Meet this months’s RHWAD Spotlight Lady Nouvriet Boutros. Nouvriet is the owner of NuYouSpa in Khalifa City A and the founder of Abu Dhabi Networking Group. Nouvriet moved to Abu Dhabi in 2008 from the US. Upon arrival she had set up Abu Dhabi Networking Group as a way to meet new people in business. Embracing her entrepreneurial spirit, she decided to open up her own slimming spa NuYouSpa in 2012. Since then Nouvriet has helped women lose weight through exercise, diet and a variety of slimming treatments. The main goal is to give women the knowledge to live a healthier lifestyle which improves self confidence and overall well being. Nouvriet wants to empower women to take charge of their health and feel fabulous.
Describe yourself in three words:
Determined, creative and intense.
What do you consider your greatest professional achievement?
Working in Venture Capitalism. Having the opportunity to have worked with the pioneers and creators of the technology world.
Do you have children and have they influenced your career?
I don’t have my own children, however, I have been blessed with many godchildren and I have certainly been influenced by them. My last 2 godchildren have taught me that career and work are not everything.
How do you stay connected through social media?
I have been involved in Social media since 1990s (the beginning) and honestly I am not as connected as one should be.
What profession other than yours would you like to attempt? Writing
How do you maintain a work/life balance?
Sometimes it’s very hard. However, I really work at making an effort to leave work at the end of the day. Of course, living in Abu Dhabi helps tremendously as it is easy to have a full social calendar.
What websites do you visit every day? Facebook, LinkedIn, thenational.ae, New York Times, and WSJ.
Who is your hero and how have they helped make you who you are today?
Steve Jobs. He has been the full cycle of life and always came out stronger and more accomplished. He has inspired me for most of my career, and like him, I want to put a ding in the universe and want to stay hungry, stay foolish.
What are your top 3 favorite people/places/things in Abu Dhabi?
3 favourite people:
- Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed, after seeing him up close at many events, I had the pleasure of meeting him. I am truly in awe of his humility, creativeness and brilliance. I am truly astounded at the planning and investment strategy of such a visionary.
- Sheikh Zayed for being a visionary, determined, and instilling values in his children to take care of their citizens and being a such a force to unite the emirates when others were sabotaging his efforts.
- All the amazing people I have met here that have made Abu Dhabi truly my home, I am been blessed and grateful.
3 Favorite Places: sea, Capital Gate Building, and HQ building.
3 favorite things: amazing food, culture, and everything is always changing.
What is your goal for retirement? To own a vineyard; have homes on 3 continents Arizona, Europe and, of course, always have a home in Abu Dhabi.
Do you have any advice for women who would like to start their own company in Abu Dhabi?
This is my 5th company, and I have never worked this hard in my life. I always say that the other 4 companies plus 2 masters degree were easier than starting a company here. Be determined – it usually pays off and don’t take NO for an answer.
How did you come up with your idea to start your company?
I enjoy being an entrepreneur. I knew it was only a matter of time before the entrepreneurial bug would bite me again. I started researching the market and found a missing niche.
What challenges as a business owner have you had to overcome and how?
As a business you owner you face every challenge – from different staff work ethics, to changing rules and regulations almost on daily basis, to authority rules changing so fast that everyone has a different idea and requirement, to spending 50% on regulatory issues. Like I previously said this was the toughest thing I have done in my life business wise.
What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?
I would do everything!
