Ariela Safira

Ariela Safira is the Founder and CEO of Real, a company dedicated to transforming mental health care through innovative digital platforms and in-person experiences. Under her leadership since September 2019, Real aims to prioritize mental wellness by integrating empathy, design, and progressive care into their services, moving beyond merely normalizing mental health discussions to actively celebrating and improving the quality of care provided.13

Background and Education

Ariela holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computational Science from Stanford University, where she was recognized with multiple honors, including the Dean's Award for Academic Excellence. She also pursued a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology at Columbia University but left to focus on founding Real. Prior to her current role, she gained experience in various health-related positions, including product and operations at Cityblock Health and design roles at IDEO, where she worked on initiatives to reduce depression in the U.S..13

Mission and Advocacy

At Real, Safira emphasizes the importance of mental wellness as a critical component of overall well-being. She has been vocal about the intersection of mental health and bodily autonomy, particularly in light of recent political changes affecting reproductive rights, advocating for comprehensive healthcare access for all.23