Influential Woman · Marketing
Ariel Laura Metayer
GTM Strategist, The Luminous Lab
Nyc, NY
Her Story
About Ariel Laura
I've been working in marketing for 9 years, with a deep focus on partnerships marketing. My career journey has taken me across 4 different continents, and I'm currently based in New York City. I run my own company, The Luminous Lab, where I specialize in building out the experiential side for go-to-market strategy with an emphasis on partnerships. My work has evolved from doing PR for major companies like Coach, Warner Brothers, and Netflix to securing significant contracts with luxury brands like Chanel and Vivatec. Interestingly, I didn't originally plan to be in this field - I was on track to become a lawyer with my BA in government and politics from St. John's University. But a fellowship program changed everything, positioning me in the space of entertainment, high fashion, and luxury. That opportunity came through my sponsor, Michael B. Jordan, who really pioneered the way for me in this industry. Beyond my corporate work, I'm deeply committed to service. I served as a Fulbright Fellow in Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa, where I conducted research on the liberation of women and children living in acute poverty. During that time, I did rescue missions to take young girls out of domestic servitude and taught over 5,000 girls English, etiquette, and entrepreneurship to help them further their education. I currently serve as the Head Director of Youth Education for the Haitian American Caucus, supporting newly arrived migrants in reintegrating into society. I also work with Seeds of Fortune, an organization that gave me a full ride to St. John's when I was in high school, and now I mentor young girls who have gone on to Princeton, Cornell, Columbia, and Harvard.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ariel Laura
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Integrity, integrity, integrity. And I think always to be around people who will champion the work that you're doing. My cousin was actually just shot and killed last night - she was the vice mayor of Coral Springs, Florida, and also the commissioner of that area. Her name is Nancy Mateo Ballen. She was shot and killed by her husband, and they just arrested him yesterday. She was a woman who started her own consulting firm, represented her city, and was about to run for Congress. I say this because the root was envy, and being with a partner who wasn't actually really wanting to see her shine. I think it matters the most in personal and in public life to have people who will champion you. When it comes to friendships, when it comes to business partnerships, and when it comes to your partner, having integrity with yourself and being true - we always hear the quote that says, to thine own self be true, but that looks like being with people who champion your success and let you have that light. That would be what I would share with other women, especially in this critical time.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the development of AI and finding ways to integrate that, and having people be part of that conversation. We're evolving in this space of integrating not just AI, but the conversations around diplomacy for that. Because partnerships really spans the gamut - it doesn't exist only in one industry. Partnerships can cross many industries. So I think knowing how to be relevant and how to be still authentic in this age of AI, where people can easily cop out their PR work for that, and you can tell when it's not them - just maintaining integrity and not being disingenuous. I think that's a challenge that a lot of people have faced, especially when it comes to major conglomerates and companies, but that we have been really primed to approach.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · New York
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.