Building Oriaku Studio: How Corporate Skills Shaped a Jewelry Brand

From IT Architect to Jewelry Founder

Creativity had always been part of Celia’s life. Growing up, she was surrounded by fabrics and fashion magazines since her mother was a seamstress and their home was filled with a creative atmosphere. Art was simply part of their daily life. 

Because of this background, the idea of starting a jewelry brand did not surprise the people who knew her from childhood. For Celia, jewelry had always been fascinating. Starting Oriaku Studio felt like a natural step. Looking back, she believes her corporate career actually gave her the perfect foundation to build the business.

Before founding Oriaku Studio, Celia spent around ten years working in the corporate tech industry as an IT architect. In her role, she managed teams of more than ten people and worked closely with different clients as a consultant. Her work involved bridging the gap between clients and developers. She helped translate business needs into technical solutions and solved complex system problems.

She genuinely loved her job for many years. However, as she explains, life sometimes pushes people toward change, even when they do not realize they need it. In many ways, her corporate experience became an advantage. She gained both the business mindset and leadership skills needed to run a company while still nurturing her creative side.

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Skills From Corporate Life That Built the Business

Celia quickly realized she was not starting from scratch when launching Oriaku Studio. Many of the skills she developed in her corporate career proved essential. Her technical background helped her manage the website, while her experience as a team leader allowed her to build a team around the brand. She knows how to recognize people’s strengths, delegate tasks, and create an effective workflow, skills honed while managing teams in the tech industry.

Another key advantage is her ability to build strong relationships with clients. Understanding people’s needs was essential in the corporate world, and today she applies the same approach to customers. She can anticipate what someone is looking for even before they say it, guiding them to the perfect gift or suggesting complementary pieces. Strong communication and relationship-building remain central to how she runs the brand.

The Biggest Challenges of Starting a Business

While Celia brought many transferable skills from her previous career, some areas of entrepreneurship proved challenging.

Financial and legal aspects of running a business were among the most difficult to navigate. Learning about taxes, financial planning, and regulatory structures required a completely new set of knowledge.

One particularly helpful moment was attending Charge’s LEAP program, where she learned about the differences between various types of business structures. It was information she might never have considered otherwise.

Another challenge came from managing international production. Since her jewelry is produced in different countries, there are often hidden costs and logistical complexities that can come as unpleasant surprises. While understanding the financial details has been an ongoing learning process.

Moving to Norway

Celia’s journey to Norway began unexpectedly. While she was living in France, she was contacted by recruiters who were searching for IT specialists. At the time, her position was in high demand in Norway.

Curious about the opportunity, she decided to try something new and move abroad for what she initially thought might be just one year. She wanted to experience the four seasons and enjoy a new adventure.

Seven years later, she is still in Norway.

For Celia, the reason she stayed is simple: the people. “Building strong friendships and a supportive social circle made the country feel like home”, she says

Finding Inspiration for New Jewelry

Creativity remains the heart of Oriaku Studio. However, Celia admits that finding time to focus purely on creative work can be challenging while running a growing business.

Her long-term goal is to build a team that will allow her to dedicate more time to design.

Inspiration comes from many sources. The internet offers endless exposure to global cultures and artistic ideas. Sometimes a small detail, such as a pattern on a door can later inspire the design of a bracelet.

She also finds inspiration in everyday life. Walking outside and observing the world more intentionally often leads to new ideas.

Another important source of inspiration comes from the jewelers she works with. Over time, they have learned her aesthetic and style, and occasionally suggest designs or techniques that align with her vision.

Through this process, Celia says she has developed a much sharper eye for detail than she ever had before and it has become one of the parts of the business she enjoys the most.

The Turning Point: Leaving Corporate Life

Making the decision to leave a stable corporate career was not something Celia had planned. Toward the end of 2024, she went through a difficult period and was diagnosed with burnout. After years of intense work, she physically could not continue at the same pace. She took a break to recover, and during that time the idea of starting her own jewelry brand sparked again. The thought had been in the back of her mind for a long time, but the pause gave her the time and clarity to explore it seriously.

Once she decided to pursue it, things began falling into place quickly. She contacted a jeweler, figured out how to bring the products to Norway, and researched the market for her designs. Step by step, everything started aligning, and that was when she realized the moment had come to make the change.

Recognition From Home

One particularly meaningful milestone came when she was contacted by the French edition of Marie Claire magazine. The journalist had discovered Oriaku Studio through Instagram and reached out for a feature in a category highlighting new brands.

For Celia, the moment felt especially personal because the recognition came from her home country. When the article was published, she felt proud and grateful for the thoughtful representation.

Selling the Collection

Most of Oriaku Studio’s sales currently happen through its website. However, Celia has also started exploring physical retail opportunities.

One exciting opportunity came when a store in New York reached out to feature her pieces for a month. It became the brand’s first physical retail presence.

She is now expanding onto additional online platforms that feature curated brands, while continuing to participate in occasional pop-up events, such as a recent event in Bergen.

Because jewelry is something people often want to touch and experience in person, physical spaces remain an important goal.

Looking Ahead to 2026

The vision for 2026 is focused on growth.

Celia hopes to expand Oriaku Studio’s retail presence by placing the brand in physical stores. At the same time, she plans to build a stronger team particularly in marketing in order to help the business scale.

She also wants to increase production and expand the collection.

In terms of design, she is increasingly drawn toward rare materials and precious stones, gradually moving the brand further into the luxury space. 

For Celia, Oriaku Studio is still at the beginning of its journey, but the vision for the future is already clear.