How one book, one sleepless night, and a defining decision strengthened the Millionaire International Realty founder’s commitment to building her future in Dubai.
There are moments when leadership is tested not by opportunity, but by uncertainty.
For Valeria Petza, Founder and CEO of Millionaire International Realty, one such moment arrived during a period of heightened concern in the Gulf, when people around her were urging her to leave Dubai and return to Italy.
As uncertainty grew, Petza received information from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation regarding a flight. She began preparing to leave.
Her suitcase was packed. Emotionally overwhelmed and unable to sleep, she found herself surrounded by the repeated advice of people who cared about her: leave Dubai, return home, and seek safety elsewhere.
But sometime that night, her perspective began to change.
A Book at the Right Moment
At approximately 11 p.m. on March 8, rather than going to sleep, Petza reached for the first book she had purchased after arriving in Dubai: The Sheikh CEO: Lessons in Leadership from Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
She began reading.
And continued throughout the night.
What began as an attempt to occupy her thoughts became an unexpectedly defining experience. Page after page, Petza says the book helped restore three qualities that uncertainty had temporarily shaken: motivation, vision, and determination.
The hours passed.
By sunrise, something fundamental had shifted.
Petza no longer wanted to leave Dubai.
She wanted to stay.
She wanted to continue building, continue growing, and continue pursuing the future she had envisioned for Millionaire International Realty in a city she considers one of the world’s extraordinary environments for people with ambition, vision, and the courage to build.
When Leadership Becomes Personal
For Petza, the experience became about much more than deciding where to live or operate a business.
It became a personal lesson in leadership.
She came to understand that leadership is not only demonstrated when circumstances are favourable. It is also reflected in the ability to maintain a sense of direction when uncertainty begins to challenge the reasons behind a decision.
That night, one question became particularly important:
What is my choice?
Not the choice that would necessarily make other people feel reassured.
Not necessarily the easiest choice.
And not a decision determined entirely by fear.
Her own choice.
For an entrepreneur, that distinction can be significant. Building a company requires countless strategic decisions, but there are moments when the decision is no longer about a business plan. It becomes about whether the person behind the vision still believes strongly enough to continue.
For Petza, that moment arrived in the middle of the night.
The Suitcase That Stayed Packed—Until Morning
At approximately 5 a.m., after reading throughout the night, Petza closed the book.
She looked at the suitcase she had prepared.
Then she unpacked it.
The decision was made.
She would stay in Dubai.
The suitcase became a quiet symbol of the choice: uncertainty had presented one possible direction, while her own conviction ultimately led her in another.
The decision did not erase the concerns of the moment. Instead, it reflected her determination to continue moving forward despite them.
Choosing Dubai
Today, The Sheikh CEO remains on Petza’s desk.
To her, the book represents much more than a collection of leadership lessons. It is connected to the beginning of her Dubai journey and to one of the most decisive nights in her personal and professional life.
It was the book she picked up when she was preparing to leave—and the book that helped reconnect her with the reasons she had originally chosen to build her future in Dubai.
That personal connection has given the book a meaning beyond its pages.
It has become a reminder of a moment when uncertainty could have changed the direction of her journey, but ultimately strengthened her commitment to it.
The Entrepreneur Behind the Decision
Petza’s experience also reflects a broader reality of entrepreneurship.
Behind every company are strategies, investments, market opportunities, business plans, and financial decisions. But behind all of those elements is a person who must repeatedly decide whether to keep believing in the vision.
Entrepreneurship is often described through its visible achievements: growth, expansion, transactions, partnerships, and milestones.
Less visible are the private moments when founders question whether to continue.
For Petza, one of those moments happened with a packed suitcase beside her.
By morning, the suitcase was empty.
The vision remained.
Vision Over Fear
Petza’s story ultimately returns to a simple philosophy: leadership does not require the absence of fear.
Instead, it can require the ability to recognise fear without allowing it to become the sole force determining the direction of one’s life.
Her decision to remain in Dubai became a personal expression of that philosophy.
For the Founder and CEO of Millionaire International Realty, Dubai is more than the location of her company.
It represents the environment in which she chose to pursue her ambitions, develop her business, and continue building.
It represents a decision made during one difficult night—and reaffirmed when morning came.
Manish Singh is an entrepreneur, media executive, and international publishing professional who has built one of the fastest growing independent media networks spanning business, leadership, entrepreneurship, lifestyle, and luxury. He is the Founder and CEO of Credible Media LLC, UAE, a Dubai based media company dedicated to helping individuals, brands, and organizations amplify their stories through premium editorial features, digital publishing, and strategic media exposure.
