Mahoney grew up in Montreal, Canada, and originally trained as a nurse. In 1981, she moved to the UAE to set up a surgical clinic. Seeing the need for a property agency to help expats in Dubai find places to live, she left medicine behind after 25 years and in 1986, she set up Better Homes. The company has gone on to become one of the leading real estate agency in the UAE with over 400 staff. This year she was awarded the Arabian Business Real Estate Legend Award 2019.