Some stories are built in boardrooms. Others are forged through battles that never make headlines.
Layla Chapman is the latter kind of entrepreneur.
Her story begins in music — featured on multiple number one dance albums and working alongside producers who had previously collaborated with artists of the calibre of Mariah Carey. It was here that she developed something that no business school teaches: an instinct for creative people with a real story, a genuine passion, and the desire to make an impact on the world beyond simply making money.
That instinct has defined everything she has built since.
A Story of Extraordinary Resilience
Before the business achievements, before the media features, there is a deeply human story that puts everything else into perspective.
Layla was born with a lifelong health condition that saw her spend part of her early childhood at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. The experience shaped her relationship with adversity from the very beginning.
In her adult life, that resilience was tested again and again. She endured multiple miscarriages and ten rounds of IVF before becoming a mother — a journey she has chosen to share openly, giving voice to a struggle that so many women face in silence.
And then, between the births of her daughter and her son, she faced her most life-threatening chapter. An antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection took hold in the bone of her skull and had to be surgically drilled out to save her life. She survived. She recovered. She kept going.
It is that spirit — unbreakable, purposeful, and deeply human — that she now brings to every brand, every founder, and every creator she works with.
Building Brands, Building Influence
Armed with that foundation, Layla built an eight-figure physical product brand and developed a reputation across public relations, media, and brand positioning — working with many of the UK’s best known celebrity media personalities, including through her close friendship and collaboration with Claire Powell of The Can Group, one of the UK’s most respected talent management and PR agencies.
Her work has been recognised in OK! Magazine, Hello Magazine, and Homestyle Magazine UK — reflecting the growing relevance of her voice across entrepreneurship, lifestyle, and media leadership.
Why the Middle East — and Why Now
Now, Layla is launching Yaster Middle East — a venture studio working with creators, media personalities, and athletes to build lasting digital and physical product businesses.
The timing and location are deliberate.
The global creator economy is already worth over $250 billion and is on a trajectory to exceed $1 trillion within the next decade. But where Layla sees the real opportunity — particularly in the UAE — is not in chasing volume. It is in purpose.
Creators, athletes, and media personalities often have a short window of attention. A sports career ends. A media moment passes. But when they have that spotlight, they have the opportunity to build businesses that make an impact far beyond their athletic or media careers — businesses that genuinely improve people’s lives and tell stories that last.
That is the gap Yaster exists to fill. And it is why Layla Chapman came to the Middle East.
She is already working with and launching ventures alongside some of the UAE’s best known female content creators and businesswomen, and also regularly advises up-and-coming UAE business talent on PR and AI search authority strategy.
A Community for Female Founders
Layla’s vision extends beyond Yaster. She is launching a membership for ambitious female founders in the Middle East — a support network for driven women balancing motherhood, real life, and entrepreneurial ambition in the UAE.
It is a community rooted in the belief that success as a female entrepreneur is rarely a straight line, and that the right people around you make all the difference.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, creators, and women navigating their own challenges, Layla Chapman’s journey carries a simple but powerful message: the hardest chapters do not disqualify you. Sometimes, they are exactly what qualifies you.
Do follow her on Instagram.
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Aditi Goyal is a Relationship Manager at UAE Stories, based in Dubai, with over a year of experience in connecting people and narratives. She focuses on business, real estate, lifestyle, startups, and human stories, bringing each profile to life with clarity and purpose. Aditi believes every journey has value, and her work reflects a genuine effort to highlight growth, resilience, and real experiences. Through her contributions, she aims to create meaningful content that informs, inspires, and builds strong connections with readers.
