Instagram Sensation, Enjy Kiwan, Plans on Building a Legacy

Pinning down this woman-on-the-go is no mean feat, so when Team Sarwa finally managed to sit down with popular Dubai-based MC and presenter Enjy Kiwan, it’s easy to see why she is a natural media maven,

She is all effortless enthusiasm and glamor.

Born and raised in Abu Dhabi, Enjy’s parents (who are Egyptian) played a crucial role in terms of defining her initial career path. “I attended the American University of Dubai and majored in Finance in order to fulfill my family’s expectations, “she recalls. But it wasn’t long before Enjy’s innate love for the arts and humanitarian work compelled her to chart her own course.

This is the story of a financial analyst turned humanitarian, a mother and an entrepreneur.

To Career or Not to Career: I Chose My Calling

I spent close to a decade in banking doing the gamut; from working as an investment analyst to being a financial correspondent.

But, ever since I was a child, presenting on stage and on camera was always a draw. So to overcome my fear, I took a course at a media academy and since then, there’s really no stopping me! Today, I’m a senior correspondent on Abu Dhabi TV and I’ve hosted and presented countless events for top brands and even film festivals.

I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to host the Global Giving Gala in Spain last year for a foundation that is co-chaired by Eva Longoria.

Looking back, I truly believe that following your calling is how you make your mark.

Don’t Just Spend Money, Know Your Money!

My mother used to say: “The money you make as a young person, you can never make again” meaning that your youth is really the time to maximize not just your earning potential but also how much you save.

If I had been more prudent with my money earlier in my career, I would be in a different financial position.

I am one of those people who never really checks my bank account to see how much I have. It frustrates my husband that I don’t keep a handle on numbers like that. When it comes to money, we have both come a long way. When he proposed to me, he didn’t even have a job at the time but we both knew that we would find a way to figure things out together.

To become more financially disciplined, I decided to have a set amount of money automatically removed from my bank account every month.

That is great motivation to make sure you find a way to get that money in the bank so you meet your minimum savings target. I haven’t dabbled in stocks as yet but I can see how Sarwa offers an easy to understand platform that also encourages you to be systematic when it comes to saving and investing money.

Making Money to Do Good

My ultimate vision is to be a philanthropist. But to be successful at that, I believe you need to be either really famous or really rich. I’m working towards both!

Making an impact on the lives of those most needy has always been ingrained in me. Once on a childhood trip to Egypt, I saw my father give money to a beggar on the streets of Alexandria and he explained to me why he had done it. The next day, I asked him to give me my allowance in advance and I went and gave it away to every beggar I could find.

I can be very determined and persistent about something I believe in. I recently got the chance to work on a humanitarian documentary in Indonesia with the UN! Earlier this year I was selected together with other inspirational Arab women as part of UNICEF’s ‘Give Hope to Syrian Children’ initiative, where I visited Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon to shed light on the humanitarian crisis. This Trip made me realize how lucky we are, and how much more we can do.

How Motherhood shaped my view on Money and work

Becoming a mother fundamentally shifted the way I approached my work. I only wanted to pursue work that I was passionate about because I want to leave a legacy for my children. I want them to be proud of what their mother accomplished.

Soon after having my first child, I opened Rubabikia, a space that would showcase furniture and home decor by Arab artisans. It was my first time entering the business world. I quickly realized how capital intensive a business can be, especially in the early stages! It didn’t exactly go to plan, but I have no regrets. I learned.

I realized I needed to talk to my kids about money. It is not something they are taught at schools, even though it should. Now, I take them with me on shoots, and explain to them how I work hard to earn money.

It’s great that they started to understand that. But what I really want to engrain in them is this: find a way to make the money you work hard for, work hard for you. It’s the right way to get on the ‘financial independence’ train we all want to board!