Lucy Crabbe is the chief executive of Chargifi ME, the UAE’s first wireless charging network which allows customers in cafes, restaurants, hotels and public spaces to wirelessly charge their mobile phones. The Briton, 36, has lived in the UAE for three years and has three sons aged four, three and one.
What are your favourite things to do on the weekend?
Being a Dubai resident has many advantages – we have met great people living here who are always up for fun and adventure and, as the weather cools down, I can’t wait to get back into the desert and sleep under the stars. It’s also amazing to have the beach on your doorstep. We live in Um Suqeium and enjoy the new beach track and foodie places. It feels like you now have a decent walk to justify stopping for lunch. We are regulars at the Fellowship of the Emirates church and often combine this with a family brunch at the Gloria Hotel. We also enjoy taking trips to the parts of Dubai where nature and natural beauty have been preserved – Ras Al Khor wildlife sanctuary, Al Qudra, Palace Beach, Dubai creek and the lush fields at Desert Palm. Inevitably, I get drawn into work at the weekends, particularly researching venues for our next installation but thankfully working with the hospitality industry means it’s easy to combine business and pleasure. We have three small boys who need a lot of exercising.
What do you consider to be your favourite hobby?
Favourite hobby might be too strong but a great stretch of beach track and some good music inspires me to don my running shoes. I’m trying to start paddle boarding, mainly for the exercise but also because it looks so calming and takes you out of the city without having to go far. But I’m not sure it qualifies as a hobby when you have only managed to do it once. Coming from London, one of the great upsides to living in Dubai is the access to watersports and great weather. I now just need the time and ability to enjoy them.
What can’t you live without?
My phone charger. The irony of running a wireless charging business is that I’m permanently aware I’m running low on battery. Some of the leading car manufacturers announced they are fitting the latest models of cars with wireless charging phone receivers, which will be a great boost to the industry but there is still a long way to go before we can say we live in a wireless world.
What do you consider the secret of your success?
It depends on your definition of success. As a business, widespread adoption across Dubai will probably look like success for me. I came across a great quote recently from the movie The Emperors Club which sums up my approach: “Great ambition and conquest without contribution is without significance.” There is no secret, there’s just hard work, perseverance and a lot of faith that what we do has significance.
What advice would you offer others starting out in your business?
Try, try and try again. I have run a few businesses that haven’t worked out but the journey is the important bit. You just need to keep applying what you have learnt, and learn to do it better. Also stay positive and focused and treat everyone as you would like to be treated, great things don’t come from trampling on others but from liberating and leading others into the future you hope for and imagine.
How do you achieve a work-life balance?
I try not to see it as a juggling act although that’s often how it feels. Work is an integral part of life so I weave it in rather than force it, trying to keep a fluidity to life and give 100 per cent to whatever I am doing at any given time, even if I am still spinning plates. I think this is especially true for women as we are actually wired to do many things simultaneously. One of the blessings of modern technology is we can be sitting on a beach watching our kids while typing an email but there is a temptation therein to never give anything your best. I try to start the day with a quiet reflection to get the focus, order and priorities of the day right and remind myself of all the things to be thankful for and then work out what to give my attention to that day and how.
How do you relax after the working day?
I’m not much of a relaxer, I still have to multitask when I’m relaxing and I enjoy going out more than staying in. Seeing friends, playing sport, catching up with life are my ways of recharging. I would like more time to read but I often find I’m working while watching a Dragons Den-type programme or business documentary.
If you weren’t running your business what else would you be doing?
I would, hopefully, be running another business. There are still so many great ideas yet to be implemented.
amcauley@thenational.ae
