Rizza Mae Napuli Alinsoot is a 32-year-old mother of two who has been living and working in the UAE for the past decade. She is the manager of Sunrise Yacht Rentals and co-founder of the boat manufacturing company, Dylan Marine, based in Dubai. Rizza graduated from Our Lady of Fatima University with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Her mantra in life is to stay positive and happy, work hard and not give up hope, be open to criticism, and keep learning. She believes in surrounding herself with happy, warm, and genuine people.
Rizza’s career journey started as a crew deck member on a yacht, and she worked her way up to become a boat captain and eventually owning a small fleet. She co-founded Sunrise Yacht Rentals with her business partners, Mr. Noufal M.K and Mr. Salim Sainudeen. Together, they operate the famed Dubai yacht experience for tourists and residents. They specialize in organizing and hosting corporate events, birthdays, debuts, weddings, and all holiday celebrations.
In addition to her responsibilities at Sunrise Yacht Rentals, Rizza is also hands-on in the operations of the business, including bookings. On the other hand, Mr. Noufal M.K handles their boat manufacturing company, Dylan Marine, while she and Mr. Salim focus on yacht rentals.
For Rizza, settling into life in Dubai was a challenging experience. However, once she settled in, she felt a huge sense of achievement. As a business owner, she believes that there is no template on how to be successful, and everyday challenges will undoubtedly open your eyes to alternative ways of doing things, especially in a competitive market like Dubai. She learned to adjust to everything around her, like trying new things, developing new marketing ideas, and getting a better understanding of different cultural tenets.
For her, working overseas can be both daunting and exciting.
“It goes without saying that moving to another country means being unable to see much of your family back at home. True, you do miss them, moments like these are the ones that make expatriates like us feel the most homesick and the reason for us to strive even harder to be successful – because we are here to provide for them,” she said.
Rizza started in Dubai by working for other companies. She first worked as a barista where she climbed the ladder and became the manager of the cafe in the long run.
Her ambition to run her own business pushed her to start Sunrise Yacht Rentals. Running her own business is not easy, but it gave her a sense of purpose. She likes to offer competitive prices for her fellow countrymen and Filipinos working in Dubai, who deserve to experience what tourists come to Dubai for. Rizza understands the need for self-love and the importance of enjoying life outside of work.
Dubai is a city for dreamers, and Rizza likes the fact that it’s a city that embraces the hard lessons that come with opportunities. Dubai molds people to be better, or if not, breaks them. Everyone has equal footing on where to start, and it doesn’t matter who you were before you came to Dubai. Only those who aspire to follow their dreams, work hard, and keep dreaming despite heartaches win. Rizza believes that Dubai is a rollercoaster ride, and there will be low moments, but there will also be joy.
Riding the ocean waves
Before settling into her current job, Rizza endured struggles that came with trying to find her path in life. She came to Dubai to apply as an airline crew, following in the footsteps of her sisters who are already airline crew in the UAE. However, she experienced rejection, which made her question her self-worth. She cried and looked for answers that were not even there, but in the end, she realized that God has a better plan for her.
“Deep inside I know I wanted a career that will not confine me to a four-wall environment. I wanted to go out, explore the outdoors and see sights as much as I can. If flying or being a flight crew member was not an option, I veered into yachts. My dad was a seaman and I gravitated in that direction. The sea was calling,” she said.
“If you have a dream fight for it, there’s a discipline for passion and it’s not about how many times you get rejected or you fall it’s about how many times you stand up and brave and you keep on going,” she added.
When she applied as a yacht crew, she experienced unfortunate events, including harassment, bullying, and derogatory treatment.
“But the viable lesson here is how you keep your calm. I stayed because I know I can be more than just a mere crew; I wanted a captain’s license. This is a job that only men are seen doing. It rolled eyes and there will be a lot of people who want to see you fail,” Rizza said.
“When I got my license, I knew what I wanted next. I want to run my own yacht rental experience,” she recalled.
Embracing the calm sea
In parallel to growing their business, Rizza wants to help fellow Filipinos in Dubai to see the beauty of Dubai through a yachting experience.
“Yes, it is considered a luxurious experience but at a very reasonable cost. They just have to reach out to me, and I will make sure that they get their money’s worth or even more. We have a fun-loving culture, and we should not forget that. They can reminisce about those days when we Filipinos go out on Sundays to the beach, or on special occasions. This time though they will enjoy that day on a yacht. Have fun and enjoy your life in Dubai,” she said.
She advised those in need of help to reach out and take of their well-being.
“The sea has a way of calming you and what better way to care for yourself than aligning your being to nature? If they need extra income, I can open this business to them too. We all help each other – and that is how we survive,” she further added.
Rizza’s journey is a testament to the importance of hard work, perseverance, and having a positive attitude towards life. Her experiences show that opportunities can arise in the most unexpected ways, and it’s essential to keep an open mind and be willing to take risks. She has found her place in Dubai and is grateful for the support of the people who believed in her.