NAME: Helen McGuire
AGE: 45
INSTAGRAM HANDLE: helen_mcguire_official
JOB TITLE: Advisor, entrepreneur – and author of the Female Founder Formula
MOVED TO THE UAE IN: 2012
Helen McGuire is a change-maker, entrepreneur, board advisor, erstwhile DJ and mama to three. She had her second business acquired in 2023. She is in the 0.5% of female founders to have achieved this. This is her first foray into book writing, but her careers – spanning media, radio, communications and DEI – have always been founded on a love for the written and spoken word. A book was inevitable. She has won multiple awards for her pioneering work in the human inclusion space and continues to push boundaries through her founder advisory and community platform – For Founder’s Sake – and through her global speaking appointments. She is CBT and Reiki Master qualified and uses both in her advisory work. Helen has also travelled to almost 60 countries so far and is based between the UAE, Sri Lanka, and the UK.
Let's discover a day in Helen's life:
8AM: My day is typically two hours in by 8am! With my three kids awake at 6 and my nanny on breakfast and uniform duty, I usually start my day around 6.30am. First up: a cup of the finest English Breakfast tea (PG Tips all the way) and ten minutes on my Aura app for some meditation and breathwork. It’s a small ritual, but it's non-negotiable—those few moments set me up for the whirlwind ahead and keep me grounded, no matter what the day throws at me.
My husband’s already left by 6.15am, and by 6.45 I’m running around, checking messages, grabbing my gym kit (I love wearing something from Dubai brands like SWTZ or The Change Movement), and packing my bag. By 7am, I’m shouting at the kids to get in the car, and we’re out of the door, school bags in tow.
School Drop-off: All three kids attend Royal Grammar School Guildford near the Ranches, just ten minutes from home. It’s a fantastic school that aligns with our values—open, inclusive, and supportive, and we couldn’t be happier with the choice. The logistics, however, can feel like running a military operation. I joke that we need a third adult in the family to manage the kids' schedules and admin! Between lunches, snacks, and after-school clubs, I’ve become an expert in planning. By 7.30am, I’m on the road to the gym, feeling as though I’ve already achieved a lot.
Gym Time: Fitness has been a game-changer for me, especially mid-life. At 24 Fitness in Al Quoz, my trainer Carlo Milo and I have been working together for over three years. Carlo’s completely transformed my approach to fitness and nutrition—so much so that this week, I’m competing in my first Dubai event with my team! I’m in the best shape of my life, which I say proudly because it takes hard work and commitment. My routine is mostly strength and conditioning, but I mix in yoga, pilates, and swimming for balance. After an hour of training, I’ll get my steps in, often at Kite Beach, and grab a protein shake for breakfast, either homemade with Acai and Rosea Rhodiola (great for energy and stress) or from Good Life café nearby.
10AM: By this time, I’m usually at my laptop, ready to dive into work—unless something else calls, like a coffee meeting with a client, a quick catch-up with a founder, or even the occasional dentist appointment (keeping it real!). My “work uniform” is classic mum mode: hair up, casual comfy clothes, and a cup of tea nearby.
I’m quite active on social media, especially LinkedIn and Instagram, with a YouTube channel launching soon. I typically batch-create my content every Friday, but there are always follow-ups and messages to handle. I start my workday with emails and admin because I’m far more creative in the afternoons. So anything that needs design, brainstorming, or longer writing waits until later.
This year, after having my second tech-business acquired (an AI platform to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in hiring), I shifted focus. I now work directly with founders across the globe, helping them approach business with a balance of strategy and wellbeing. Many of my clients are women who’ve left corporate roles or are navigating entrepreneurship alongside family life. I bring my background as an award-winning founder, cognitive behavioural therapist, and Reiki Master to the table. In many ways, I end up acting as a co-founder, supporting their business ideas, strategies, and mental health—a role I’m passionate about.
2PM: Lunch for me is usually on the fly. I keep it light—maybe eggs or last night’s leftovers. I don’t follow a rigid meal schedule; I eat when I’m hungry. By early afternoon, I’m deeply focused on work, but since I work from home, there are always interruptions—deliveries, the gardener, a quick question from my nanny, or an estate agent’s call. It’s all part of the flow of home-based work!
My calls with founders, partners, and collaborators typically start around noon and can range from advisory sessions to conversations about my book, which launched recently. Although I don’t have an in-house team, I have an extended, outsourced one of designers, editors, publicists, and marketing managers who keep me on track with my publication and advisory work. I also recently started working with a mentor, Will Brown, who’s helping me build an online course and community for founders worldwide. It’s been incredible working with someone who’s done it all before—a lovely blend of mentorship and collaboration.
4PM: By now, I’m usually running low on energy, so a 20-minute power nap upstairs is essential. I can’t focus if I’m tired, and this little break makes me feel like a new person. No alarm needed—I’m up 20 minutes later, refreshed and ready for the next round. I’d highly recommend it, especially since this is the time when the kids come barrelling in, ready for snacks and the usual chaos.
We recently got a driver to help with the kids' after-school schedules, which has been a game-changer. With three young ones often heading in different directions, it was impossible to be everywhere at once, especially with work commitments. Now, I can keep my focus while they get where they need to be.
6PM: The evening shift begins: homework, dinner, and bedtime for the kids. I try to wrap up work by this time so I can be fully present with them—catching up on their day, helping with reading and spelling, and making sure everyone’s set for the next day. Dinner for us is often from Hello Chef, which I love because it’s healthy and convenient.
I aim for one social event and one work event each week. This week, it’s an evening at Soho House with friends, and next, I’ll be attending an event with the British Chambers of Commerce at Expo. Having lived in Dubai for years, I love reconnecting with friends and soaking up the city’s vibrant social scene. Whether it’s a walk, a coffee, or dinner, there’s no shortage of spots to unwind. The Arts Club, Roberto’s in DIFC, and Maine in Studio City are some of our regular favourites.
8PM: This is typically when I wind down with some catch up time with my husband, Justin, who’s usually home around 7.30pm and begin our comical attempts to keep the kids upstairs and in bed! We usually grab an hour or so of TV together and try to catch up on the day’s events – I’ll sneak in a couple of emails or quickly sort something for their school too in this time, maybe even digging a dress up costume from the wardrobe for the next day. There’s always something!
10PM: By 10pm, I’m usually ready for bed. I need about 8–9 hours of sleep, though realistically, I get around 7–8. I head up around 9.30pm to read or listen to an audiobook, taking my probiotics and multi-vitamins from Heights (my go-to for a while now). I’m part of a book club and currently reading A Well-Lived Life by a 102-year-old holistic doctor, Gladys McGarrey—a truly inspiring read. I also take online courses regularly, as I love learning something new each quarter. Right now, I’m diving into a course on building online courses, a perfect tie-in with my plans for 2025.
Tomorrow might be less busy, with a bit more self-care or a slower start. I’ve learned to manage my energy levels and work around them, a skill that’s essential in balancing family life, work, and personal goals. But the truth is, I love the challenge and rewards of this life, from the travel to our second home in Sri Lanka to our many adventures here in Dubai.
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