How did you end up at A&O? 

After studying law at university, I decided I didn’t want to become a lawyer.  However, I did want to stay in the legal field so I became a legal recruitment consultant. It was when I was busy recruiting for roles at A&O that they were setting up the Client Relationship team in London.  They ended up hiring me to be one of the first Client Relationship Executives in that team.

What were your first impressions? 

I loved it! At first I was based in the One New Change office in London. I specifically remember the food in the canteen was delicious (of course I would remember the food!). I worked with a great team of people and enjoyed the variety of work that I was doing – it was new and interesting.

What experience did you gain that has helped you move on in your career? 

I actually have a lot to be thankful for in my career in law firms – in particular I learnt some very useful business development and client relationship management tools which came into their own when I started running my own business years later.

Why did you move to Dubai?

I originally came to Dubai with A&O on a secondment. I loved it here so much that I decided to stay, although unfortunately it meant leaving A&O.

What prompted your interest in raw foods?

I have always been interested in health and wellness. Throughout my career as a BD Manager, I was lucky to travel and live in some amazing countries. Being immersed in different cultures and places changed my perspective on the importance of having a healthy lifestyle. I started to take my yoga quite seriously when I was working as a BD Manager in Tokyo for two years – I would try different yoga studios after work and met some fascinating people in the health-world who introduced me to raw food. I eventually decided to take a course to learn to become a raw chef.

What challenges did you face in setting up your own business?

The biggest challenge for me was not having a team around me. In my last role at a law firm I had great support from a team of executives. Being on my own I realised it’s just me! In the beginning you are everything to your business – a designer, an accountant, a web-developer, a marketing manager – you need to wear many hats, usually all at once, and that’s a challenge!

What are the pros and cons of having your own business?

It changes every day. The best part is being able to do what I love and also being able to manage my work around raising my 20-month old daughter.

I usually teach yoga early in the mornings, then go to the kitchen or sometimes the office before I collect my daughter from nursery later that day. Then I work again in the afternoons or when she is in bed, but I am home to also play and have dinner with her. That has to be the biggest pro to doing what I do.

You've lived in many different countries.  What are the lifestyle differences between the UK, AsiaPac and the UAE?

There are so many. I have lived in Japan, which is like nowhere else in terms of lifestyle – it can be extremely fast-paced and yet also laid back and peaceful. The Japanese parks and countryside are gorgeous and the seasons of the year are so clear cut – it’s a beautiful place to live.

Hong Kong is electric. That is the best word I can think to use to describe it, but it also has a softer side, closer to nature – the hiking is amazing! I used to hike for hours on end with my dog on the weekends.

I haven’t lived in the UK for such a long time, but it also has many different sides to it. I lived in London which is a melting pot of cultures. I’m originally from Yorkshire where time seems to stand still in some places, which is also endearing.

What are the latest trends in healthy living?

I think it depends where you are in the world. Dubai is still beginning to catch up with the US and even Hong Kong. Here everyone is crazy about juicing and people are just beginning to learn about raw foods. We also have lots of fun outdoor activities like SUP yoga (yoga on surfboards) and Desert Warrior Challenges (basically a few hours of army-style assault courses in the middle of the desert).

Do you have any long-standing friendships from your time at A&O? 

I am still in touch with some friends at A&O. Not as much as I‘d like, but thank goodness for Facebook updates and networks like this.

Where do you get your inspiration from for your recipes? 

These days, my daughter. She loves food and to get her hands into my recipes. At the moment we’re making lots of healthy energy balls with nut butters, dates, seeds and dried fruits – so much fun for both of us.

What's your favourite food?

I LOVE chocolate.  But I eat only the best raw vegan chocolates – my own!
 
What's next on the horizon?

I’ve been back to work for less than a year since having my daughter and I still have so many ideas and plans that I have yet to launch. I will definitely continue to teach yoga and I am now specialising in pre-natal and post-natal yoga. I have some exciting new projects happening in the kitchen as well, including bringing a raw food chef course to Dubai, so watch this space!

Reconnect with Mia Man.

http://graciouslygreen.com/