hi, I'm Ariana.

I'm a social entrepreneur and product designer with a particular affinity for ecosystem building and tech-based economic development.

Things you'd find on my resume:

Mastermind Media Works is my digital design and marketing agency. I started doing brand and web design as a freelancer in 2021 and moved to a full-blown agency model in 2023 to accommodate more projects and provide clients with a better experience.

Our expertise:

Brand identity development
Web design and development
Small business and startup strategy
Education on and implementation of AI

SERVICES

BLOG

PORTFOLIO

As the West Virginia Advocate for Right to Start, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that fights to expand entrepreneurial opportunity for all, I help to drive civic change through: grassroots organizing and mobilizing, policy advocacy and engagement, and lifting the voices of entrepreneurs through media and storytelling.

I meet with entrepreneurs around the state to learn their stories and the barriers they face and use the data I gather to make policy recommendations and promote their stories in order to continue to advance entrepreneurship in West Virginia.

As an Entrepreneur in Residence at Marshall University's iCenter for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, I am responsible for the co-instruction of our Incubator course, an Honors course in the Brad D. Smith Schools of Business. The course is focused on Design Thinking and startup creation.

I also provide resources and individual instruction and mentorship to students and faculty members who want to learn more about Design Thinking, entrepreneurship, branding, AI, and user experience design.

I am the Co-Founder and Head of Product at Kairos Financial, a fintech startup on a mission to democratize wealth management. My co-founder, Jared Welker, and I saw a massive gap in the wealth management market — people making less than $100,000 per year had no real options for services. So we decided to give them one. Kairos' proprietary AI technology helps anyone who can't afford or doesn't want a traditional wealth advisor to understand what steps they can and should take to improve their financial health. We are currently raising our Pre-Seed round!

Work with me!

Speaking

Entrepreneurship and business
Social entrepreneurship fundamentals
A.I. and Digital Identity
Building a web presence and recognizable brand

Consulting

I provide consulting services for startups, small businesses, and non-profits on implementation of AI strategies, building or scaling social enterprises, and strategic web presence.

Writing

Want to collaborate on a podcast episode, article, blog post, or webinar? Click below to send more details via email.

Let's collaborate!

Press

"Securing Our Future with Ariana Shives"

Innovators and Entrepreneurs Podcast, 2024

"Advancing the Culture of Entrepreneurship in West Virginia"
West Virginia Business Link, 2023

"Energizing Entrepreneurship Across West Virginia",

West Virginia Business Link, 2023

"Artificial Intelligence",

In Your Business Podcast, 2023

"iCenter Welcomes Shives as New Entrepreneur in Residence", Marshall University, 2022