In the run-up to the inaugural Guardian Woman Festival (March 15 & 16, 2024), with the theme ‘Inspiring Inclusion’, we’re interviewing some inspiring women we know across many different fields. In the interviews, we ask them how they define success, how they reached the position they’re in now, and, most importantly, what inclusion means to them.

Our second guest is Mandy Mee, the founder of The MME Agency, an international matchmaking agency. In this interview, she explains why she started the agency, why inclusion is important in the dating world, and how to be comfortable and confident in your decisions.

Tell us about why you started a matchmaking agency.
I started The MME Agency, an international, bespoke and confidential matchmaking and consultancy agency back in 2019 to reduce the burden of dating for busy, ambitious and successful singles seeking a life partnership.

It was launched out of passion as a response to the numerous introductions I casually facilitated over the years that either led to marriage or a civil partnership. As a result, I turned my passion for matchmaking into a profession and business to help combat the stress of modern day dating by guiding singles on their quest to find a partner and a mission to introduce them to someone compatible with a focus on quality over quantity.

Soon after launching the exclusive agency, I had the urge to create a more inclusive branch that encourages singles to network in reality, and that’s how the subsidiary, MME Social, was born. It’s a social club that gives singles an opportunity to network in reality, whether it’s for romantic or professional connections or both, with frequent themed events in and outside the UK.

From the perspective of someone running a dating agency, what does inclusivity mean to you?
Inclusivity to me means equal rights, opportunity and access to resources for people who might be in the minority. People who may be disabled, people who may suffer from mental health, and those who just feel marginalised in society and within the workforce. Inclusivity gives them an opportunity to be seen, to be understood, to be accepted, and to feel comfortable and confident with themselves and within their environment.

Coaching is part of your service. What does that include?
Our date coaching service guides singles through the dating process from a bespoke and holistic approach that touches on image, self-worth, relationship expectations, boundaries, values, compatibility, overcoming a breakup and managing personal preferences, among other elements. This helps singles overcome limiting beliefs and gets them mentally, emotionally and physically ready to date with confidence.

And what does success look like for you?
Personally, success to me means balance. Balance in health, mindset, finances, wellness, and relationships. In business, success to me is achieving my mission to restore the faith in love and relationships. Ensuring that our single clients get the result they seek whether it’s to be matched with someone compatible for marriage or a life partnership. The goal is to make it happen efficiently and ensure our clients enjoy their matchmaking journey every step of the way.

Is there something that you go back to women and find yourself repeating to people about dating?
Avoid self-sabotaging connections. Overthinking leads to self-sabotage, so does judging a book by its cover. Avoid comparison; what works for you may not work for another and vice versa. Maintain your values and don’t sacrifice your sense of self to appease another. The whole essence of trusting a matchmaker to assist with your love life is to date mindfully and connect with someone who aligns with your values.