Other Women's Jobs // A Day In The LifeAnd Career Of Alexandra Timotheadi

NAME: Alexandra Timotheadi

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: https://www.instagram.com/anthologyhoney/

JOB TITLE: Founder & CEO, Anthology Honey

MOVED TO THE UAE IN: 2008

Alexandra was born in Greece, educated in the UK and since 2008 has been living in Dubai. After two decades in the world of private banking, she decided to pursue a more meaningful path - one that aligns with her deep-rooted passion for nature and sustainability. She had been looking for a career with a positive environmental and social impact and this is one of the main reasons Alexandra set up Anthology Honey. A passion project dedicated to the preservation of traditional beekeeping, the protection of the sacred honeybee, a mission to raise awareness about its importance and last but not least, in order to introduce the world to some of Greece’s most exquisite and rare honeys.

Alexandra's degree in biology has allowed her to have a better understanding of the delicate balance of ecosystems; their fragility and interconnections.  Having an undergraduate degree in Life Sciences has also provided her with an initial glimpse into the fascinating world of bees and their ecological significance, it has helped her to understand the biochemistry of natural products and the potency of the gifts that nature is generously offering to us.

Alexandra has always looked for natural alternatives in both her diet and beauty routine and in this era of mass production, she set up Anthology Honey, so as to provide pure and natural options as well as artisanal products to fellow honey enthusiasts and people who can appreciate the finer things in life.

// What prompted Alexandra to bring Anthology Honey to the UAE, and what excites her most about this market?

Having lived in Dubai for 17 years, Alexandra found the city to be an inspiring place to launch a business with deep purpose. The Arab world, as well as expat communities from India and the subcontinent, hold honey in high regard, not just as a delicacy but as a superfood deeply embedded in their culture and Ayurvedic medicine. Anthology Honey’s mission is to bring to the UAE, their Sacred Elixirs, a collection of exquisite honeys while fostering awareness about the medicinal properties of pure honey. In parallel, the brand is highlighting all the dangers related to adulterated or lab-made ‘honey’ which is a major issue in the honey industry worldwide.

The UAE has created a friendly and very efficient environment for start-ups and Alexandra is particularly impressed by the high percentage of women entrepreneurs in the country. It is an inspiring country to live and to work in because it teaches you how to always strive for the best.

Anthology Honey is Alexandra's passion project - a deeply fulfilling journey that combines her love for the natural world, superfoods as well as conscious living. She is passionate about advocating for pollinator conservation, raising awareness about the vital role of honeybees in food security and educating consumers on the importance of sustainable beekeeping. Primarily, though, she focuses on curating a premium collection of raw, bioactive Greek honeys with medicinal properties and natural beauty products, which contain honey and propolis (nature’s most potent antibiotic). This way she is able to blend traditional knowledge with modern wellness trends, while growing the brand’s presence in the UAE. Via Anthology honey they also raise awareness about the damaging effects of adulterated or lab-made ‘honey’ and how to recognize and avoid it.

Alexandra's background in biology has been instrumental in Anthology Honey’s uniqueness. A scientific foundation in life sciences allows you to understand how ecosystems function, the biochemistry of natural products and the critical role of pollinators in maintaining environmental balance.

Through Anthology Honey, Alexandra hopes to create a legacy of sustainability, appreciation and education—ensuring that future generations inherit a world where honeybees and biodiversity thrive.

 

Let's discover a day in the life and career of Alexandra:

8AM: 

A spoonful of honey and tahini (or Greek yogurt)– a moment of mindfulness just as the day starts- together with a cup of coffee right before I drive my youngest son to school. When I return home, I head for a 20-30 min. walk to clear my head. I find walking in nature very calming and it is a kind of meditation for me.

9 AM: 

Light breakfast before I start reviewing emails and my To-Do list for the day.

10AM: 

Checking orders and my procurement requirements.

Meetings/calls with my clients or prospective clients. Because we are a start-up we invest a substantial amount of time on business development.

12NOON:

Light lunch and review of latest scientific magazines/journals related to the properties of honey and the world of bees/beekeeping.

2PM: 

Daily Call with my marketing & sales director and bi-weekly call with our lead scientific advisor Dr Thrasyvoulou in Greece.

4PM: 

Contact with some of my beekeepers to ensure everything is fine with our beehives, check prevailing weather conditions and monitor honey harvest (if it is the season). We discuss about their successes and challenges and I try to help them with any issues that might arise. Every season is different and often rather unpredictable, so we join forces to ensure there is solidarity and that our work is more proactive rather than reactive.

Accounting & financial tasks. Quick call home to check all is well with the kids who are back from school.

5PM: 

I love practising yoga and Pilates. I strongly believe that a healthy body and a healthy mind go hand-in-hand. On Tuesdays I join my oil painting class at DIAC.

6PM: 

I head home to cook for my family – I am very particular about wholesome, unprocessed food. I grew up in the Mediterranean, where meals are a ritual and are taken very seriously. I love cooking and baking for them and I still use some of my grandma’s recipes. If you love someone, cook for them!

8PM: 

We try to read a children’s book before bedtime and once the little ones are asleep, I try to unwind with my husband. A bit of ‘Us’ time to discuss our day and we often watch documentaries or biographies together. We recently watched the poignant ‘Wilding’ and we were both extremely inspired by the courage and the ecological dream of the Burrells in West Sussex. I also like to find a bit of time to respond to friends’ messages and catch up with my mother back in Greece.

10PM: 

Relaxation routine. I listen to some soothing music and turn on my Neom Essential Oil Diffuser. Love their Sweet basil, English lavender and jasmine blend. I also apply my Rose & bergamot Sacred balm as an overnight face and neck mask. I try to stay away from my phone as much as possible after 10 PM and read a book instead. Even though I am admittedly a slow reader I consider reading a huge part of my life. I jot down inspirational quotes and I keep them in a little diary on my bedside table, often returning to these notes as a chest of wisdom. One of the books that has had a lasting impact on me is the autobiography of the founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, ‘Let my people go surfing’ is a gem by a true visionary businessman.