Interview with Kai ( @iamsimplykai ), Founder of Black Girl in Dubai
When Kai Charles launched Black Girl in Dubai (BGID), it wasn’t meant to become a business. What started as a simple Instagram directory to help people find trusted Black-owned businesses has grown into one of the UAE’s most vibrant and supportive communities for Black professionals and entrepreneurs.
Today, @blackgirlindubai is a multifaceted platform that includes events, a private membership, business resources, and relocation support for expats. Kai’s work as a connector, marketer, and mentor has made her a trusted voice among Africans and Black expats navigating life in the UAE.
“My mission is to help people not only move to Dubai but truly belong, build wealth, networks, and freedom in a new environment,” says Kai. “Like mother nature, we want to connect people back to the source of things.”
But the journey from passion to purpose wasn’t smooth, and the lessons that came from her hardest moments reshaped how she leads, creates, and sustains her business today. 
Finding Purpose Through Frustration
Q: For those who don’t know you yet, can you tell us a little about yourself and the work you do?
Hi, I’m Kai, a community leader, author, connector and the founder of Black Girl in Dubai, a platform that connects people to community, culture and over 100 businesses in the UAE. Like mother nature, we want to connect women and men to the source of things. We started simply as a directory for local businesses, but we have evolved into events and a private membership that helps Black expats, entrepreneurs, and professionals thrive in the UAE.
Beyond the Instagram page that many people know and running the membership, my work spans marketing consulting, relocation support, and connecting people to opportunities and culture here in Dubai. My mission is to help people not only move to Dubai but truly belong, build wealth, networks, and freedom in a new environment.
What began as a passion turned into a movement. People from all over started reaching out for help with relocation, events, business setup, or just community. That’s how Black Girl in Dubai grew from a passion project into a platform that’s helped hundreds of people start new lives here.
Q: What inspired you to start @blackgirlindubai, and how did the journey begin?
When I first came to Dubai, I quickly realised there wasn’t really a space where people could easily find and connect to Black community of businesses. Many struggled with the same issue. At the time, I was a musician and many on the scene would pass on gigs and information if they couldn’t perform themselves. In other industries, I felt people were not sharing and passing on information about other businesses and entrepreneurs, and this was odd to me as we are all expats from outside the UAE, looking for similar things. Business owners often complained that the community does not support them.
Once, I had a very bad experience with a barber who butchered my hair, and had no regard to fixing the issue. They had no empathy for the bad service so, from then on, I felt it was time to unite the local businesses that I knew of, to easily share and support them. I never wanted that bad experience to happen to anyone again, especially when our community are huge spenders and consumers of many industries, especially hair and beauty.
That moment of frustration became the foundation for a movement. From a simple Instagram directory, Black Girl in Dubai evolved into a thriving ecosystem connecting over 100 businesses, hosting community events, and supporting hundreds of expats with relocation, professional development, and cultural integration.
The Turning Point
Success came fast, and with it, pressure. As the platform grew, Kai found herself doing everything alone: running events, consulting, creating content, and managing finances.
Q: What was the biggest mistake you made while building @blackgirlindubai that almost derailed your vision?
My biggest mistake was trying to do everything myself and trying to please everyone. Many people gave their opinions on what I should do, but I had the vision, the creativity, the drive. Sadly, I didn’t have support to build the systems at the start, so I was pulled in many directions of what others would say they want or need. I was running events, managing social media, consulting clients, filming content, and handling finances, all at once. It looked good from the outside, but behind the scenes, I was exhausted and some tried to take advantage. It reached a point where I almost shut everything down just to breathe.
Q: How did that moment affect you personally and professionally?
Personally, it was humbling. I had to face the gap between my brand and my reality. Professionally, it forced me to slow down and be honest about what was and wasn’t working. I realised that being the “face” of something doesn’t mean you have to carry it alone. That realisation was painful but it was also the start of my transformation as a real entrepreneur, not just a creative one.
Kai’s honesty about burnout is refreshing, and deeply relatable. Her vulnerability marked a turning point that reshaped how she leads and how Black Girl in Dubai operates.
The Lesson: Structure is Freedom
Q: Looking back, what key lesson did you take from that experience?
The biggest lesson? Structure is freedom. You can have all the talent, passion, and purpose in the world, but without systems, support, and strategy, it won’t be sustainable. I also learned the power of saying no. Every opportunity isn’t aligned, and not every collaboration is meant to continue. Protecting your energy and vision is just as important as chasing growth.
Her lesson is one every entrepreneur learns, often the hard way. Kai realised that to grow sustainably, she needed to treat her platform like a business, not a side project.
Q: How has that lesson shaped the way you now approach community-building and entrepreneurship?
Now, I focus on intentional growth, especially when attracting members for the membership. Every project I take on has to align with the long-term mission, helping people connect, build, and elevate and reinvest in ourselves and black and African businesses. Having a team and automated funnels and systems means I can delegate more, invest in tools, and prioritise rest. I also encourage transparency within the community showing not just the highlights but the real journey behind success. That authenticity has made the community even stronger.
The Rebuild: Streamline, Delegate, Collaborate
Kai’s comeback was not instant, it took clarity, structure, and support.
Q: What practical steps did you take to recover and rebuild stronger after that mistake?
First, I streamlined my offers, and focused on the services that brought real value and profit.
Second, I automated, delegated and collaborated. I started using systems like Kartra for leads and membership, hired help where I could, and simplified my calendar. Collaborating with the right people also amplifies both parties and makes the work easier. Many hands make work light.
And third, I reconnected with my “why.” Instead of trying to be everywhere, I centered everything back on my mission: connection, empowerment, community and visibility for black businesses.
Q: How did your community and network play a role in helping you navigate through it?
Honestly, they saved me. The support from the wider Black Girl in Dubai community but more importantly, the closer private membership, many remind me why I started. People check in, collaborate, share opportunities and that gives me the strength to keep going. I have even had people I don’t know stop me in public to share love and offer kind words. That is humbling, as I am not here for fame or recognising, I am simply following a vision I have been given. It shows me that community isn’t just something I build; it’s something that also builds me in return.
By refocusing on her mission, connection, empowerment, and visibility for Black businesses; Kai found new energy and direction.
The Message: Pause, Don’t Quit
Every entrepreneur faces moments that test their resolve. Kai’s advice for others is rooted in compassion and clarity.
Q: Many entrepreneurs face challenges that feel impossible to overcome. What advice would you give someone currently going through their “almost broke me” moment?
It may be cliche but don’t give up. Pause, don’t quit. We are not machines and so we must take breaks to maintain ourselves and go the distance. That moment of breaking down is usually the doorway to breakthrough because it is showing you what is not working and that something must change. Take a step back, review your numbers, realign your purpose, and ask for help. You’re not weak for needing support; you’re wise for realising you can’t build something great alone. Every setback carries a seed of strategy, if you’re willing to learn from it.
Her words serve as a gentle reminder that setbacks often carry the seeds of strategy, if you’re willing to learn from them.
What’s Next for Black Girl in Dubai
Q: What’s next for @blackgirlindubai, and how do you hope your journey inspires other African expats and entrepreneurs?
What’s next is expansion, not just in numbers, but in impact. We’re growing our membership, launching a podcast, and creating experiences that help more Black expats thrive in Dubai and beyond. We will be helping more people move to Dubai, find community and fly high. I hope my journey reminds others that your vision can survive the hardest seasons and sometimes, those low points are exactly what prepare you for the next level of leadership and abundance.
From burnout to breakthrough, Kai’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, reinvention, and community. Her journey shows that in business, as in life, even when passion falters, purpose never does.
