Ariana Arcenas-Utley’s journey is a powerful reminder that meaningful careers don’t always follow straight lines. From marine conservation and corporate responsibility to operations leadership and entrepreneurship, her path reflects curiosity, courage, and a deep commitment to helping people thrive. Humans of Fuzia is honored to feature Ariana for her thoughtful approach to leadership, her honesty about the realities of entrepreneurship, and her belief in building systems that create clarity, impact, and balance—especially for women navigating work, leadership, and family.
Q: Ariana, what inspired you to start your professional journey, and how did it evolve into entrepreneurship?
A: My journey has been very meandering. If you had asked me in college where I’d end up, I never would have guessed this. I always knew I wanted to help people, though. I started with marine conservation and community work, then moved into corporate responsibility, where I saw how much impact companies can have when they’re intentional. Over time, I kept stepping into new roles—project management, operations, logistics—often without a traditional background, but with a willingness to learn. Eventually, after years in the corporate world, I decided to take the leap and start my own consulting company so I could help organizations bring structure, transparency, and collaboration into their work.
Q: Looking back, what moments shaped you the most professionally?
A: There were many pivotal moments where someone believed in me and gave me a chance—whether it was moving from corporate responsibility into an ERP implementation or from project management into operations. I didn’t always have direct experience, but I worked hard and stayed open to learning. Those transitions taught me how businesses work end-to-end and helped me develop the ability to see the big picture and connect the dots.
Q: What do you enjoy most about the work you do today?
A: I love bringing order to chaos. I especially enjoy workshops where cross-functional teams come together to map processes and understand each other’s roles. When people truly see how their work connects, they come up with better solutions themselves. Watching that collaboration unfold is incredibly rewarding.
Q: What challenges did you face when you became a solopreneur?
A: One of the biggest challenges was defining my own vision. In the corporate world, I was great at helping teams achieve someone else’s goals—but setting my own was much harder. Another challenge was working alone. I’m very collaborative, so not having a team to bounce ideas off was tough. Sales was also difficult at first; rejection felt very personal. Over time, I’ve learned that it’s not about me—it’s about timing, fit, and learning how to communicate value better.
Q: What milestone are you most proud of so far?
A: Building my business steadily. I went from one client to seven, and none of that came easily. I worked for every opportunity, and that makes me incredibly proud. I’m also proud of standing by my values—transparency, communication, and integrity—throughout my corporate career, even during challenging times.
Q: What are your thoughts on women in leadership today?
A: Women have made progress, but challenges remain. Earlier in my career, many women leaders felt pressure to fit into male-dominated cultures, and that often limited how far they could go. I also don’t think we talk enough about the impact of family and caregiving. Having children completely changes your perspective, and I truly believe it can make women stronger, more empathetic leaders. The time women do invest is often deeply meaningful and impactful, even if it looks different.
Q: What message would you share with aspiring women leaders and entrepreneurs?
A: Trust yourself. Figure out who you truly are and don’t compromise that to fit a stereotype—whether it’s a “tough” one or a “soft” one. Being genuine helps you find roles and paths where you can thrive. And for entrepreneurs especially: keep going. Put one foot in front of the other, give yourself time, and don’t give up.
Q: How do you define success, both professionally and personally?
A: Professionally, success means building something that isn’t entirely dependent on my time—creating systems, tools, or a team so the business can grow sustainably. Personally, success is having time for my children and being present with them without constant stress. That balance matters more to me than anything right now.
“Trust who you are, stay true to it, and keep moving forward—growth happens one step at a time.” — Ariana Arcenas-Utley
