Episode Transcript
Hello, my name is Aziz and I'm the son of a divorced mother.
She is really my superhero.
That's why it's important for me to support women to share their uniqueness, their personalities,
perspectives, and emotions about life.
Too many women in this world feel alone.
They worry about the judgment of others and they struggle with their mental health.
But when they listen to the rare girls podcast where empowered women share their voices
and tell their stories, many women will feel inspired to live a life of freedom and to
overcome all insecurities.
They will feel it is a safe space to find their confidence.
to remember their unique beauty and to feel their self-worth.
And they will connect with the sisterhood of rare girls
who encourage their success and support their dreams.
That's what this podcast is all about.
My guest today is Veniz Angelis.
Veniz is a goal-setter type of person.
She appreciates everything in life.
She is from the Philippines and currently working in Dubai,
the UAE for five years.
Venise loves to travel and loves outdoor activities.
She really appreciates arts and is very much into coffee.
Venise, how are you today?
Hi Aziz, I'm good.
And thank you for inviting me on this lovely podcast.
And I hope you're well as well.
I feel blessed.
I feel very positive and curious about you as a person.
I'll begin with this nice first question,
which is if your friends could describe your personality,
Venise, what would they say about you?
Um, yeah, so what they say about me,
I'm a really jolly person, that's what they say.
And even though I'm really down,
I still smile and just go what life is coming ahead of me.
So always positive.
And then, yeah, it's three things, right?
Even that one, let's dive even deeper into that
because there is this modern issue where there are a lot of people and women feel depressed,
they cannot find their way to be jolly, even when they feel down, they are down,
they don't really know how to transform that into positivity. What about you makes you
positive? Do you have specific beliefs about life? Do you have habits? Is it something that
transformed and changed in yourself? Please share more.
Yeah, actually, I've been to a lot of type of negativities that happen in my life. For example,
my dad passing away when I was young, and my mom, we are both the same, because my mom is
a single mom as well. So when my dad died, my mom doesn't have any job. And me and my brother
is still studying and my mom needs to have money.
So what she did is she looked at a lot of jobs
like she's selling everything that she finds out,
like for example, selling toothbrushes,
selling skin cares and everything.
So when I was really in a young age,
I tried to help her out as well
because it's not just my mom who's living the life,
it's us as well.
So it's not just her alone.
So I need to help her out,
like selling the stuff that she's selling too.
So all of my classmates, when I was young,
they're calling me the seller
because I'm selling all those stuff,
but even recess time.
So yeah, so that's what I had when I was young.
So I became really optimistic in life.
And my mom is my number one hero
and she's my number one person who I look up into
Because up until now, she's the one who made us like graduated in college and even my brother as well
And my brother is really doing great in his life
So he's he's working now in Singapore and everything in a really good company
And here I am as well like living my life to the fullest
I know that this is not just this is just the beginning of my career and I really appreciate what happened in my life
So yeah, my my main my main thing here. My main hero here is my mom
I salute that. I agree with that very much. My mother is my superhero as well. She had
worked very, very, very hard in an impressive way and I admire her for that. And I noticed
something you mentioned that classmates and people like the kids that knew you or whatever
called you the seller, there is this thing where a lot of women stay in their comfort
own because they worry that other people will hate on them or say something bad about them
if they go after their big dreams because they will be doing something that is not the
safe thing to do. Some people will say, oh, you're crazy to do that or that's stupid
or whatever it is. And that holds them back into living a life that is following what others
want instead of their own goals and dreams. How do you believe you found the strength
to be positive, although other people were saying,
calling you seller, et cetera.
And what's your advice for women
so that they don't really care about the opinions,
the negative opinions of others
if they are building their potential and goals?
Yeah, I think it's really hard
when you have a lot of doubt in yourself,
to be honest.
Actually, even me, when I was a kid,
like they're making fun of me
because I have a pimple and everything
when I was in high school and those classmates of mine
are like saying, oh, you're ugly and something like that.
And I've been in a phase where people,
like my high school classmates are bullying me.
