We recently had the chance to connect with Ariel Garraway and have shared our conversation below.
Ariel, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, I’ve been finding a lot of joy in building community. I’ve been really intentional about putting myself in rooms, like networking events, social mixers, or conferences, where I know I’ll meet like minded people There’s something special about being around people who get your vision and are walking a similar path. As independent as I can be at times, I’m learning that you don’t have to do everything alone. Having supportive people around you who can offer honest feedback and encouragement makes the journey feel lighter and a lot more fulfilling.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Ariel Garraway, a product manager and tech content creator, and right now I’m building Sirius Skills. At this stage of my life, my focus is on creating something meaningful that extends beyond just myself or my own career.
Sirius Skills was formed after years of working in tech and seeing the same pattern over and over again. There’s incredible talent, especially across Africa and the diaspora, but access to practical, job ready skills and clear pathways into tech is still limited. I’ve met so many smart, capable people who simply needed structure, guidance, and the right exposure to take that next step.
My own journey into tech wasn’t traditional, and I remember how confusing it felt trying to figure things out without a clear roadmap. That experience is what shaped Sirius Skills. It’s something I’m building with intention and real world insight. Right now, I’m pouring my energy into creating opportunities that feel truly transformative for the people it’s meant to serve.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me I’ve had to release is the version of myself that believed being liked meant being available to everyone. For a long time, I thought that if I made people happy, bent myself to meet expectations, and showed up no matter how I felt, I would somehow earn my place. I said yes when I was exhausted and stayed constantly reachable without checking in with myself first.
Letting go of that people pleasing version of me taught me a powerful lesson. You don’t gain anything by abandoning yourself to keep others comfortable. That pattern came from feeling like I always had to prove my worth just to belong. Now, I protect my time and energy as if they’re non negotiable, because they are. Choosing myself has been one of the most transformative decisions I’ve made, and learning to say no without over explaining has been incredibly freeing.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of being seen held me back for a long time. Growing up, I internalized a lot of negative messages about visibility. I was told things like not to take pictures of myself because it looked vain, and I was constantly compared to how other people looked. Over time, that taught me to shrink and stay out of the spotlight.
What’s interesting is that even as a child, visibility kept finding me. I was in my town’s newspaper for being the number one singles tennis player, and I often landed solo moments in performing arts. There was always this tension between what felt natural and what I had been conditioned to fear.
I had to unlearn the idea that being seen was dangerous. Now I move with the belief that visibility is my currency.
I’ve started landing speaking engagements and using my platform to share my voice and experiences in a way that feels aligned and purposeful. Choosing visibility has opened doors I never would’ve accessed if I had stayed hidden.
Now when fear shows up, I use it as feedback and ask myself what life could look like on the other side of it.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me and the real me are one in the same because I lead with authenticity. I’ve never wanted to build a brand where I have to show up perfectly all the time. Giving myself permission to be human allows me to make mistakes and try new things, instead of staying boxed into one version of myself.
When I create content, it usually comes from one of two places. Sometimes it’s educational and focused on helping people move from where they are to where they want to be in their careers. Other times, it’s emotional and more expressive, and I’m simply creating from the moment to see what comes through.
At the core of everything, my intention is to uplift and inspire. I’ve found that the most powerful way to do that is by being natural and honest. Everyone is trying to get closer to their truest self, and I think showing up as mine gives others permission to do the same.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think people may misunderstand my legacy by assuming it followed a straight line. My path hasn’t been linear, and a lot of my growth came from taking leaps before everything felt fully mapped out. From the outside, it might look like things happened quickly, but many of my biggest shifts came from trusting myself when there wasn’t a clear precedent.
I also think people may misunderstand the work I’m doing around tech skills outside of the U.S., especially in Africa. There’s still a tendency to see opportunity through a very limited lens, even though the talent is already there. What I’m building is about creating access and pathways that allow people to compete on a global level from wherever they are as opposed to copying existing systems.
If there’s anything I hope people take away, it’s that impact doesn’t require a conventional path. Sometimes it comes from listening inward, taking the risk, and allowing your life’s work to unfold in a way that makes sense to you, even if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://siriusskills.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arielmarieg/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielgarraway/
- Other: Subscribe to my Newsletter
https://arielmarieg.substack.com/p/why-i-created-this-and-what-it-means
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