Mejuri CEO & Co-Founder Noura Sakkijha Introduces Our New Campaign

As part of our Golden Together campaign, celebrating women and the remarkable things we achieve together, we’re introducing “Golden Moments”, a seven-part interview series highlighting women who are barrier-breakers and industry disruptors empowering others to do the same. Our very own CEO & Co-founder Noura Sakkijha launches our series with her own story about how she modernized a decades-old industry for women everywhere.

I’m so excited to share our Golden Together campaign with you. Over the next six weeks, ahead of International Women’s Day, you’ll meet a group of women who I truly admire for their grit, strength and resilience. Some you might recognize (from your favorite TV show or a Vogue editorial, perhaps); others, I hope you’ll be excited to meet for the first time. Regardless, they all epitomize my belief that when women are empowered to make their own choices, they in turn empower those around them.

I founded Mejuri because I saw a jewelry industry that was built for men gifting women and not women celebrating themselves. To me, the truest expression of Mejuri is mutual uplift: all of us supporting each other, and you, our community, feeling empowered to invest in yourself and, in turn, the community around you.

As the third generation in my family to work in fine jewelry, I was exposed to the ins and outs of the business from a young age. There was so much I loved about it: from intricate jewelry-making techniques and precious materials to an appreciation for each piece being as unique as the wearer. However, there was one thing I didn’t love: the traditional positioning that fine jewelry should be saved for gifting for an occasion.

If I'm being totally honest, this very same traditional positioning, and the fact that I didn't see myself in it, pushed me in another professional direction: towards engineering. But coming from a family where entrepreneurship is the norm—we all have that “why not?” mentality—I always wanted to start a business of my own. I spent my days working at a consulting firm and my nights building what I wanted: a brand that speaks to women buying fine jewelry for themselves first; a brand that welcomes gifting, without prioritizing it from others. Doing so meant rethinking an entire industry, from brand values and operations to product design and photography.

When it came to leaving my day job to commit to Mejuri full time, I remember asking myself: if I look back 20 years from now, will I regret not going all-in? Spoiler alert: the answer was yes.

Seeing how engaged you are with our message—to empower ourselves and each other—gives me the energy to continue building something meaningful. Feeling your passion and the passion of our team is my golden moment. Finding ways to give back to my community and live out this message is some of the most important work I do as I lead the company into our next phase.

Within our team, there is nothing more important than advocating how we show up for each other and bring each other up. Establishing the Mejuri Empowerment Fund was the first of many steps to deliver impact beyond our beautiful jewelry, and our plan is to continue expanding the fund this year. In 2020, we launched by giving $120,000 to support scholarships for BIPOC women and non-binary people in Canada and the US. This year, we’ll continue to prioritize empowering under-represented women and non-binary people. To me, this fund is the living embodiment of the Mejuri mission.

Golden Together is ultimately about lifting others up with you as you grow. While winning on your own may feel great, winning with others feels a million times better. Of the many lessons 2020 taught us, one of them is undoubtedly the impact of “we” versus “I”. This past year brought attention to challenges that many of our generation, and the next, are excited to improve and resolve while holding others accountable for doing the same. In the year ahead, I’m hopeful for bigger and better strides collectively—in health, social justice, environmental responsibility and an awakened sense of community. I hope you’ll join me. Because when we work together, our future isn't just bright—it’s golden.

Photographed by Renée Rodenkirchen

Styled by Rita Liefhebber