And with that, my self-esteem became low.
And I had a lot of doubts in my mind
that I cannot do it and everything.
I had a lot of fallbacks in my life.
But the thing is, what I'm gonna say with all the girls out there or everyone who's listening to this podcast that don't really give up, even though you're in your lowest points, just think about it that it was a challenge in your life.
And those challenges is, is the way where you will see yourself on which if you can reach that limit, you know, like, if, if you stumbled and fall, all you need to do is to, like, take a deep, deep breath, or do something like journaling, doing some some stuff that what's what's happening on
yourself, like, if you don't have anyone to talk about, then
do the journaling. That's what I really suggest to all the girls
out there, because it's really helpful that in that way, you
will all you will all put in the journal all the
negativities, or what do you think about on yourself and
everything. So that makes your make that book as a
release stress point. And you will see if you are really
consistent with that, and which I am doing, and you
really like you know really knew what's gonna change in your life so that's one
of my things that I'm doing so like journaling and everything to make
everything like you know being optimistic. I agree with you journaling
is a very very important tool and a great recommendation and to dive even
more into who you and your life how was adapting to Dubai coming from the
Philippines what's your perspective about noticing the evolution of the
city in the last five years and in general, if a woman, let's say from the
Philippines or anywhere else, she's desiring to move to Dubai but doesn't
really know how it is to live rather than just to be a tourist, can you
share more tips, advice and your own experience?
Yeah, actually before I really didn't want to come here. It's just that my
mom says because it's really the work in the Philippines is really high
quality. But the thing is the salary is not that good. So the work ethics of
Filipino is really great, to be honest, and always having a quality of service
and what type of industry they does, it's really good. So at first, I
really didn't want to come here. But my mom urged go here because they
said that it's going to be like, you know, it's, it's much better future in
me. But at first, yeah, I really had a struggle finding a job because I
family visa. So my cousin visaed me in the first place. And then when I got here,
I looked for a job. And good thing my cousin knew someone who's looking for a job. And I
tried to get that even though it's really a little salary. I started at 3,000 rooms
salary. And I know it's not really enough because, you know, living here in Dubai is
really expensive. Like, you can only I tried everything like
living in a bunk bed, living in a partition, it's really hard
to like mingle with other people sharing the bathrooms.
It's like, that's that's how like, I think, um, being an
expat, a Filipino expat here in Dubai, you will experience
those those and those. And with those experiences, you
will realize that you know that you can do so much
better. So that's what I did. I knew that I can do much better.
So after three years, I resigned, I tried another job. And
that job is not that really good. Because when I got the
job, the owner said that I cannot go through with this
because I'm not enough and everything. But I know I can do
it on my own. So I just like left because he's not he's not
really good owners. So I left. So I left without any visa and everything. And it's really hard
to find a job here in Dubai, to be honest, without having a second option. So what I
did is I really post online and everything, like for example, in Dubai Expec. So I said
what happened to my job and everything. And this CEO just like threw me away. Not
company. And yeah, there's this one really nice owner and ask if I want to join the job.
So I got it. And I've been there for a year. And I found when I was in a vacation, I
found this really great role, which is my dream role, which is an executive assistant.
And here I am, I'm here. But with all the downs, like all the rejections that happened
in my life, like sending all the CVs and true LinkedIn,
true job size, all are rejected.
You will see on the emails like,
oh, you didn't go through,
but we really appreciate that you are sending our CV to us,
something like that.
Those are rejections.
And I think I really got used with those rejections,
you know?
But yeah, here I am, like having my dream role
And I'm still, it's not really this career,
but I mean, I'm just starting.
This is just start of my career.
And I know that I deserve everything
that I'm having in my life.
And I knew that I will be more successful in the future
if you commit and if you set your goals straight.
That's what it takes, I guess.
It does.
That's very, very correct.
And just to explain a bit more,
What is the role of an executive assistant?
How is a day in a life?
Like what jobs do you do?
Just for some women who might think,
well, that sounds like me.
That sounds like something I'd be good at,
but they don't really know how it is.
