This week, Emirates Woman speaks to Siff Haider, a Los Angeles-based entrepreneur, host of The Dream Bigger podcast, and founder of cult-favourite wellness brand Arrae, an aesthetic natural supplement brand for the modern woman that targets lifestyle-induced issues.

Welcome to the Emirates Woman weekly series ‘How I got my job as…’ where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and businesswomen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they’d give to those starting out; and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome.

Here, Haider shares her journey from retail to the wellness space, the philosophy behind Arrae, and the resilient mindset required to navigate the complexities of building a brand that has gone global.

What was your favourite subject at school?

History. It’s endlessly fascinating, but more importantly, studying history teaches you to recognise patterns in culture, business, psychology, and human behaviour. Understanding those patterns gives you a real edge when making decisions.

What was your first job?

Retail at Abercrombie. It taught me so much about brand storytelling, customer experience, and the psychology behind why people buy.

What inspired you to enter the space and launch your Arrae?

I got into wellness because I had a poor immune system and found myself stuck in a cycle of getting sick, taking antibiotics, recovering, and then getting sick again. In my early 20s, I reached a breaking point and realised I needed to try a different approach. Discovering the impact that herbs, minerals, and vitamins could have on my health completely changed my life. That experience inspired me to create Arrae, a brand that helps women feel like the best versions of themselves – one that is both highly efficacious and genuinely cool. My goal was to build a wellness brand where science meets chic.

What are the key elements of your role?

My husband and I are co-founders of Arrae, and we each focus on different areas of the business. I lead brand, vision, creative, and product development, ensuring everything we create feels both elevated and effective.

Talk us through your daily routine.

My mornings are very intentional. I stay phone-free for the first hour, go for a 20-30 minute walk, journal, and fit in a workout. Getting dressed every day, no matter what is on my schedule, is also important to me, as it helps me show up with clarity and confidence. From there, every day looks a little different, but typically includes meetings, focused work time, and creative development. I also batch record podcast episodes for my podcast, The Dream Bigger, once a week or every other week.

What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps?

Start with a problem you genuinely care about solving, and commit fully to that mission. Don’t start a business just to start a business: your “why” needs to matter deeply to you, because that’s what will carry you through the inevitable challenges.

What are the design pillars that define your brand?

Our guiding principle is “where science meets chic.” Everything we create sits at the intersection of efficacy and aesthetics – products that deliver results while feeling elevated enough to live beautifully in your daily routine.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

Launch fast and iterate.

And what is the worst?

I never retain bad advice – it literally goes into one ear and out the other.

What has been the biggest challenge you had to overcome?

I’ve experienced two near-death situations, and going through something like that shifts your perspective permanently. It’s made me far more resilient and given me the ability to zoom out and maintain a calm, strategic view – even in high-pressure moments. That perspective has made me a stronger leader.

What are your goals for the future?

To build the best wellness brand in the world, while enjoying the process and having fun along the way!

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Images: Supplied; Main Image: Supplied / Maiya Buck