Arian Simone

Welcome back to the Merabi Power Women series. A series that spotlights women who inspire us, motivate us and make us feel proud to be a woman. Join us for an intimate dive into these Power Women's lives as we find out what drives them to be who and where they are today. Next up this February, the incredible, Arian Simone.

Arian Simone

Welcome back to the Merabi Power Women series. A series that spotlights women who inspire us, motivate us and make us feel proud to be a woman. Join us for an intimate dive into these Power Women's lives as we find out what drives them to be who and where they are today. Next up this February, the incredible, Arian Simone.

Arian invests in the future of individuals; especially passionate about motivating and supporting the growth and fair successes of women of colour through investment funding.

Arian embodies compassion and motivation; continuously pushing to elevate her community and raise the voices of others, whilst simultaneously leading her own narrative. In every sense of the word, she is a hustler and a go-getter, an ally to all women and we knew that our MERABI community needed to know her story.

What motivates/inspires you and your work?

My why is the reason that keeps me motivated.

I started raising money as a college student for my retail store business, I started to pitch to people and I raised a couple hundred thousand dollars, but when I looked up, I didn't like the experience I faced. There were very few people who looked like me, that were Black and that were doing this with me. So I said to myself “Don't get discouraged, Arian” and I promised myself that one day, I’d be the business investor that I was looking for. That is my ‘why’. I want people ‘like me’ to have the experience that I had desired.

In Venture Capital, Black women receive 0.0006% of extra funds. I want to move the needle on that percentage. It's not just a lack of diverse investments, it's a lack of diverse investors. It’s currently 80% white males. So, it's not about convincing the 80% of white men to invest in people of colour, it's about creating more people of colour to be the cheque writers. That’s what’s going to change the narrative.

What does success look like to you?

Success for me is fulfilment. If you're living a life of abundance, you are at peace, then you are successful.

"I believe that we must leave room for the miracles and the unexpected."

What was your biggest achievement of 2021?

It has to be the close of our fund, which started in 2019 and is closing at 25million! We thought we would initially be a 5 million fund, but we blew through the roof and I am so proud of that. What’s more, we’re oversubscribed at 25million.
We are the first women of colour finance, built by us, for us. This has never existed before us and if it was easy, we wouldn’t be the first. We are making history in this phase and the fact that we exist is such an achievement. Look out because women are making ways in this space.

What challenges have you faced and overcome in your industry?

I think that the climate has changed, thankfully, because things are a lot more progressive now. When we first started there was such a lack of access to networks, but more recently doors have started to open for us.

The global issue of racial injustice began to be highlighted and brought into the mainstream conversation in 2020, so people started having harder conversations and very necessary conversations. To make an equitable society, this is what has to change.

What motivates/inspires you and your work?

My why is the reason that keeps me motivated.

I started raising money as a college student for my retail store business, I started to pitch to people and I raised a couple hundred thousand dollars, but when I looked up, I didn't like the experience I faced. There were very few people who looked like me, that were Black and that were doing this with me. So I said to myself “Don't get discouraged, Arian” and I promised myself that one day, I’d be the business investor that I was looking for. That is my ‘why’. I want people ‘like me’ to have the experience that I had desired.

In Venture Capital, Black women receive 0.0006% of extra funds. I want to move the needle on that percentage. It's not just a lack of diverse investments, it's a lack of diverse investors. It’s currently 80% white males. So, it's not about convincing the 80% of white men to invest in people of colour, it's about creating more people of colour to be the cheque writers. That’s what’s going to change the narrative.

What does success look like to you?

Success for me is fulfilment. If you're living a life of abundance, you are at peace, then you are successful.

What was your biggest achievement of 2021?

It has to be the close of our fund, which started in 2019 and is closing at 25million! We thought we would initially be a 5 million fund, but we blew through the roof and I am so proud of that. What’s more, we’re oversubscribed at 25million.
We are the first women of colour finance, built by us, for us. This has never existed before us and if it was easy, we wouldn’t be the first. We are making history in this phase and the fact that we exist is such an achievement. Look out because women are making ways in this space.

What challenges have you faced and overcome in your industry?

I think that the climate has changed, thankfully, because things are a lot more progressive now. When we first started there was such a lack of access to networks, but more recently doors have started to open for us.

The global issue of racial injustice began to be highlighted and brought into the mainstream conversation in 2020, so people started having harder conversations and very necessary conversations. To make an equitable society, this is what has to change.

“Own your place and take up space. We as women are so powerful and needed for success to progress. Do not shrink yourself.”

“Own your place and take up space. We as women are so powerful and needed for success to progress. Do not shrink yourself.”

What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?

Be patient, because I've always been an overachiever.

What strengths or values of being a woman have brought you success?

My confidence. I believe in divine feminine energy, so when you talk about being a woman, I believe in that power. We birth babies, I believe in our strength, grace and class and this is part of our superpower.

"I believe in divine feminine energy, so when you talk about being a woman, I believe in that power. I believe in our strength, grace and class and this is part of our superpower."

What advice are you still working to understand and embody?

To be ‘co-’ creation and in sync with life. We try to take over and have full control of our lives, because full control gives us a place of comfort.

But when we work in a constant way with how God has designed this universe to work, you create something even bigger and magic happens. I believe that we must leave room for the miracles and the unexpected.

Do you have a message for our MERABI community?

Own your place and take up space. We as women are so powerful and needed for success to progress. Do not shrink yourself.

I love that you can see the female power of NADINE MERABI; it’s there in every piece you design, seen through the images of women wearing your collections and the words you choose.

So own it and continue to walk in your power.