'Don't accept excuses as answers'

Reya S Managing Director Les Néréides UAE shares some pearls of wisdom

The number one item on your wish list.
I want a big, beautiful office space! Design is my truest passion; I studied creative advertising in university and eventually plan to branch out into a design-related endeavour.

If you could move to any place in the world, what place would that be and why?
Mykonos. The beach and the food are just so perfect! I went for a vacation there last summer and absolutely fell in love with the place. I plan to go back every chance I get.

The biggest learning point or experience in your life.
Constructing both the Les Néréides stores! I had no idea what I was getting into and, without a background in construction or business, I was lost. Nothing to this day has made me stronger or made me believe in fighting for what I want and deserve. The most important lesson to take back was to not accept excuses as answers.

If you won a million bucks tomorrow, what would you do with the money?
Invest in a great idea. Travel in style. Educate women worldwide.  

What advice would you give your younger self, if you could?
To stop saying 'No' so often and to embrace wherever life takes you when you just say 'yes'. You will realise a lot of doors open up and your mind and life experiences expand exponentially.  

The most interesting app you've come across - that's not the usual social media suspects.
Zumr - I love it! This app is my personal shopper. I get anything from the mall or supermarket delivered to me in under two hours. It makes my day so efficient and is a serious life changer! I also really like Hippie Lane - it has got amazing vegan, gluten-free recipes. The photos are so appealing that they inspire me to cook healthy.

Your greatest fear.
Losing people I love. I am very integrated with my family. We eat together, live together, and talk to each other all the time. I am currently helping my mum launch a passion project of her own. I don't know what I would have done without them in my life.

If you could trade lives with one person - dead or alive- for an entire day, who would it be and why?
Beyoncé! She does everything so effortlessly! All aspects of her life - work, family and charity - are so perfectly balanced. And, of course, I love her talent!  

Favourite fictional character of all time - and why.
Alice from Alice in Wonderland. The one part in the book that stuck in my mind was 'Alice had got so much into the way of expecting nothing but out-of-the-way things to happen, that it seemed quite dull and stupid for life to go on in the common way.' I think I always relate to this, trying to find extraordinary things to do. I also love how naïve and inquisitive Alice is!  

If you could have your pick of superpowers, what would you choose?
I would love to clone myself and have 10 of me, doing different things in different places. We could then unite at night and think of all the things I accomplished. To imagine that I could work, clean, party, travel, cook at the same time is extremely exciting!   
- Staff reporter