SARAH RYAN – THE MATCHMAKING EXPERT

BACKGROUND

“I moved to London and was working for a great brand but found myself not feeling all in. Life is too short and so when I came across a role to become a Mayfair Matchmaker, I have to admit intrigue got the better of me and it all went from there really. I don’t think you start any role as an expert but time, hindsight, constant immersion in dating, relationships, singles events and the love industry has given me an awful lot of knowledge that I can not help but share. 5 years on as a matchmaker and dating blogger, I am now the Managing Director of a global Premier Matchmaking service; Simantov International and this year was award-nominated for Dating Entrepreneur, Matchmaking Agency of the year and Best UK Dating Blogger.” – S-Ryan

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO TAKE ON THIS ROLE?

I have a passion for business and a passion for people and so with the opportunity to grow both personally, professionally and all the while connecting single successful professionals who are too-time poor to find love; why wouldn’t I. I love the industry and I love what I do.

ARE YOU CURRENTLY IN A RELATIONSHIP YOURSELF?

I am happily dating and only time will tell. ( please read my heartbreak blog from the beginning – most people know I was in a 7.5 year relationship, single this year and then met someone utterly fabulous )

HOW DOES YOUR PROFESSION/ROLE EFFECT YOUR RELATIONSHIPS?

My passion for connecting singles on the soulmate search only enables me to understand relationships, dating and communication between those in love and those dating all the better. Analysing singles day in and day out who perhaps have barriers to finding love does indeed make you look at yourself and your own relationships both personally and professionally and the truth is I feel I know myself better than I ever have. I am a happier person for helping people and I think that’s part and parcel of our make-up as human beings.

HAVE YOU USED YOUR MATCHMAKING SERVICE FOR YOURSELF?

No I was in a 7.5 year relationship and have been a matchmaker for just over 5 years. Newly single at the beginning of this year I met someone via one of my good friends who probably didn’t realise she was playing cupid at the time.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR MATCHMAKING SERVICE.

I match successful, educated singles who have exceptional jobs but are too time-poor to find their someone. They are looking for love and are willing to travel to all corners of the globe to do so but need a helping hand along the way so they appoint me and my team to conduct an executive soulmate search. I head-hunt like-minded singles in their criteria on an international scale and interview singles all over the world for my clientele. I have clients in LA, NYC, Paris, London, Australia, Mexico and across Europe.

IS IT ANYTHING LIKE THE TV SHOW MILLIONAIRE MATCHMAKER?

Nothing like it at all. Well yes it can be a bit glam with us flying to meet clients and they also fly to meet us too but not quite alike. Yes the kind of clientele we have are on par professionally and perhaps financially but the way we work is constructive, discreet and based on the highest level of confidentiality. We deal with business minds and often A type personalities who know what they want, they know who they are but just need someone to do the legwork and vetting for them to ensure the singles they meet are fully in their criteria.

YOUR DATING SERVICE IS FOR JEWISH SINGLES, HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT?

So when I was based in Mayfair I was working for an elite matchmaking company for four years. We always matched single, successful professionals but they only ever wanted to date in London. I left this position to live in NYC for a year where I became business savvy and a dating blogger for a year helping singles navigate their way to love. Here I was head-hunted by the Jewish niche Matchmaking service Simantov International to be their MD. Being connected in the community and having great understanding due to immersion in Manchester growing up, this was a role on a global scale I was willing to take on. I’ve grown as a person, dating expert and business professional as well as helping Simantov International to thrive in successful introductions and a social enterprise for a global community looking to get connected.

WHO WOULD BE YOUR IDEAL OR TYPICAL CLIENTS?

Single, successful professionals in the Jewish community who are relationship minded and willing to look to each corner of the globe for love. Romantic I know.

HAVE YOU MATCHED ANY CELEBRITIES?

Yes. Can not discuss.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS FIRST DATE YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THROUGH YOUR SERVICE?

As matchmakers we work in the strictest of confidentiality, differentiating ourselves from online dating so we enter into contractual agreements of discretion. Of course there are some very funny stories though.

BLOGGING/ 30 DAYS OF HEARTBREAK:

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR BLOG.

My blog is the process of healing a heart that is broken post break-up. It basically talks you through my break-up in realtime which was such a healing process where around 2,000 readers globally tuned in to see how I was getting on in 10 different countries.

WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE FOR YOU WRITING THE “30 DAYS OF HEARTBREAK” SERIES?

A difficult learning process. The blog talks through my feelings day by day in detail. Here is the link. It was refreshing to have so many broken hearts reaching out to me to tell me how I had helped them, by doing so they didn’t realise that they had loved me back to life. I was award-nominated for Dating Blogger 2016 and contacted by TED talks to share my vulnerability in healing heartbreak.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT MATCHMAKING? DO YOU GET YOUR DOWN TIME?

I travel to around 2 different countries other than the UK each month for both work and pleasure. I am a culture vulture, I go to the gym daily to boost my energy levels and feel great and also like to swim, I love love love to cook as a creative outlet and do this daily. I am currently learning french and constantly read books around positivity and research studies into love. I also like to brunch; who doesn’t?

#dating #Heartbreak #Interview #Love #Matchmaking