Starting your own business is never easy, especially when it means walking away from the safety of a corporate job with no set plan. But for Nicki Bedford, taking that leap wasn’t just a career move; it was a necessity. Fueled by instinct and a deep-seated drive to create something meaningful, she left behind stability and stepped into the unknown.
Now, as a champion for female founders in the MENA region, Nicki is proving that women-led businesses don’t just succeed, they thrive. From navigating the tech world as a non-technical founder to securing Google as a partner for DXB Female Founders, she’s turning challenges into stepping stones.
In this conversation, Nicki shares the raw reality of entrepreneurship, the struggles of finding the right team, and the mindset shifts that helped her push past setbacks. She also dives into the funding gap for female founders, the importance of mentorship, and the power of just getting started.
Leaving a corporate job to start your own business can be really scary. I’ve spoken to people who have had to make that transition. Were you ever afraid to take that step?
Nicki: I think I tend to act before I let fear set in. I’m a little crazy like that! But, of course, there was always some fear about stepping into the unknown. I just knew deep in my gut that this was something I had to do.
One day, I woke up and thought, This is it. I can’t wait anymore, I have to do my own thing. And so I quit my job with nothing lined up. No backup plan, no safety net, just the absolute certainty that it was time.
It wasn’t easy. It happened during a period of huge life transitions, and I found myself starting completely from scratch. But even with all the uncertainty, I never regretted taking that leap.
That’s bold! We’ve seen a shift from oil dependence to tech-driven diversification in the MENA region, but it’s still a tough space for female founders. What challenges did you face when you started, and how did you push through?
Nicki: Starting a company is a rollercoaster. There are so many challenges, highs, and lows. One of the biggest hurdles for me, and one I honestly wasn’t prepared for, was choosing the right tech team.
There’s just so much information out there, so many developers, so many platforms, so many different ways to build your tech. And because I’m not a backend tech founder, I had to learn a huge amount along the way.
But here’s what I did know: my vision. I knew exactly what I wanted. The challenge was making sure I had a team that could take that vision and bring it to life. That took a lot of trial and error. I had to learn how to ask the right questions because just saying something one way doesn’t mean the team will understand it that way.
There were moments of complete misalignment, times when I thought we were on the same page, only to realize we weren’t. So I had to become really clear on what I wanted my product to do, what problem it was solving, and how to communicate that properly. I also had to trust my gut when it came to finding the right people to build it. Regular check-ins and refining our communication made all the difference.
It’s definitely a learning process. What’s been your proudest moment so far?
Nicki: If you had asked me this question in the past, I probably would’ve said, I’m not there yet—I’m still going. I used to have this mindset that I couldn’t be proud of something until I had “made it.” But I’ve had to unlearn that. Now, I try to celebrate the small wins along the way.
One of my proudest moments was securing Google as an official partner for DXB Female Founders. And we did it after being around for such a short time! That partnership helped us scale quickly. Google has always been about empowering businesses and communities, and our values just aligned so perfectly, it felt like a match made in heaven.
But if I had to pick the biggest “I can’t believe we pulled this off” moment, it would be launching our monthly event series with Google. We decided to do it, and within three weeks, it was completely sold out. We had an incredible lineup of speakers, and the room was packed with 90 female entrepreneurs, CEOs, and press, it was just electric.
That’s incredible! Now, let’s talk about funding. Women-led startups often struggle to secure investment, especially in this region. Have you ever felt like you had to work twice as hard?
Nicki: Oh, absolutely. And this is something that really needs to change. Globally, only 2% of venture capital funding goes to female-founded startups. That number is shocking, and worse, it hasn’t shifted much over the past few years.
Women are constantly being told we need to prove ourselves. We have to be more prepared, more polished, more scalable, just to get a seat at the table.
But here’s the exciting part: the data actually proves that when women do get funded, we outperform. A BCG study found that startups founded or co-founded by women generate more than twice as much revenue per dollar invested compared to those founded by men. Women-led businesses are incredibly smart investments.
That’s why we created Female Founders. We’re not waiting for opportunities; we’re creating them. In May, we’re launching an investor series where experienced investors will provide direct feedback as our members pitch their ideas.
That’s amazing, women supporting women! Has being a female founder influenced the way you lead, build, and innovate?
Nicki: Absolutely. My experience as a founder has shaped me in so many ways. I love problem-solving. I honestly don’t think you can be a good founder without it.
Women are incredible planners, we can strategize endlessly. But the real challenge? Execution. That’s the part I love most: turning an idea into reality, making it happen, step by step.
I’ve learned to break things down into digestible steps so I always know if I’m on track. And if something changes, it’s easy to pivot. At the end of the day, there will always be problems. The key is to keep an open mind and just keep going.
That’s such a valuable mindset. What’s one leadership lesson every woman should know?
Nicki: Communication is everything. You have to be crystal clear on what success looks like, what’s expected, and what the priorities are. If your team isn’t aligned, it kills momentum.
A great team moves fast and confidently when they understand why they’re doing what they’re doing. As a leader, it’s my job to remove confusion, set the tone, and make sure everyone is rowing in the same direction.
Communication really is key! Now, how do you manage work-life balance? Do you even unwind?
Nicki: Honestly? It’s not easy. Balance doesn’t exist, you just have to find what works for you.
When I get excited about a project, I push myself to the limit. But I’ve learned to structure my time better. I know I’m most productive in the mornings, so I plan my day around that. I also force myself to take at least one hour a day to completely unplug from work.
That makes sense. If you could change one thing about the MENA startup ecosystem for female founders, what would it be?
Nicki: I’d build stronger post-startup support. There’s a lot of encouragement for women to start businesses, but not enough resources to scale them. Female entrepreneurs need access to growth capital, mentorship, and real execution strategies, not just inspiration.
That’s exactly why I started DXB Female Founders, to create a space where women can access these things.
That’s inspiring! What advice would you give to female founders just starting out?
Nicki: Stop over-planning and just do it. So many women hesitate because we want things to be perfect. But perfection doesn’t exist.
Launch, make mistakes, learn from them, and keep going. The more you act, the more confident you become.
That’s powerful advice. Let’s end with some fun rapid-fire questions!
Live band or DJ?Nicki: Live band—100%!
