International Women's Day 2019: UAE campaign invites you to share a life goal once deemed 'crazy'

"Every single one of our team members and clients have been told at some stage that their dream is crazy," notes Amanda Perry, chief executive of Vitality. The female-only business accelerator was founded in 2017 to offer business advice and support to female entrepreneurs.

On March 8, to mark International Women's Day, the company will launch the #ShowYourCrazy campaign, inviting women from all over the world to share that one idea, vision or dream they really believed in, that was dismissed as unrealistic or impossible.

"But if you knew for sure that you would succeed, what would you do? The concept of reframing 'crazy' and transforming it into 'possible' is bold and powerful. And it’s real," adds Perry.

'Am I good enough?'

A British expatriate living in Dubai for more than a decade, Perry helps entrepreneurs with the legalities of setting up a business in the UAE. Two years ago, she noticed a gap in the market for a female-only business accelerator and says that her clients were finding it hard to set up businesses because of a lack of support. “I realised female entrepreneurs needed a holistic system to assist them,” she says. Accordingly, Vitality works with women over a 12-month period, and provides long-term support, networking opportunities and provides access to specialists.

“As women, we usually have to juggle many things at the same time and on top of that we are constantly eaten up by self-doubt and asking ourselves: ‘Am I good enough?’ and 'Can I really do this?'” says Veronique Ademar, executive coach and partner at career development and executive coaching practice The Pathway Project.

The aim of the #ShareYourCrazy campaign, then, is to dismiss those doubts with a resounding yes.

 

From a start-up that succeeded against all odds to balancing a career with motherhood, or even taking a break from work to travel the world, there's no dream too small or, indeed, too crazy.

So share yours today.

Here's how you can participate:

Take a picture of yourself holding a sign saying "#ShowYourCrazy", followed by a description of your 'crazy' dream.

Upload it to your favourite social media platform.

Use the hashtag #ShowYourCrazy and #Vitality2019 to connect with others and learn how they also converted their dreams into reality.