Logan Wilson
Welcome back to Pemba’s #meettheteam segment. For this segment, we chatted to Ariana Lai, the winner of Pemba Capital Partners’ 2025 ‘Women In Finance’ Scholarship. Whilst still studying at the University of New South Wales working towards a combined Bachelor of Commerce and Law with majors in Finance, Ariana has proven herself as an invaluable member of the Pemba team.
If you could have dinner with any three people in the world (past or present), who would they be and why?
Melanie Perkins– as one of the youngest female CEOs leading the tech unicorn that is Canva, I would love to hear her story building Canva from an idea into a global company. I’m curious about how she navigated her early challenges and the moments that shaped her leadership.
Laufey– my favourite artist who sings modern jazz-pop so beautifully. I’ve been to one of her concerts and she was so funny and down-to-earth, it would be wonderful to have her at the table.
Justice Kirby – a brilliant legal mind and human rights advocate. He is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia and I’ve studied his commentary throughout university. I admire a lot of his work and would love to pick his brain on a few topics.
What is your top restaurant recommendation in Sydney?
My favourite restaurant is Ito in Surry Hills, a cosy Japanese izakaya with an Italian touch. It has an amazing Hiramasa Kingfish dish that I keep going back for!
What are three things that you can’t live without?
My notebook – I love journaling and mapping out my to-do lists on paper, so this one is key for me.
Coffee – I’m a big coffee fan and love to start my day with an oat latte.
My Logitech mouse – It’s my life saver for work and university.
What’s something you do to reset or recharge when life gets busy?
When life gets busy, I love going on a beach walk or hike with friends, and nature really helps with that reset. I’m heading to Banff National Park later this year for a hike and I can’t wait to see mountains and blue lakes over there. If I don’t have the time to get outside, I like writing cards to the people I care about. It’s a good way to slow down, recharge and show appreciation for the people in my life.
What’s a piece of advice you’ve received that really stuck with you?
‘Comparison is the thief of joy’. I come back to this often to remind myself to stay focussed on my own pace and definition of growth. It’s also a good reminder to stay positive about where we’ve come and not what could’ve been.
Book recommendation:
My favourite novel is A Fine Balance, by Rohinton Mistry. It’s set in 1970’s India and follows the lives of four strangers brought together by circumstance. It’s really powerfully written and definitely not a light read, but it’s the type of book that will stay with you long after you finish the last page.
