Soulaima Gourani is the founder of Happioh, named Best AI Product of 2024. She has successfully raised $7.5M in seed funding. She also serves as General Partner of GLIS Fund, a $50M early-stage venture capital fund in Silicon Valley.
Her journey is remarkable—after leaving school in 7th grade, she went on to become a TED Fellow mentor and UN Women advisor. Today, she actively shapes the tech landscape through her board positions across various companies, earning international recognition for her impact.
Since immigrating to the USA in 2016, Soulaima has continued to break barriers while proudly embracing her Arab-Danish heritage, embodying the transformative power of resilience and determination.
The Birth of Happioh
Happioh was inspired by my own massive burnout from being stuck in meetings and not having the time to get actual work done, that kind of burnout where I ended up in an ambulance. After that wake-up call, I had conversations with Fortune 500 companies, and a common theme emerged: there’s so much inefficiency in meetings even before they happen. It hit me, why not create something that acts like a spam filter for meetings? Kill the unnecessary ones before they even take place. Happioh became my way to tackle that and bring real value to collaboration.
Her Path to Innovation
I grew up fast, in foster care, orphanages, night shift cleaning jobs, homelessness, you name it. By the time I was 18, I’d faced more challenges than many see in a lifetime: drugs all around me, losing a parent and a sibling, my parents’ bankruptcy and alcoholism, poverty, racism, domestic and sexual abuse, and navigating the foster system. My ACE score? A 10—the highest possible. Statistically, that’s a recipe for lifelong health and psychological issues.
But statistics aren’t destiny. Those tough times gave me resilience, grit, and a deep understanding of what it takes to survive and thrive. Growing up in a part of Denmark, as one of the few Arab kids at that time, feelings weren’t exactly a topic of conversation. I learned to compartmentalize, adapt, and keep moving forward. Therapy wasn’t part of the equation, I figured out my own ways to heal. My past shaped me, but it doesn’t define me. It’s proof that even when life hands you the hardest script, you can write your own extraordinary story.
On Resilience and Leadership
I choose to focus on my heart, not just as a physical organ but as an emotional guide. Every morning, I take a moment to check in with it, letting it remind me to stay grounded and intentional. I’m also a Christian and was baptized at 13. My faith is my anchor, and hope is my medicine, giving me strength and purpose through every challenge.
Be curious! I love my job, and I love learning, perhaps because being kicked out of school at an early age ignited an insatiable thirst for knowledge. I can’t stop learning. Every Saturday, I host a podcast for global leaders, spending over an hour immersed in conversations with some of the brightest minds. Every day, I dedicate 10 minutes to learning something new, whether it’s from a podcast, an article, or a fresh perspective.
Each year, I carve out a few weeks to study at the world’s top universities. This lifelong commitment to education has taken me to Harvard, Yale, Cambridge, Wharton, Torcuato di Tella, ISB, NTU, HKUST, INCAE, you name it. Stay curious!!
I believe in constantly reinventing myself. Every decade, I burn my ships and move on to something new, never stopping, always growing. Learning isn’t just a habit; it’s the core of who I am.
Redefining Success
My definition of success has changed dramatically over the years. I used to think that earning a hundred thousand dollars a month, flying private, or sending my kids to an elite preschool would make me the happiest. But life had other lessons in store. We found peace and happiness in a very modest apartment in Palo Alto. True success, I’ve learned, comes from burning your ego at the door, scaling down, and allowing yourself the freedom to be creative and authentic.
I don’t need VIP access to this or that anymore. I don’t resonate with those who chase those things. Instead, I find joy in meaningful, smart conversations with curious and driven people working on incredible projects. I thrive around nerds, I love learning from others, and I have zero desire to be the smartest person in the room.
For me, success is about freedom, curiosity, connection, and spending time with God and like-minded people. It’s about creating, growing, and staying true to what really matters.
Beyond Professional Achievements
Beyond professional achievements, my personal life has been my greatest inspiration. I met the love of my life when I was 20, and we’re still together. Honestly, love is so underrated! Being loved like this has been a superpower in my life. We have two amazing kids who are not only kind but also very smart. Being a mom? It’s pure joy, and it keeps me grounded and motivated.
My MBA was another big milestone, though it was far from conventional. I could not pass a GMAT or a language test, but Copenhagen Business School gave me a wildcard. I’m so thankful they took that chance because I ended up doing really well. Turns out, being great at leadership has little to do with formulas or textbook basics. That experience taught me that what you bring to the table matters more than ticking boxes.
And let’s talk about my first big chances. Back in the ’90s, a tech CEO saw me, felt my energy and work ethic, and decided to give me a shot. That one chance changed my life. It’s proof that sometimes all you need is one person to believe in you and the courage to run with it. Other game-changers? Being nominated as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and moving to the U.S. both were life-altering moments that expanded my world in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
Guiding Principle
I always got a bit annoyed when people asked, “How do you feel about this or that, Soulaima?” I’ve never believed it’s helpful to dwell too much on the past or to overanalyze my feelings. I deal with my emotions, sure, but I don’t linger on them. I have come to realize that this approach, acknowledging feelings without getting stuck in them, is what has allowed me to survive and thrive in life.
I’ve meditated with monks in Thailand, Mongolia, Japan, China, and Myanmar, and I’ve spent over 1,000 hours practicing yoga. But here’s the thing: the most transformative practice I’ve ever embraced isn’t about thinking, coping, or even striving for patience. It’s about letting go completely, choosing not to engage with thoughts or turn my struggles into some kind of “project.” For me, it’s not about finding peace by managing or accepting hardships like a “petty project.” It’s about stepping beyond all of that, living fully in the present, and letting things flow without overanalyzing or forcing meaning. That’s where the real magic lies.
