For OFWs who know what it feels like to start over, Maria Fatima Mariano-Perado may be exactly the right person to talk to.
The Filipino entrepreneur, MBA graduate, and certified mindset, business, and executive coach based in Dubai is offering free one-on-one coaching sessions for overseas Filipino workers in the UAE who have lost or are at risk of losing their jobs amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Mariano-Perado speaks from experience. Before finding stability in Dubai, she spent nearly a year walking kilometres to job interviews to save on transportation, was defrauded four times by employers who used her documents without processing her visa, and sat in metro stations in tears wondering when her breakthrough would come. She eventually built a career in marketing at a building materials company, launched a bag and luxury goods business that now reaches customers across the Gulf and the United States, and completed her MBA in Sales and Marketing Management in November 2025 — all while raising a family and leading a Bible study group for fellow OFWs in her home.
The free coaching sessions she is now offering cover mindset support, clarity and direction, confidence rebuilding, career and business guidance, and emotional and professional reset — areas she has navigated firsthand.
“You are not alone in this season,” Mariano-Perado said. “Sometimes, one meaningful conversation can help you regain hope, focus, and your next step forward.”
The initiative is open to OFWs in the UAE affected by the current regional crisis. Mariano-Perado said the sessions are a safe space for Filipinos looking to reassess their direction and take their next step amid difficult circumstances.
OFWs interested in availing of the free sessions may reach her via WhatsApp at +971 52 859 4715. Slots are limited.
