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Natalie Walsh
Finance Coach
Recruitment Consultant
Cheerleader For Women Who Want To See Financial Change
I didn’t grow up with a clear understanding of money but life experiences and the people I have surrounded myself with have shown me just how powerful it can be.
I was raised working class in the UK. This isn't a story of how I grew up in poverty. I didn't. I come from a nice, normal family in Manchester. I didn't starve and I didn't go without any necessities. But I certainly didn't grow up in 'wealth.'
My parents showed me what it means to work hard for money. And it wasn't until I moved to Dubai and was surrounded by people from different backgrounds that I realised how money can be made and how it can be used for growth.
Money wasn’t positively discussed in my family, there were bills to be paid and food needed to be put on the table but my dad quietly taught himself about investing and he even began putting small amounts of money aside on my behalf, out of my own pay cheque, when I was a working adult. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what he was doing but it planted a seed of financial awareness.
Finance Coach
Recruitment Consultant
Cheerleader For Women Who Want To See Financial Change
From Debt Resolution to Teaching Abroad
I've been working since I was 16. First of all at Homebase (a DIY store), which I surprisingly loved although when middle-aged men came in asking me about drills, I really didn't know what I was talking about. After this, my professional career began in debt resolution at an established UK bank, where I spent nine years in a supervisory role, working closely with people struggling under the weight of financial pressure. Day after day, I saw the emotional toll of money stress not just numbers on a page, but anxiety, shame, and fear about the future.
Later, I made a career change into teaching, a decision that eventually brought me to Dubai in 2017. Like many people in their twenties abroad, I was enjoying life: travelling, socialising, and living very much in the present. Money wasn’t a priority and the future felt very very distant.
2020: The Turning Point
Everything changed in 2020 - Covid year ... we all remember that!
Suddenly, I was single, alone in my apartment in Dubai, locked down, uncertain, and deeply worried about my long-term security. For the first time, I began asking serious questions about money, investing, and financial independence. Questions I realised most people are never taught to ask.
I taught myself everything I could about investing, risk, and financial planning. Around the same time, I started an e-commerce business ...and made mistakes. I accumulated 70,000 AED of debt (which I know sounds counterproductive) but I'd wanted to take a chance on a business. Through this experience, I learned exactly what my personal risk tolerance was, and took full responsibility for fixing it.
I paid off every dirham using the money tools and strategies I share with my clients today.
That experience fundamentally reshaped how I see money.
My Philosophy on Money
I don’t believe money is about restriction, guilt, or perfection.
I believe money is a tool for growth when you understand it and use it intentionally.
Balance matters.
Enjoyment matters... otherwise what are working so hard for?
But so does long-term security.
This philosophy underpins everything I teach.
Where I Am Now
I am now CISI certified in International Investment and Wealth Management, and I also work in recruitment, supporting people through major career and life transitions. Alongside this, I help individuals (particularly women) gain clarity and confidence with their finances.
My main focus is personal finance education for women, because I know first-hand what it feels like to:
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Feel behind
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Feel uncertain
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Feel like everyone else understands money except you
I’ve been there: personally and professionally.
How I Help
Through coaching, education, and practical resources, I help women:
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Understand their money without overwhelm
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Build confidence around investing
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Make informed decisions that align with their values and lifestyle
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Move forward without shame, pressure, or unrealistic promises
No “get rich quick”. Just clear, honest guidance grounded in real experience.