Just share.
It's not all about like exactly how you do,
but what a woman who desires
to become an executive assistant,
what can she expect out of that work?
How is it gone?
some tips for them to become great EAs, et cetera?
Actually, like, you will do everything.
Like, you will do the scheduling of your boss,
you will do the emails,
or sometimes you will do the travel itinerary,
something like that.
So you need to help your,
it depends if it's like a big company or a small company,
but right now I'm just working in a small company
And I really glad that I'd take that part of role
because I know this is the start of my future career
in the future.
And yeah, so it depends on how big or small the company is.
So right now I'm helping all the tasks of the CEO
that needs to be done, especially in the industry.
Thank you.
And you are in the entertainment industry.
I have interviewed some people within that industry
and they said it's very, very much growing nowadays in Dubai.
In the last years, there was a lot of changes,
evolutions that before that, for example,
it was more about the Arabic entertainment field,
but now a lot more of the English speaking ones
and growing there,
a lot more of the women are taking
even bigger positions, et cetera,
just for your own experience,
because I know that Filipinos love entertainment
and even sometimes when you walk in a mall,
there will be some who are singing with beautiful voices
and they're normal people.
So it's a part of the culture
and sometimes karaoke at home, et cetera.
For you, what's your perspective
on the entertainment industry in Dubai
within your one year that you have worked
or you said one year, correct?
That's have you been an executive assistant or?
Yeah, just like six months.
Okay, no worries.
Within the last six months,
what did you learn about the entertainment industry?
How would you describe it and what are some evolutions or surprises or things you notice?
Actually, there's a lot of going on in the entertainment industry,
because most of our clients are from hotels here in Dubai, like five star hotels.
So the first job or the first job that I had is being with the Ramadan Ramadan band.
So it was really nice when it happened.
And there's a lot of things going on, like different artists, what we have, like acrobats, singers, dancers, and musicians, especially.
So there's a lot of happening here in Dubai. So I think right now Dubai is really booming because from before pandemic happened and the entertainment industry and the hospitality industry, like everything was dead.
So I'm really glad that it's coming back to life now.
And Dubai is really a great place for entertainment
as there is a lot of expats, you know,
and every weekend people go to brunches and everything.
So there's a lot of like entertainment happening.
And yeah, it's gonna be, it's really fun.
And for your own self, since you work so hard,
how do you take care of your mental health?
What do you do in Dubai?
Like, especially you're missing a little bit of that abundant nature in Philippines.
What do you do in order maybe to connect with nature, any spots that give you at least a
feeling of being in the outdoors more rather than desert, as well as maybe do you go
for brunches with friends?
Do you just meet friends and just watch some K-pop or Filipino series or something?
How does it work?
Actually, I've been down when I was here in Dubai because I had friends before and I really
I'm the type of person who trusts people so easily. I'm really easy to approach. I'm that
kind of person. But then those people talked behind my back, did something wrong and everything.
So those that time, I was like depressed and everything because I don't I am really just
here in Dubai, and I don't have really a lot of friends.
And those friends that I trusted, they did really bad to me.
And that's how I was like, okay, I'm done.
I'm not gonna have friends and everything here in Dubai.
I hate it now.
So I was all depressed back then,
and I don't have anyone to talk to.
But then when I meet this friend of mine,
she became a family.
And that's how I began to trust again.
and then I met her friends and other of her friends and yeah we are now a big
happy family so it's it's it's really it's really helpful if you have a friend
to vent on and who's have the same who's have the same level of sense of
humor to be honest because if you guys are friends and you don't have any
like really set same sense of you more, or you don't have that deep connection. It's,
I think it's not really a perfect way to call a friend or a family. So what I have right now,
I really appreciate it. And I really thank God that I found them because they're like my family.
