Five years ago, a new fine jewelry brand entered the market, making a lasting impression on the fashion industry by breaking fine jewelry norms. Noura Sakkijha, the CEO and co-founder of
Mejuri, built the brand around a mission to create fine jewelry that empowers the customer to purchase for themselves rather than waiting for a special occasion or a gift from a significant other. To satisfy that mission, Noura decided on a direct-to-consumer business model, enabling the brand to avoid the traditional fine jewelry mark-ups and invest in their signature weekly drop model. There is a common saying that “the apple does not fall far from the tree,” and Sakkijha’s career journey epitomizes the phrase. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs and a third-generation jeweler, Sakkijha saw a gap in the fine jewelry industry and intended to have Mejuri fill it. Today, Sakkijha has grown Mejuri into a team of 190 plus dedicated employees, established a cult-like Instagram following, and has raised $32 million for VC funding (all while pregnant with twins!).
While it seems that Sakkijha would naturally gravitate towards a career in fine jewelry, her path to get there isn’t as linear as you would expect. Initially, Sakkijha pursued a career in industrial engineering working for one of the top financial institutions in Toronto. But after five years, she decided to return to her roots and her true calling on her own terms.