Facilitating Meaningful Connections with Ayah Saeed (SIRA Network)
Viaka member Ayah Saeed is the founder of the SIRA Network, a membership-based community for personal and professional development.
Talent Acceleration Platform (TAP) is providing startups in the Viaka community a 3-month trial with covered salaries for junior talent. TAP trains top-tier talent in Palestine and Jordan for roles in software development, business development, and digital marketing. Hire directly from their pool of diverse remote-ready talent and fill a position 50% faster than other channels. Learn more here and schedule an intro call directly.
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We spoke with Ayah Saeed, Founder of SIRA
What are you currently working on?
I'm currently working on growing SIRA, a community business I co-founded with Zara M. Najjar a year ago that facilitates connections that help values-driven professionals grow. Our focus today is on SIRA Community, a membership-based community for professionals to connect authentically & grow holistically. We create the medium for authentic connection. The way we initiate conversations, how we induce them both online and offline, and our approach to curating events all lead to genuine interactions, meaningful engagement, and authentic connection. We go beyond superficial exchanges; by dropping the facade, encouraging vulnerability, and creating spaces for our members to share their true selves, we facilitate deeper bonds and more impactful collaborations. Founded in 2022 in Jordan, SIRA now has 65 members from across the region, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
What's the "origin story" behind SIRA?
SIRA was born from witnessing the transformative power of connection in the business world firsthand. Both Zara and I used to work at a globally leading high-impact entrepreneurship network. Our experience inspired the vision to democratize this power, leading to the creation of our professional community that is diverse, inclusive, and accessible. We select based on values. Doesn’t matter if you’re 25 or 65, if you’re a freelancer, an employee, or a business owner, if you work in AI or logistics, if you share our values, if you’re collaborative, respectful, transparent, have a growth mindset, & want to drive change, you’re welcome.
Why are you interested in connecting with MENA's 'global startup community'?
I wholeheartedly believe your connections can either make it or break it for you both professionally and personally. The research even shows that more genuinely connected individuals tend to live more meaningful, longer, and happier lives. Only great things come out of investing in your connections
What's your favorite part of the Viaka Network thus far? Do you have any memorable experiences or helpful connections that you can share with me?
What makes Viaka so special is its ability to attract top talent from all around the world who are genuinely dedicated to growing their network and supporting others along the way. Hani connected me with a fellow member at Viaka named, Teodora Pantu, an incredible woman and PR genius who's been supporting me in getting SIRA more visible online. I also met the outstanding Dali Chabaane through the Vika Network who later applied and joined the SIRA Community which I am grateful to Viaka for.
How can members of the Viaka Network (and beyond) be most helpful to you and your work right now?
We're aiming to launch a Dubai-based chapter for the SIRA Community by the end of this year. I am currently doing some research on the market and would love input from any Dubai-based members on what it's like living and connecting with other professionals in Dubai.
I am based in Riyadh, if you'd like someone to show you a good time whenever you're here, hit me up.
One additional, urgent ask from Ayah (and Viaka) - With the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, the Sira Community has been searching for ways to aid our brothers & sisters. This holy month of Ramadan, we partnered up with Anera, who have been providing aid & support in Palestine since 1968. Amidst the unprecedented levels of starvation, your contribution will directly support Anera’s community kitchens on the ground & aid deliveries through the Rafah border to provide meals to those who need it the most.
Here’s the link to donate any amount: https://support.anera.org/a/sira-community
Since October 7th, Anera has provided 19,666,136 meals. So let's channel our community strength & support them in providing even more. Every donated meal counts.”
- Ayah Saeed, Viaka Network Member
Below is a list of upcoming events from the Viaka Network & beyond over the next couple of weeks:
An Introduction to Iraq’s Startup Ecosystem - March 26th TOMORROW (Virtual)
Broader Community:
Pro fundraising tips with SVB & NFX - March 26th (In-Person, SF)
ABANA Iftar - March 27th (In-Person NYC)
LebnNet: Building AI-first Companies - March 28th (In-Person, Boston)
FounderSquare - NYC Network and Pitch- April 4th (In-Person, NYC)
Beyond The Algorithm, AI Strategies With Aarti Samani- April 4th (Virtual)
Salmine Sassi: Testing your Value Proposition - April 24th (Virtual)
IMEU Benefit Dinner - April 25th (In-Person, NYC)
Dubai FinTech Summit 2024 - May 6th & 7th (In-Person, Dubai)
If you’d like to share an event in this newsletter, we encourage you to join the Viaka Network and share the event with info@viaka.net!
Recent job openings from the Viaka Network & beyond. If you apply, let me know so I can also make a personal introduction.
If you’d like to share a job posting in this newsletter, we encourage you to join the Viaka Network and share the event with info@viaka.net!
Network members are encouraged to submit media suggestions to our Reading List
How the Fed and Interest Rates Impact Startup Operators (CJ Gustafson)
Investing in Egypt’s startup ecosystem (Lucidity Insights)
That’s it for this week. Thank you! 👋
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