see how many passionate entrepreneurs are creating magic in their kitchens, studios, or living rooms!

12 NOON:

By midday, I’m usually in meetings, either online or on-site. These vary wildly from week to week - one day I’m in a Zoom call with a venue partner planning our Christmas market; the next, I’m walking around an outdoor location sketching out floor plans for our next event. These site visits are one of my favourite parts of the job. I love imagining how a blank space can come alive with local makers, music, food, and families. We don’t just run markets; we create moments that connect people.

2PM:

This part of the day is a bit of everything. I’ll be updating event plans, drawing layouts, preparing Instagram posts, and confirming vendors for upcoming pop-ups. Right now, we’re working on a Halloween event at Jumeirah Golf Estates, so I’m thinking about creative theming and fun experiences for kids (and parents!). I also spend time reviewing brand applications for our online store, which is growing beautifully. It’s a bit of admin, a bit of creativity, and a whole lot of multitasking!

4PM:

School pick-up time! I head off to collect Rosie and George, get them home, and then often dash out again for a quick meeting or café work session. This is my “squeeze it in” hour - I might be brainstorming with our marketing team or chatting with a brand founder about their stall set-up. My lovely Nanny, Nell is on-hand to help balance the chaos if I’m heading straight into an event, meeting or late venue visit.

6PM:

By 5 or 6pm, I’m home for one of the most sacred parts of my day - dinner at the table with the kids. We always try to sit together, phones away, and talk about our day: the highs, the lows, the funny bits. After that, it’s bath time, bedtime stories, angel cards with a spray of Saante’s (a MINT Market Seller) 7 chakra aromatherapy pillow spray (a lovely little ritual we do) and cuddles. My husband normally joins us just in time for the final snuggle - it’s our little family tradition.

8PM:

Once the kids are asleep, the laptop comes back out. Sometimes I’m invoicing, sometimes scheduling social posts, and other nights I’m packing up my flags and heading to a MINT Market. Our pop-ups often run in the evenings, and while they’re full-on, they’re also incredibly rewarding. Nothing beats the buzz of seeing people discover something handmade or hearing a customer tell a vendor, “This is the best thing I’ve ever bought.”

10PM:

Wind-down time. I’ll make a chamomile tea, take off my makeup, and start my 30-minute skincare routine - LED mask, face yoga, the works. I’m currently reading Do What You Love, Love What You Do by Holly Tucker, which is incredibly inspiring as a female entrepreneur. It’s not always easy running your own business, but books like this remind me why I do what I do - to create something meaningful, joyful, and community-driven.

Final Thoughts:

Being a woman in business in the UAE is exciting, but it’s also a balancing act. I wear many hats: founder, creative director, mum, teacher, and cheerleader, not just for my own kids, but for the 1000+ incredible small businesses we support at MINT. I believe deeply in collaboration over competition, and I’m driven by the desire to make space for others to shine.

To any woman thinking about starting something – big or small – my advice is simple: start scrappy, stay curious, and never forget your why. And if you need a community that gets it, we’ve got you. Because everything is MINT 💚