Check our blog, resources faq’s and more...
Business is the activity of making one living or making money by producing or buying and selling products. Simply put it is any activity or enterprise entered into for profit.
Mounia Aram Opens Up: The Surprises and Unexpected Turns That Shaped Her Journey
Mounia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s something crazy on unexpected that’s happened to you or your business
One of the more unexpected challenges I’ve faced as an entrepreneur came not from business hurdles, but from a comment about something as personal as my appearance. I was on stage at an event, wearing a beautiful yellow dress that I love—one that makes me feel powerful and confident. After the event, a woman saw a picture of me and told me I might be “too old” to wear something like that.
At first, I was taken aback. It’s amazing how people feel entitled to comment on everything, even when it’s unrelated to your work. But I didn’t let it get to me. I’ve built my career by being unapologetically myself, and that includes expressing my personality through fashion. To me, confidence and style have no age limit. It was a reminder that as women, and especially as women entrepreneurs, we often face criticism that men simply don’t encounter.
This experience reinforced my belief that part of entrepreneurship is owning who you are, from your choices in business to what you wear on stage. I stayed focused on the impact I was making through my work, not on someone else’s outdated opinion.
Mounia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
For those who don’t know me, I’m Mounia Aram, an entrepreneur, international speaker, and advocate for animation from emerging territories. I’ve been working in the animation industry for over two decades, starting unexpectedly with an internship in Japanese animation that changed the course of my career. Today, my focus is on amplifying voices from regions like Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Brazil, connecting creators and studios in these areas with the global market.
Through my company, Mounia Aram Company, I provide services that range from animation production, distribution, and co-production to mentorship, business development, and international collaboration. My goal is to help studios and creators from these emerging regions develop stories that resonate on a global scale, while staying authentic to their cultures. One of the main challenges I solve is bridging the gap between local talent and international visibility, helping them gain access to the networks, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.
What sets me apart is my deep connection to multiple regions, from Africa to the Caribbean and beyond, and my relentless passion for elevating underrepresented voices. I’m not just in this for the business—I’m deeply committed to fostering cultural exchange, empowering creators, and promoting gender equality. I’m proud of the workshops, panels, and collaborations I’ve led across various countries, where I’ve helped creators and studios break into international markets.
One of the things I’m most proud of is seeing how the stories and talents from these regions are gaining more recognition and appreciation. I want people to know that my work is about making a real impact, helping to reshape the global animation landscape by giving a platform to creators who haven’t always had one. I believe strongly in the power of storytelling to build bridges, and my mission is to keep pushing boundaries and creating new opportunities for these emerging voices.
For anyone who follows my work or is considering collaborating with me, know that I’m driven by purpose, passion, and a desire to see these creative regions flourish on the world stage.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
There was a time in my career when I had to make a tough pivot, one that ended up changing my life in the most unexpected way. After struggling to find a job in France, I thought my background and connections would help me break into the entertainment industry. However, that door closed in a way I hadn’t expected. Someone I had worked with closely denied our professional history, and that moment left me feeling crushed and unsure of my future.
I knew I needed to reset, so I made a bold decision to head to San Francisco, aiming to improve my English. Little did I know that this trip would be the start of a whole new chapter in my life. While I was in the U.S., I landed an internship at a Japanese animation company. Suddenly, the door to a new industry opened up, and that’s where my journey in animation began.
It wasn’t an easy transition, but it was one of the most rewarding pivots I’ve ever made. Sometimes, when one path ends, it’s because another, even more exciting one, is about to unfold.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Resilience has been a constant theme in my journey, but one of the most defining moments came when I decided to launch my own company. After working hard alongside my previous business partners, they told me outright that I wasn’t cut out to be an entrepreneur. They even went so far as to say I wasn’t a good saleswoman. That stung.
But instead of letting their words break me, I used them as fuel. I knew I had more to offer than they gave me credit for, and I was determined to prove to myself that I could build something meaningful. So, I took the leap and launched my own company—against their advice and expectations.
The road wasn’t easy, but resilience isn’t about taking the easy road. It’s about persevering when others doubt you, when the challenges seem insurmountable, and when the easiest choice would be to give up. Starting my business wasn’t just about entrepreneurship; it was about believing in my own abilities, even when others didn’t.
That decision turned out to be one of the best moves I’ve made. Today, I can say with confidence that those challenges helped me become the entrepreneur and leader I am. I’ve learned that resilience means trusting your instincts, working hard, and finding your own path—regardless of the opinions of others.
English 
French