Exclusive: Layla Kardan On Entrepreneurship And Motherhood

A business graduate, an entrepreneur and a triple threat as a songwriter, singer and performer — what can’t Layla Kardan do? They say a diamond was nothing but a chunk of coal that performed well under pressure. And Layla embodies the legacy of that diamond. When the demands of corporate life no longer nourished her soul, she made a life-altering shift in her outlook. 

This new mum recently welcomed her baby boy Rumi into the world, adding another dimension to her already impressive repertoire. In this issue, Layla shares her story as she navigates the journey of motherhood and entrepreneurship! 

Photographed by: Michel Takla

On her life and career Layla was born in Belgium after the Iranian Revolution and calls herself a proud Iranian. Due to the conflict, she travelled around the world before finally settling in Sydney. Growing up, hers was one of the few ‘ethnic’ families in the area, standing out culturally. Despite often feeling like an outcast, she had an idyllic childhood, attending great schools and spending time at the beach.

 “When I was eight, we moved to Dubai, where we experienced a different life,” says Layla. “After two years, we returned to Australia, which changed my perception and matured me. I became responsible very early and took care of my sisters while my father travelled. This delayed my music career, but I’ve always been responsible from a young age, prioritising other things over my passion.” 

Layla spent almost a decade in a corporate job before transitioning to a full-time career as a musician and performer. Her way of thinking was different then, she recalls. 

Photographed by: Michel Takla

“I was smart and exposed to business through my dad’s ventures. I wanted to be an entrepreneur, so I studied business and excelled at it. It wasn’t completely out of character for me, but I wasn’t satisfied deep down. I reached a point where society expected me to settle down, but I still had so much I wanted to achieve.” 

She confides that it’s a familiar tale for many Asian girls. Parents don’t always support their daughters in pursuing careers in the arts — like music or acting — considering them improper or not well-received by traditional communities around the world. 

“I didn’t want to squabble with my family. Living in Dubai made me feel like anything was possible. So I worked on myself, did NLP courses, travelled to retreats, and reflected on my inner desires. I wasn’t emotionally happy until I found the courage to pursue music.” 

Photographed by: Michel Takla

Taking a leap of faith, Layla flew in a producer from Sweden and recorded her first song. She then released a music video and started performing anywhere she had the opportunity to, even without a band initially. Before she knew it, she was performing on big stages — a combination of luck and hard work. 

Layla’s dramatic shift in career isn’t a common occurrence. When asked what led her to this moment, she says: “Well, it didn’t happen overnight. It all started when I wasn’t feeling well, and the doctors diagnosed me with clinical depression, recommending antidepressants. But I knew it wasn’t just that; I wasn’t living my truth. So I set a goal for myself: by October, I needed a certain amount of money in my bank account, and then I would travel. I needed to detach from a series of bad events that took place in my life and open my heart and mind to the world to gain more experiences. I packed everything I owned into storage and embarked on a nonstop, 16-month journey around the world. From the Seychelles to Amsterdam, Paris to Thailand… I even took a Muay Thai training course and went to a meditation retreat. I travelled to Turkey and then went back to Australia to be with my family and ground myself. This journey opened my eyes to new experiences and my heart to endless possibilities. Through travel, I found myself as an artist and began working on projects that made me genuinely happy.”

On being an entrepreneur All that travel may have led to Layla realising her true calling, but fate decided to play its hand. “When the pandemic hit, I realised that the live performance scene for singers was taking a financial blow, so I needed to diversify. My husband, who comes from a restaurant background, and I were offered the chance to start a jazz club. Instead, we decided to create our own cabaret called Papillon, which was a big success for about two years. Afterward, we ventured into the restaurant business in Abu Dhabi, opening three establishments: Penelope, a French jazz restaurant; Ella Ella, a Greek taverna; and Mr. Moto, a Japanese bar. I’m proud of each one because they’re all unique brands we created by ourselves from scratch, with my husband handling operations, while I brought in the more creative elements.”

Photographed by: Michel Takla

Soon after, Layla and her husband Hamdan realized the challenges of juggling a nightlifeheavy business with a family. Eventually, they found a way to balance the two extremes. That’s when they decided to widen their scope of work. “We expanded into the wellness space with Contrast Wellness Studio. We recently opened our second branch in City Walk, with plans for two more next month. We love this business because it’s about making people feel good and improving their health.” 

Layla’s newest venture is where wellness and spirituality collide. She says: “With Contrast, our purpose is to bring ancient healing practices to the modern world, focusing on helping members heal, stay youthful, boost immunity and prioritise wellbeing. Our vision is to become the most convenient, results-driven wellbeing destination globally, offering escapism, healing and rejuvenation. Our offerings include infrared saunas, ice baths, traditional saunas, contrast therapy, hydrotherapy, magnesium tubs and IV drips — all based on ancient healing practices. We make these accessible to busy schedules, allowing people to easily fit them into their lives. Our community hubs in Palm Jumeirah, City Walk, JVC and Creek Harbour provide biohacking exercises to transform day-to-day life and promote longevity. Infrared saunas detoxify, and contrast therapy improves cardiovascular health and reduces stress, inflammation and water retention. Our goal is to offer these benefits in every community pocket, making it easily accessible and affordable for everyone.”

In addition to her wellbeing business, Layla also runs an entertainment agency with which she curates shows for events and fashion brands, collaborating with choreographers and dancers around the world. 

“It’s a lot to handle alongside being a mum, but I’m passionate about all my ventures. We chose entrepreneurship, understanding its ups and downs. Tough days make the good ones more meaningful. Life isn’t smooth sailing, but it’s the journey that makes it worthwhile,” she says, gracefully accepting the challenges entrepreneurship brings, while knowing that her baby will always be her first priority. 

Photographed by: Michel Takla

On passing down values Layla and Hamdan welcomed their wonderful baby boy, Rumi, recently. Speaking of the change in interpersonal dynamics, she expresses: “Becoming a mum was a surprise blessing, and welcoming Rumi enriched our lives. Rumi, a beautiful and strong-willed boy, brings us joy and challenges. Some days require patience, especially during negotiations! The transition to parenthood was hard, especially since Rumi was premature. Parenting is rewarding yet challenging.” 

For someone as ambitious and creative as Layla, when it comes to businesses there’s no such thing as ‘the sky’s the limit’, especially when they’re legacy-making and embarked upon with her son’s future in mind.

“We’ve also launched Rumi’s Baby Food, named after him. We entered a competition with Spinneys, an incubator programme highlighting local brands for supermarkets. Rumi’s Baby Food won, and that’s the legacy we’re building. We intend to create meaningful businesses that positively impact the community, potentially becoming a legacy for him to continue if he chooses. I’m all about giving choice and freedom to my child, but this is an option for him if he wants to pursue it. We do everything with him in mind, aiming to make these businesses successful and international, hoping to see my baby’s name worldwide.” 

Photography: Michel Takla. Words: Vama Kothari. Styling: Rim Choucair. Assisted by: Tooba Waseem, Jonathan Kapeya, and Aanya Royce.