Episode
#398 Katy Keenan, CEO of BCCD, on Rebuilding and Why Success in the UAE Takes Longer Than You Think
- Published
- May 18, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4966
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Summary
Katy Keenan has turned the British Chamber of Commerce Dubai into one of the most respected business communities in the UAE 1,200 members across 29 sectors, a board that's now 50% women, record profits donated to charity, a 98% satisfaction rating, and a LinkedIn following that grew from 6,000 to nearly 33,000 with no marketing budget whatsoever. Just authentic storytelling, genuine relationships, and a woman who remembers every person she's ever met. Katy was bullied at school. She spent her Saturdays caring for severely disabled children. She's supported women escaping domestic violence, trailing spouses who've lost their professional identity, and menopausal women being quietly pushed out of the workforce. Her hairdresser told her at age seven: "No matter how happy you are, always have your own money." She's never forgotten it, and she tells her daughters the same thing. This is one of those conversations that moves between the boardroom and kitchen table, between hard business reality and the kind of honest human warmth you rarely get from a leader of her calibre . Y ou get a masterclass on what it actually takes to build something real in Dubai and why the people who dismiss this city from afar are the ones who wouldn't have made it here anyway. Timestamps: 0:00 – Why Spencer hates networking and what the Chamber is actually for 2:22 – The secret sales team: how the Chamber coaches members who hate selling themselves 5:38 – Her first day: the numbers were dire, the board wasn't diverse, she nearly walked 7:25 – From 13% to 50% female board and why diversity has to be earned, not forced 9:26 – Speed networking with a 3–5 week wait list: what that tells you about Dubai right now 12:18 – The old boys' club conversation: gender events, merit, and the allies that actua…