🎬Four Weeks, Two Cities: Hitting Reset in the UAE

🤓A field guide to jumping into a new market—on purpose

By the time you read this, I’ll have been in Dubai for a few days already. I’m running a 4-week exploration of the UAE—2 weeks in Dubai, 2 weeks in Abu Dhabi—to map the career opportunities the region has to offer.

✈️ Why the UAE, why now

In 2022 I spent a short week in Dubai for Expo 2020 (postponed, thank you pandemic) as part of my Invest in Canada board duties. I loved the cosmopolitan energy, the ambition, the pace. I didn’t know I’d be back this soon—this time to explore career moves.

If you’re wondering why a French-born, Canada-based professional would look to the Middle East: it’s simple. The region’s dynamism and optimism are magnetic. The weather and lifestyle don’t hurt 😉. It feels like when I left France for Canada: a place of possibility.

Is it perfect? Of course not. The UAE has seen a major influx of talent, which makes the job market more competitive. And yes, I’m familiar with hurdles—my French diploma and work experience weren’t fully recognized in Canada, so obstacle courses are, sadly, a core skill set.

🗓️ The plan: 4 weeks, 2 cities

This sprint is a mix of conferences, networking events, intro coffees, catching up with old and new friends, and discovering the Emirates. It’s a chance to re-energize my career and press a much-needed reset button.

It’s also the first time I’ve been away from Canada—and from my husband—for this long. I’m intentionally stepping outside my comfort zone: testing my personal development, learning fast, meeting new people, absorbing a new culture. A proper reset.

🧭 The push and the pull

As much as the Emirates pull, the current global environment is a real push. Since the pandemic, something feels off: political turmoil, social media brainwashing, cost-of-living shocks, a decimated job market, mental-health challenges, weakened public institutions, spiraling corruption, a thinning social safety net, and rampant addictions. It makes me ask what’s happening—and what’s next.

This trip is also risk management and outcome optimization. If the world is shifting, so am I.

If you’re in Dubai or Abu Dhabi—or have friends I should meet—reach out. Intros welcome.

🧰 How I organized the sprint (playbook you can steal)

I believe in joining communities of people who are already playing the same game.

• FrenchFounders (member for 7+ years): a global francophone network. I’ve met great people in Bogotá, Shanghai, Zurich, Los Angeles, and beyond. For this trip: warm intros + local events.

• CFA Societies: in addition to Toronto, I joined the Emirates CFA Society. Result: invites to local events, MENA Investment Congress in Abu Dhabi, and local job postings.

• 100 Women in Finance: attending an event co-hosted by the Paris and Middle East committees.

• French & Canadian business councils: fun networking + practical sessions on the region.

• Direct outreach: friends for connections, contacts-of-contacts, and a lot of WhatsApp. Early signal: people here are easier to meet in person and more spontaneous (“Ping me when you land—coffee?”).

If you’re moving countries (or even cities): join 2–3 relevant communities, pick 1–2 anchor events, and line up 10 coffees. Momentum follows motion.

🎯 What I’ll actually do each week

• Week 1–2 (Dubai): anchor events + intro coffees; map the landscape; listen more than I talk.

• Week 3–4 (Abu Dhabi): deepen relationships; target meetings in PE/SWFs; consolidate learnings into next steps.

🧩 Why I need this reset

I’m not going to call this “once in a lifetime,” but I do expect it to be a turning point. I want to expand, learn, and apply everything I’ve been working on—value creation, AI-enabled transformation, operating excellence—in a market that’s building forward.

🧠 Takeaways (the pep talk)

• Sometimes it’s riskier to do nothing and stay where you are.

• Sometimes you need a reset button.

• Things get simpler when you take one small bite a day.

And yes—reach out if you’re in the region, or introduce me to people I should meet. I’ll report back with what I learn, who I meet, and the best coffee spots I accidentally discover.

Peggy Van de Plassche is an Operating Partner in Private Equity with over 20 years of experience across financial services, healthcare, and technology. She partners with investment firms, boards, and portfolio company leadership to accelerate performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value.

Peggy specializes in executing complex value creation plans—from capital allocation and digital enablement to transaction advisory and leadership alignment. Her work bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators boost EBITDA and maximize enterprise value.

A founding board member of Invest in Canada, Peggy also brings deep expertise in institutional capital deployment and public-private partnerships—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape.

Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial.
Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.