And, and yeah, so every, every now and then I, I, I go out with them. And sometimes I,
I talk with them on what their plans as well because I'm a business-minded person as well
and she's a business-minded person too so she's the one who supported me all the way throughout
of what I'm having right now with my business and yeah that's the thing I do with the
Wiccans like going out with her or her husband and some of her friends too which is my
out. And then sometimes if I have some time, I do hiking as well. And I do some exercise
right now because I realized this past few months, I'm not really taking care of myself
because we have those highs and lows. We are not really perfect people, you know. Sometimes
we're okay. Sometimes we are feeling like, oh, I don't know what's happening with my life.
like you're feeling meh.
We are, we are like that.
It's not like every day you're really,
it's like all the time you're really happy.
No, if you're always like that, what are you, a robot?
You know, so yeah, so yeah, we have all ups and downs
and that's what I do to release my stress,
go hiking or maybe go for a long walk
because I love walks, but not this type of weather
because it's summertime here in Dubai
and it's really scorching hot.
And nope, we're going to melt when we go outside.
So yeah, those are the things that I do.
Or pet my cats here, the cats are here at the back.
So yeah, that's it.
Thank you. I love that.
And you mentioned that you are a business-minded person
and that your best friend is also business-minded.
Yeah.
Yes, I want more about that.
There are women in this world who might be like
interesting to try their own thing, to start their own thing, but they worry, what if I
fail? If I fail, maybe my parents will be disappointed or I will feel like, oh, everybody
was right all along. I'm not smart enough or strong enough to build a business or whatever
it is. What is the reality of building a business and how can more women become
and have the confidence to be business minded without too much worry, anxiety or fear?
Well, I suggest to the people out there who wants to do a business, don't overthink.
I mean, just do it.
Just do it.
When you have something in your mind, put it in a piece of paper, jot it down, because
all the ideas that you have coming in your head and you've been thinking, oh, what
if it didn't work, what if not, no, it's not, it's not, it's not good.
I mean, just do it, just start it.
And for the first thing, if you had an idea,
do the research, do the research of the market.
And I suggest as well, you need to read a book.
And I have it right here.
It's a reach that for that.
It's Robert Kiyosaki.
I have a lot of bookmarks as you can see.
So yeah, that's where I'm having all the ideas
is from him.
And if you read his book, it's really helpful
because he's the one who says that if you don't,
if you just put it in your head, nothing's gonna happen.
And you need to have a good research
with your business as well,
because you need to see the market in the first place.
So regarding with the business that I have,
so what I'm selling right now
is Japanese skincare products,
because I am a Japanese enthusiast
when I was in high school.
So I am really into Japanese skin care when I was young.
And my friend says, what do you want to do?
What type of business do you want?
And I was like, I don't know, I don't really know.
And she said to me,
oh, it must be something that you want to do.
And I was like, ah, I can't.
And then one day I just realized,
oh, I know what to sell.
I know what to have a business to make.
And it's a Japanese skincare.
And I was like to myself, how can I do it?
How can I start it?
So that what I did, I did research.
And yeah, right now in my page,
if you follow bgin.ue,
I already got 500 followers there.
So starting from zero, now it's 500.
And I really appreciate the people who's really helped me
and trusting me with the business that I have right now.
And I want to say as well that you should treat your customer as a part of your family.
Like, you're talking to a friend because that's what customer service are.
Because, you know, like having a good conversation with the customer will make them back to repeat again.
Like repeat, like ordering your stuff and everything.
So yeah, and do your content post every each and every time so that the people will see your page
so that that's what I'm I want to suggest with everyone like start it do it because if you don't
do it then what's gonna happen you're just thinking about it so I suggest just to do it
don't don't be scared take take that risk because everything is a risk you know because
If you don't do it, nothing's gonna happen,
as I said earlier.
So yeah, just go out of the box, do it,
even if you are scared, it's fine,
because that's normal, so yeah.
I agree 100%.
Thank you so much, Veniz, for sharing your voice,
for sharing your story and experience.
I wish you all the success with your career,
with your business, with being business-minded
and entrepreneurial and to have a happier and happier life in Dubai and to travel the world as
well. Thank you for participating. Thank you Ziz, it was really a pleasure to be here in your
podcast and I hope there will be a lot of followers on your podcast in the future.
You are welcome.
