Laila Banki Picken, presenter and producer in Dubai.
What brought you to Dubai?
I was born and raised in Dubai but left with my family when I was 17 to move to LA where I did a degree in Finance. I was away for 12 years but when I came back for a short trip I realised how much Dubai felt like home, I missed my friends and knew that Dubai was a land of opportunity. So I made the choice to move back and it was definitely the best decision of my life!
Describe a typical day?
I like to get the gym out of the way first thing in the morning so then I can spend time with my seven-month old daughter. After that, I get into my routine. I check my emails and meet up with my clients. Because of the production company that I own, Picken Productions, I’ve been getting a lot of requests to do corporate videos. We’re all about putting a creative spin on what can be typically boring videos and recently that’s been keeping me really busy, they need a lot of time and dedication to get the best outcome possible. I like to set some time aside every week to catch up with my friends, but spend most evenings with my family.
How did you get into this profession?
My degree was in finance and I worked in the corporate world, but I always had this creative part of me that was screaming to come out so I decided to listen to my intuition. Plus living in Los Angeles for 12 years finally got to me and I realised how much I loved being in entertainment. As a child I used to take part in a lot of school plays and did live theatre, so I felt this was a passion that I was neglecting. A friend of mine launched a great website called the Good Doctor Show and approached me to be the host. This sparked my creative side and made me realise this was what I wanted to do. I then started presenting corporate videos which was what led to me starting my own production company - Picken Productions.
In addition to this my sister and I started a bikram yoga business in Tecom called Bikram Yoga ME about three years ago. I don’t get much time with it but I still enjoy practicing and teaching. Then last year, when I was pregnant, I decided to add another talent to my freelancing career and took Life Coaching classes for six months. It’s an absolutely fascinating field and allows me to work with my husband who owns Bespoke Wellness in Dubai.
What is the best thing about your job?
The flexibility, it allows me to juggle family, work and everything else.
And the worst?
Honestly, as most of my work involves freelancing the financial instability has always been a little bit of a concern for me. Some months are better than others, but I guess that comes with the job.
What was a standout moment in your career?
Just the other night actually, I was asked to host the opening of the Hilton Garden Inn and the only reason I was offered it was because of all the videos I had previously made. Some of the guests included Majed Al Futtaim, so I was truly honoured for them to even consider me.
What advice do you have for any young person wanting to get into your field?
Just be yourself. Don’t copy anybody else’s style because everyone is unique in their own way.
Do you have a motto?
Life is too short, so always do what you love.