My name is Marian Kayad, and I’m a former primary school teacher with experience teaching in the UK, Dubai, and Qatar. In early 2018, I secured my first NQT role in an outstanding UK school in Birmingham. Unfortunately, my mentor made the experience extremely challenging, and the situation became so overwhelming that I had to take mental health leave before returning to full-time teaching. During my mental health leave, I began to question whether teaching was even the right path for me. I started to believe I wasn’t a good teacher and that maybe I wasn’t cut out for the profession at all. My self-esteem was at an all-time low, and nothing my friends or family said could change how I felt about my career. I felt like I was failing before I had even really started, and it was an incredibly dark and difficult time.
During this period, I began exploring teaching opportunities in the Middle East, not with the intention of actually pursuing anything. On a whim, I applied for a role and was invited to interview. At first, I didn’t take it seriously; I never imagined I could succeed in an international teaching role. To my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed the interview, and just a few days later I was offered my first international post in Dubai. I was scared, nervous, and even considered turning it down. But after a conversation with my best friend, who encouraged me to take the leap, I embraced the opportunity. In January 2020, I began teaching at a British curriculum school in Dubai, leading a Year 6 girls’ class. When the coronavirus pandemic hit just two months later, I had to adapt quickly to remote teaching. Despite the challenges, the experience turned out to be amazing.
Eighteen months later, curious about Qatar and true to my risk-taking nature, I accepted a teaching role there during the pandemic. I only stayed for six months, realising I thrive more in larger cities. While I was preparing to transition into another role, my mum was involved in a serious car accident in January 2022. It was a very scary time, and I chose to move back to the UK to be with my family. Through these experiences, I came to understand just how overwhelming the international teaching process can be, from finding reliable schools and preparing for interviews, to navigating visas and adapting to a new culture. I also realised that there was very little support available for teachers, particularly those new to teaching abroad. That’s what inspired me to create Ventured Teaching. I wanted to offer the kind of guidance I wished I’d had: real advice, honest support, and one-to-one mentoring from someone who has lived the journey. Ventured Teaching exists to help passionate educators secure meaningful roles in the Middle East with clarity, confidence, and community, removing the confusion and guesswork.
Becoming a full-time mentor has truly been the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’ve never felt so content doing what I love, mentoring teachers comes so naturally to me, and for the first time, I feel like myself. I love creating content, openly sharing my personal experiences, and giving teachers real, raw advice that comes from lived reality. It has been incredibly rewarding, and I feel thankful every single day that I was brave enough to leave my comfort zone to create what we all truly needed: a teaching community and a platform dedicated specifically to supporting teachers relocating to the Middle East. One thing that my journey has taught me is that you have to be willing to ride through your darkest moments to make something of yourself, to grow, and to become the person you’re destined to be. I am proud of my journey, proud of the person I’ve become, and ultimately proud of the person I’m still becoming. Starting a business is not something I ever thought I was capable of, but you’d be surprised at what you can achieve if you truly put your mind to something and take the risk.
Today, I use my own experiences to support teachers every step of the way, from their first application to settling into life abroad.
At Ventured Teaching, our mission is to empower educators to take their careers abroad with confidence and clarity. We provide honest, expert guidance and personalised support to help teachers secure meaningful roles in the Middle East. Our core values shape everything we do:
With Ventured Teaching, you're not just applying for a job, you’re stepping into a supported and inspired teaching journey.
At Ventured Teaching, we offer tailored support for educators pursuing roles in the Middle East, guiding you through every stage of the process with confidence. The mentoring service includes:
We support educators at all stages of their career:
We’d love to hear from you!
Take the first step toward your dream teaching role by exploring our individual and package support options today. Whether you have questions about our services or want to discuss teaching opportunities abroad, we’re here to help. Reach out to us directly, and a member of our team will guide you through the next steps in your journey. Prefer to message us online? Simply fill out the contact form, and we’ll get back to you promptly.
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