Christiana Maxion, the Founder and CEO of MAXION: Match & Meet, embarked on her professional journey as a springboard diver and excelled as a collegiate athlete. Although she initially pursued studies and a career in Finance, her passion eventually shifted towards Education, where she achieved remarkable success as a curriculum coordinator, teacher trainer, school leader, and published author.
In 2020, during and after the lockdown, Christiana began documenting her dating experiences in Dubai. Her online platform quickly gained popularity as people were captivated by her empowered perspective on dating. They sought her advice on relationships and dating, recognizing her innate ability to connect individuals not only as friends and business collaborators but also in romantic partnerships. Driven by her genuine desire to assist others, she made a conscious decision to invest in her education, obtain certifications, participate in programs, and undergo mentoring to become a professional matchmaker and certified dating coach.
With the introduction of new long-term visas, the commendable handling of the pandemic by the UAE, and the implementation of laws promoting greater freedom in dating and partnerships, Christiana took the initiative to consult with a legal team regarding the possibility of establishing a professional matchmaking business in Dubai. In October 2021, after receiving the green light, she founded her matchmaking agency, Christiana Maxion Solutions.
Driven by the success and overwhelming demand for her core matchmaking business, Christiana seized the opportunity to create the MAXION: Match x Meet app. This app aims to cater to the needs of high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) and Ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UNHNWI) in the region, further solidifying the company’s product market fit and expanding its reach to a wider audience.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World’s Leaders and Christiana Maxion:
Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace.
I work 25/7, so I would say I’m pretty much the same in and out of the workplace since work never stops for someone who is running a matchmaking business for high-net-worth individuals, launching a tech startup, and preparing for a television series. I would say I am dynamic, determined, and tenacious. I set incredible goals for myself and don’t let up until I succeed, hence the 25/7 attitude.
The people close to me would describe me as extremely helpful, warm, and generous. Although I technically don’t have time to spare, I always make time for the people I love and care about. I will drop everything to be there for a friend or family member in need.
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
As an expat, it’s difficult to form meaningful connections in a new city. There’s lots of wasted time and effort in proximity settling and trial-and-error relationships. MAXION: Match & Meet is a matchmaking concierge that expedites the entire social experience!
We are in a connection crisis where 45% of women and 63% of men will be single by 2030. MAXION: Match & Meet is a matchmaking concierge that connects accomplished professionals based on compatibility to actually meet in person. We expedite the entire social experience for GCC residents.
MAXION: Match & Meet is a matchmaking concierge that is changing the way accomplished professionals form meaningful connections. Maxion Members are vetted and verified. Match better with our 96% success compatibility formula. Match to actually meet with our in-app booking, mobility, and gifting partnerships.
The success and demand of my core business of matchmaking HNWI and UNHNWI in the region have proven product market fit and led to the creation of the app MAXION: Match x Meet.
What has made you successful? What do you value?
I believe my tenacity, drive, and determination to help others connect have made me successful. I value efficiency and taking action. You don’t necessarily have to have everything figured out before taking action. Just do it and figure it out along the way.
Which are the major services of the company and how do they the company to get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide?
MAXION: Match & Meet is the anti-dating app and your matchmaking concierge!
Other apps do not offer our in-app matchmaking concierge services. No other app vets and verifies users through LinkedIn and video. We are a UAE-homegrown business and our app will cater to the users of this region who are familiar with outsourcing most things in their lives. MAXION: Match & Meet is created and powered by Christiana Maxion, The Dubai Matchmaker, who is a very well-known matchmaker in Dubai and has been featured in more than 80 media mentions in the UAE and UK, including the cover of Khaleej Times, The National, Gulf News, and many more!
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
I firmly believe in hiring your team based on compatibility and how well you work together. I value those who are solution-seekers and take action to succeed. Of course, expertise is key, but note that you can teach skills, but it’s much more difficult to teach conflict resolution.
I believe that team members should feel valued and appreciated. I regularly express my gratitude to team members, and I love giving gifts!
What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company?
I love this question. Our world is ever-changing, and at some points at an incredibly rapid pace! Leaders need to be open and knowledgeable about innovative ideas in order to keep up with the times and increase longevity and relevance in industries.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?
I absolutely despise this notion of distributive leadership! There is so much wasted time, energy, and effort in getting everyone’s opinion on something that they may or may not be experts in. So, sorry to say, but some people’s opinions don’t add value to some matters. I believe that the most efficient companies make decisions based on expertise, take action, and figure out how to succeed along the way.
What are your responsibilities as the Founder and CEO of the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
What don’t you do as a Founder and CEO? At this stage, especially in the tech startup world, I wear many hats. I am speaking with our current investors, the development team, and my advisors, creating strategy with our marketing team, and plotting how to achieve the goals we have set for our Q4 2023 launch. As a first-time tech founder, I have learned so much and am so incredibly proud of the strides we have made, including taking an idea from idea to product, building a team of experts, and securing an entire pre-seed round of funding in less than twenty-four hours!
The happiest part of my day is the time I carve out to journal in the morning. I have made it a habit to journal on my terrace with a view of the Burj Khalifa, a building that symbolizes status and achievement. My journaling includes thanking God and the Universe for my many blessings and lessons learned, documenting my wins, and describing my goals in great detail as if I already have them. This sets the tone for my day and puts me on a path of elevation.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
Listen and observe! You can’t learn without listening. And, you want others to know that you are someone who listens in order to find solutions. The person who is always talking or the loudest in the room is usually the one with the least amount of knowledge.
