Raiya Sahyoun

Entrepreneur Experience Junior Associate

Raiya supports entrepreneurs in Endeavor Greece's Healthcare and Smart Cities & Climate portfolios and the Scale Up program, focused on coordinating resources and support for founders at each stage of their growth, including meaningful connections and opportunities across the broader ecosystem. She's driven by curiosity about and interest in the humans behind the companies, including what motivates them, how they think, and what they need to succeed.

About

Raiya is Lebanese, born in Greece, where she lived for a few years. She then moved to Riyadh, followed by Beirut until she left to complete her Bachelor's degree in Managing for Sustainability at McGill University in Montreal.

She’s always been passionate about the natural world and contributing positively to society. Having grown up in different countries and lived among diverse cultures, Raiya developed a deep interest in societal interactions and human behavior - how and why we think and behave in the way that we do; and how we can do so in ways that protect, rather than harm, each other and the planet. Living in Lebanon for many years, and supporting local NGOs, she witnessed the significance of grassroots movements, local efforts, and coming together, rather than allowing our differences to further separate us, in creating meaningful, lasting change.

Prior to her role at Endeavor, Raiya worked in a start up supporting individuals and organizations in integrating sustainability into their day to day lives. Drawn to social impact, ethics, and creativity, the transition to Endeavor - contributing to the growth of the Greek ecosystem, the country she’s always felt a pull towards - felt like a next step that aligned with her values and growth.

Mission

To have a positive impact on people and the environment, in both her personal and professional actions.

“The Journey is the Thing” - Homer

This reminds me to trust, and find joy in the process, to be present, and to be grateful each day. It encourages me to be consistent and determined as I pursue my goals, without falling into the belief that they define me, while remembering that we learn and grow through our experiences.