Other Women's Jobs // Sarah Brook

NAME: Sarah Brook

AGE: 34

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @sarahebrook

JOB TITLE: CEO and Founder The Sparkle Foundation

MOVED TO THE UAE IN: 2012

Sarah Brook is the CEO and Founder of The Sparkle Foundation, a grassroots charity that has impacted 15,000 lives in Malawi through initiatives in education, medical care, and community programs. Registered in the UK, UAE and Malawi, she has a team of 55 and coordinates over 200 volunteers globally. With probably one of the most dramatic personal stories you have ever heard and an A to Z of every single medical condition or disease you could ever experience, Sarah has been fortunate to speak at over 200 events worldwide, including giving a number of TED Talks, and she has received recognition from figures such as the late Queen of England and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.

In addition to her charity work, she is an ESG and CSR consultant, advising companies on how to effectively integrate social impact into their business strategies. This role allows her to extend her influence and help organisations implement practices that contribute positively to society and the environment.

Though British by passport, Sarah's heart belongs to Malawi, and she resides in the UAE. She has travelled over 50 countries in her lifetime and community, food, live music and sport are certainly where she finds her happy place. Her career has spanned various fields, including psychology, sports journalism, and media, with roles at the BBC and a brief stint on ARN in Dubai. She is also a passionate sports enthusiast and a devoted Manchester United supporter, which ties into her active lifestyle.

As a born-again Christian, she also leads a global ministry and holds the unique distinction of being the first humanitarian awarded a golden visa by the UAE government. Sarah is currently writing a book and serves passionately as a missionary, dedicated to helping those most in need—a calling that deeply resonates with her.

Currently pursuing a master's in sustainable humanitarian action on a full scholarship from DIHAD, she is deeply committed to learning and growing in her ability to make this world a better place.

 Let's learn about a day in her life:

5.30AM: I wake up and pray. I have a long list of prayer requests that come in from around the world each day so I try and cover as many people as possible before I start the day.

6.30AM: Any form of exercise. Playing national level Hockey and Rugby growing up, means competitive sport in in my veins and I have to find an outlet. My body is a bit broken to play contact sport these days, but Padel has offered me an amazing alternative – even if it is extremely addictive!

8:00AM: I am jumping the shower at whichever sports venue I find myself in in Dubai, brushing my hair, putting on a bit of tinted moisturiser and mascara and getting on the road. I am not the most glamorous when it comes to makeup and hair, so I do what I can to look presentable but don’t give it too much thought! If I can turn myself around in 15 minutes, I feel a sense of satisfaction.

9:00AM: I am at the office for meetings. The Garden Concept on SZR in Al Quoz kindly donated us office space and we now have a team of eight working from the first floor. I usually have around six to eight meetings a day when I am in country, so going to the toilet is a luxury! 

2:00PM: My EA will usually come and tell me to eat and drink, and give me any urgent tasks that have come in for the day that need my approval. I have a tendency to get too focused in my work and forget about the basics of self-care! 

6PM: I am looking at google maps trying to work out if there is any alternative route that won’t take me 40 minutes to get home. Any ETA less than that and I am straight in the car and using the drive home to catch up on phone calls (handsfree!).

10.30PM: I am in bed, thanking God for surviving another day and updating my to do list for tomorrow. I tend to do some reading or listen to some worship music to switch off my mind.