Meet Leah McHugh. Leah grew up in Boston and Sydney, but as of 2014 has been living the digital nomad lifestyle.
Because Leah is often on the move, one of her biggest pet peeves is checking a bag. However, with this, she struggled to find a good, packable, environmentally friendly shampoo that wouldn’t destroy her hair and would be allowed in her carry on luggage. To solve her own problem, Leah decided to create, Get Dirty With Me, a range of all natural powdered cleansers. These light-weight cleansers can replace more than 5 bottles of liquids, making it easier on both the traveler’s suitcases and the environment — Absolutely brilliant!
Learn more about Leah’s story here:
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a hair detox guide to help people easily transition away from shampoos with questionable ingredients. I’m trying to promote mindfulness around what people put on their hair. There’s a lot of awareness around things like natural deodorant and skincare, but it seems a lot of people forget about what they’re putting on their head!
What is your current desktop wallpaper? and why?
“You are exactly where you need to be.” It reminds me to appreciate how far I’ve come, and that everything is a process.
Which book has shaped your life or changed the way you think the most?
Oh, there are so many! Most recently, I read Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl and it really put into perspective how much our mind shapes our reality.
What is one thing you do to get motivated?
Travel! I’m feel more like myself when I’m on the road. Exercise helps keep me motivated too.
What made you smile today?
Aerial yoga- our class is always full of laughter!
What is something you think everyone should try at least once in their life? Or Name one skill you think everyone should have or learn?
How to walk on the sidewalk without getting in people’s way is a skill you learn in New York and London that a lot of people don’t seem to have 😂. I think everyone should go somewhere and do something on their own at least once. It doesn’t matter where. I think doing something solo is the best way to get to know yourself.
What is one skill or hobby you’ve been meaning to learn but haven’t had time for?
I’d love to learn how to sew and make clothes for all the times I can’t find what I want, and to repurpose what I already have.
What is your favourite coworking space and why?
I love Sundesk in Taghazout. It’s got such a great vibe- the people there are like family. And that’s where I learned to surf!
Sundesk Coworking Space
List 3 simple things in life that make you really happy:
1. traveling somewhere new
2. cooking for friends
3. hiking somewhere with no one else around
What is the best thing that you have done, just because you were told you can’t?
I must just ignore people when they tell me I can’t do something, because I can’t think of a specific instance. I think traveling, starting a business, not embracing the standard “American dream” lifestyle in order to do what makes me happy are all my acts of rebellion.
If you had the opportunity to spend a week or month in another country to be your office of the week/month, where would you go?
Hahaha, that’s the hardest question for digital nomads! There are too many options! I’ve been thinking about Albania later this year.
Aerial view down on rocky peaks of Maja Jezercë, highest mountain of Albanian Alps
What is the biggest item on your bucket list at the moment?
I’d really love to do a long trek somewhere. I love the idea of having a sole goal that everything is focussed around. That’s so different from my day to day life, splitting time between lots of projects.
As a Digital Nomad/Entrepreneur. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you have and why?
Food, water and some kind of communication equipment would be useful! Assuming that’s taken care of, and I’ve decided to run my business from a deserted island, I’d need a laptop, something that gives me wifi, and a power generator.
What was your first job? Has it shaped where you are today?
I was a waitress when I was a teenager. I think hospitality gave me a lot of skills that I still use today- being customer oriented, how to prioritize tasks, how to work under pressure, how to think ahead and prepare. I think everyone should work in hospitality for a little while- you learn a lot of life skills.
Any advice for your previous boss?
It’s important to know what’s going on, but give your staff the freedom to do what they do best.
