Welcome to the Emirates Woman weekly series ‘How I got my job as…’ where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and businesswomen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome.
This week we chat with Neda Farahany, founder of the chic beauty salon, We Nails, situated in the heart of Jumeirah Beach Residence. From eyelash extensions, massages, hair services to immaculately polished nails, this haven offers a wide variety of options for women to feel their very best throughout the week.
Emirates Woman sat down with Farahany to find out more about how it all began and how this salon offers a 360-degree pampering experience for all its clients.
What was your favourite subject at school?
My favourite subject at school was Biology. I like to look into things and use my mind to explore a deeper meaning. The subject is very interesting and there’s so much depth to it.
What was your first job?
After graduating from university, my sister came up with the idea of opening a salon and together we opened our small in Tehran, Iran after a lot of research.
What brought you to Dubai?
I always wanted to live in Dubai, so after my sister moved here in 2002, I followed her in 2009. Having a family here made the decision process much easier and brought me much closer to them.
What inspired you to enter the beauty space and launch your own salon?
The beauty industry had nothing to do with what I studied and this wasn’t something that I ever thought would be my business in the long-term. I believe I was led into it mostly by my sisters after opening the first salon in Tehran. In 2010, my other sister opened hers in Dubai Marina. After working closely with her for a while, I decided to start my own thing. I borrowed some money from a friend and started this in 2013, leading it to do really well. Whatever I was making, I invested it back into the business and developed it further, but after a year or so and one day when I was at the bank, I was asked if I wanted a loan and I went for the opportunity and founded We Nails.
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What are the key elements of your role?
My main role is to lead the team, who I absolutely love working with. I have hired some amazing ladies who are well-trained, polite and friendly. I like to keep on top of the industry and trends which takes up a lot of time, plus of course, keeping on top of social media accounts and overall community management. My aim is to make sure my service is consistent and this I know is an ongoing job.
Talk us through your daily routine.
I’m not an early bird at all, I usually wake up at 9am. My routine after waking up is to first give my dogs a cuddle. I maintain a healthy routine, so I then proceed to having lemon tea with honey, meditate, dose up on caffeine and then head to the gym for a workout. For me starting the day like ensures I have a productive one.
What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?
“You can do it if you put your back into it.” (yes, it’s an Ice Cube song I know, but it’s true). There is no shortcut to success, you need to work for it. Having emotional intelligence is a must – I think lots of people miss this out and it’s vital for a successful business. We’re all only human, so being aware of your emotions is a must when working with others. Believe in yourself and hard work always pays off.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever received?
The best piece of advice that I ever received was that instead of wasting your time trying to save money, use your time to make more money. This sentence did a lot of good for my business and lifestyle.
And what was the worst?
Be a good girl who everyone loves. In life, you’re going to have people who don’t like you, why would you want to be loved by everyone? People pleasing is exhausting and completely unnecessary.
What has been the biggest challenge that you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest challenge for me was building my business alone and from scratch. It was hard to learn about making decisions that benefited my staff and not just me, every day is a new lesson for me.
What are your plans for the future?
I am expanding the WE brand. After the successful launch of We Hygiene, a home cleaning company, I am thinking of more to come, you will definitely see more branches of We Nails. I also need to appreciate and admire Emirates Woman’s move in interviewing successful women. This can be so inspiring for all the women in this country and so many things can be learned from each story. I hope to see this more often in the media. Hardworking and successful women definitely need more support rather than people with more followers and selfies.
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Images: Supplied, Instagram @wenails
