Hadley Gamble is a reporter and anchor for the business and financial news network CNBC, covering the Middle East, Africa and American politics. As anchor of CNBC's Access: Middle East and Access: Africa, Ms Gamble speaks to world leaders, international chief executives and philanthropists. The 35-year-old, who is originally from Tennessee in the United States, will be broadcasting live regular updates for CNBC from inside Abu Dhabi Global Market, the city's international financial centre on Al Maryah Island.
6.30am
The first thing I think about when I wake up is coffee – double espresso. The days start quite early, because we want to know what’s happening in the Asian and European markets before we talk to people in this region.
7am
I take a Careem from my home on the Palm to our studio in Dubai Media City for an interview. I tend to be sticking pins in my hair en route – such is the glamorous life of a TV reporter. I buy a croissant, but later I’m really hungry and can’t find it. I’d love to be able to drink green organic juices all day, but really, I just eat what’s available.
9am
Yesterday, I interviewed the regional head of the IMF, Jihad Azour, who had written a regional economic assessment report saying the deficits in the GCC countries will be less than 1 per cent by 2022, which is incredible. The report was under embargo until 9am, and we had him on camera before the release, so we could roll out his sound the minute the press embargo was lifted. That’s the sort of thing we live for, to have the person speaking when the news is technically breaking.
11.30am
I head over to the Arab Media Forum, where I’m on a panel for a discussion about the image of the Arab world in the West. Usually I’m a moderator rather than a panellist, but I find this quite fun. When you’re moderating, you’re thinking about what the broader narrative is, but as a panellist, you sit back and enjoy yourself. Americans in general don’t know much about the Middle East. But in business news, we generally speak to an audience of highly educated, influential people who do know where the Middle East is. They’re looking at Saudi Arabia as a very exciting investment destination, so we’re coming at it from a different angle.
1pm
Lunch is crispy duck at Trader Vic’s in Madinat Jumeirah with CNBC’s managing editor, Patrick Allen, while we stare at each other over conference calls. We’re about to launch a seven-episode weekly programme of interviews with some game-changing Saudi entrepreneurs, NGOs, investors and scientists. Right now, my weekly schedule involves jumping back and forth between the UAE and Saudi. Saudi Arabia is experiencing a revolutionary change; certainly in terms of how the media explores it, it’s a very different place now. Ministers are much more willing to talk with journalists. It is so important for leadership in the region to get out from behind the PRs and talk to people.
3pm
We’re covering the World Economic Forum on Middle East and North Africa in Jordan this weekend. Having been to seven World Economic Forums in Davos, I’m a regular contributor to the Mena conference. On top of the two plenary discussions, there are another 30 to 40 policymakers on the ground. You’ll see this massive burst of coverage from me this weekend, but it’s a three-month process getting to that point.
4pm
I manage to get a swim in, which is not very regular. Although swimming ruins my hair, it makes me feel good in the heat. I have to look after my health because otherwise I couldn’t do the long hours. There’s less demand for female news anchors to wear tonnes of make up now than there once was, but still, the demands on female presenters to look good are so much more than on the males – they get it easy.
5pm
I take a half-hour nap, because I need that with getting up early, and the dinners here being so late. The big chief executives tell me that if they don’t have an afternoon nap, they can’t get through their day.
10pm
All I want to do is sit in a bathtub, but I have a gala dinner to attend. If there are social engagements, I’m there because I am the brand, at all times. It’s about making those connections. One thing that has given me a leg up is that my background is in US and geo-politics. I’ve found that when I’m talking to these very high net worth individuals, people who run multinational corporations, they’re extremely switched on and they want to hear from me what I know, so it’s a two-way street. I’m learning about what they’re doing in the region, but they’re looking for insights too. In this region in particular, relationships are key. You want to be the person who somebody calls when they have a big announcement to make. If they trust you, then they’ll give it to you.
1am
I go to bed. When I was in my twenties, I’d work all the time, but now I no longer sleep with my phone sitting on my chest.
business@thenational.ae
Follow The National's Business section on Twitter
