Other Women's Jobs // A Day In The Life & Career Of Musata Matei

Name: Musata Matei

Age: 36

Instagram: @musata.matei

Job Title: Growth & Partnerships, Ignyte at DIFC Innovation Hub (Government of Dubai)

Moved to the UAE in: 2019

Musata Matei is a business growth strategist, author, and innovation leader whose work sits at the intersection of gender equity, entrepreneurship and the future of work. Today, she helps shape Dubai’s entrepreneurial landscape through her role at Ignyte, part of the DIFC Innovation Hub, leading partnerships that connect startups, corporates, government and academia - the key pillars driving innovation in technology and AI.

Her path to this role is as international as it is purposeful. After beginning her career in London at Goldman Sachs, she moved through the fast-paced worlds of tech and fintech, leading global growth initiatives and partnerships. In Dubai, she steered the regional expansion of two global fintech companies before dedicating herself to building bridges between innovation ecosystems, mentoring founders and advancing gender equity in business.

Musata’s debut book, The Mother Shift, captures the human side of that journey. It’s a bold reimagining of success in the age of AI - exploring how motherhood transforms leadership, identity, and ambition, and calling for a more inclusive, human-centred future of work.

So, what does a day look like for a woman balancing strategy, innovation, writing and motherhood in one of the most dynamic cities in the world?

6:00AM - Morning Calm (and Chaos)

Musata’s day begins early. “I wake up around 6am, start with stretching and at least twice a week I swim - it’s my mental reset,” she says. The mornings are a blur of breakfast with the kids, school routines, and getting ready for work. “It’s our family’s most dynamic time of day, sometimes chaotic, but always full of energy and love.”

By 8:30am, after an hour navigating Dubai traffic, she arrives at the DIFC Innovation Hub, a space buzzing with entrepreneurial ambition and collaboration.

9:00AM - Innovation in Motion

Her mornings at Ignyte are fast-paced and varied: partnership scouting, strategy sessions, startup challenges, and meetings that bridge multiple sectors. “No two days are the same - one moment I’m discussing a fintech partnership, the next I’m reviewing a startup’s pitch or planning an ecosystem initiative,” she says.

Collaboration is at the heart of her role. “The work we do at Ignyte and the Innovation Hub is about connecting dots - between ideas, industries and people. It’s incredibly inspiring to see startups, corporates and policymakers come together to build the future.”

1:00PM - Between Strategy and Storytelling

Lunch doesn’t always happen at a set time. “Sometimes I skip lunch entirely, so I keep healthy snacks with me. It keeps me going between meetings,” she admits with a laugh. On quieter days, she uses short breaks to check in on her creative projects - book promotion, writing new material, or contributing to her volunteer work with the Oxbridge Society UAE and Women in AI UAE.

“Writing keeps me grounded,” she says. “It’s where I process ideas, connect dots between my personal and professional experiences, and reflect on what really matters in the conversation about work and identity.”

4:00PM - Mentorship and Momentum

Afternoons often blend mentoring sessions with founders, business development planning, and cross-functional work with marketing or product teams. “I mentor startups at least once a week, helping founders refine their go-to-market strategies or partnership approaches. That’s one of my favourite things: watching ideas evolve into sustainable ventures.”

On weeks filled with large conferences or summits, her calendar becomes a flurry of events, panel discussions, and introductions - “It’s exhausting but exhilarating. You can feel the pulse of innovation in Dubai,  it’s contagious.”

7:00PM - Family Reset

Evenings are sacred family time. “Dinner with my husband and kids is my favourite moment of the day,” she says. “We talk about what went well, what we struggled with, and what we’re grateful for. Everyone takes turns - it’s become our daily ritual and a way to stay connected, grounded, and optimistic.”

After dinner, when the kids are asleep, Musata sometimes returns to her creative work: writing, reading or reflecting on the day.

10:00PM - Rest and Reflection

“I try to get to bed by 10pm,” she says. “I need a full seven to eight hours of sleep - especially since I’m often woken up at night by the kids for one thing or another,” she adds with a smile.

Before she sleeps, she lists three things she’s grateful for, often mentally, while driving or winding down. “It’s a habit that keeps me anchored in gratitude and helps release the day’s stress. Everything is temporary, that’s my guiding philosophy. Be grateful for every moment and focus on what matters.”

A Visionary City

When asked what she loves most about Dubai, Musata doesn’t hesitate: “This city is visionary. Every dream can become reality here if you have the mindset and take the right steps. That spirit of possibility - it’s what makes me love my work and this place even more.”

In a world where innovation moves fast and expectations are high, Musata Matei embodies a modern kind of balance, one where purpose, creativity and family coexist. Through both her work and her writing, she’s shaping conversations about the future, not just of technology, but of humanity.

The Mother Shift is available on amazon.ae or at www.thedreamworkcollective.com.