Myriam Riza Rouissi: The Tunisian Wonder Woman
Myriam Riza Rouissi deserves to be celebrated more often. This woman of many talents juggles fashion design, entrepreneurship and finance with remarkable ease. A fashion designer, founder and manager of the company Miss Anaïs, she employs 7 people: embroiderers, pattern-makers and seamstresses.
At the same time, she hosts and produces the show MODE FM on RTCI, while holding the position of Chief Financial Officer of a group where she oversees a team of 6 people. A mother of two children, she truly embodies the modern Wonder Woman.
Landmarks of a Many-Sided Career
| Stage | Landmarks |
|---|---|
| Education | DEUG in economics and management in Toulouse (top of her class), a Master’s in Management Sciences specialising in Finance at Paris-Dauphine, a postgraduate degree in International Finance in Reims |
| Early career in finance | Société Générale (Management Control), KPMG (auditor in the banking sector, 5 years), Ricol Lasteyrie et Associés (financial analyst in mergers and acquisitions, 2 years) |
| International | 2 years at Alstom in Kuwait, within the Finance Department |
| Return to Tunisia | May 2014 — financial management of a family import-export group |
| Miss Anaïs | Spark in 2017, 7 people (embroiderers, pattern-makers, seamstresses), chic sportswear with a Pop Rock leaning, personalised embroidery |
| MODE FM | Show on RTCI, hosted with Raoudha Riza and Philippe Xerry |
| Family life | Mother of two daughters; Sunday entirely reserved for family |
The Art of Work-Life Balance
Meticulous Organisation
How do you manage to reconcile all these activities with your role as a mother?
“It’s all a matter of organisation and concentration!” Myriam answers enthusiastically. Her schedule reveals precise planning: she works full-time as Chief Financial Officer on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
On Wednesday mornings, she devotes herself to recording MODE FM on RTCI. In the afternoon and on Saturdays, she throws herself into her Miss Anaïs workshop to create. Her daughters come with her on those days, which lets her combine business with pleasure.
“I can concentrate on creating while enjoying them at every break. In fact, I’ve passed my passion on to them: they have their children’s sewing kit and love it!”
The Sacred Family Sunday
Sunday remains entirely devoted to family and the children’s homework. This busy woman knows how to find quality time for her loved ones.
“When you feel guilty about having left them all day, you are with them 100%. Even if giving the bath, doing homework, cooking dinner and reading a story can sometimes feel tiring, the delight you read in your children’s eyes gives you all the energy you need!”
The family has developed its own rituals. Preparing dinner together is both a special moment and a shared game.
A Path of International Excellence
Education and Promising Beginnings
After her baccalaureate, Myriam earned a DEUG in economics and management in Toulouse, where she finished top of her class. This excellence opened the doors of Paris-Dauphine University, one of the most prestigious universities in France.
There she obtained a Master’s in Management Sciences specialising in Finance, then rounded off her studies with a postgraduate degree in International Finance in Reims. This solid training enabled her to hold positions of responsibility in the largest French multinationals.
A Remarkable International Career
Her career began at Société Générale in Management Control. She then joined KPMG as an auditor in the banking sector for 5 years, then Ricol Lasteyrie et Associés as a financial analyst in mergers and acquisitions for 2 years.
The international adventure took her to Kuwait, where she spent 2 years at Alstom within the Finance Department. Alongside this financial career, styling and design already took up a large part of her free time.
The Birth of Miss Anaïs
A Family Legacy Transformed
In May 2014, Myriam returned to Tunisia for good and took over the financial management of a large family import-export group. As for Miss Anaïs, she has been immersed in this world since childhood thanks to her mother’s workshop.
“I have always been passionate about fashion; I spent my free time at the workshop. My mother does haute couture, which differs from my current approach. I created a line more in my own image: chic sportswear with a Pop Rock leaning and personalised embroidery.”
The 2017 Spark
It was precisely in 2017 that starting her own brand became obvious. Within the financial group, Myriam had built a strong team and put control processes in place. She could therefore “let go a little to make her dream come true”.
The show MODE FM was a fine opportunity that she seized without hesitation. “It’s part of my world. I love my work as a host, and we make a lovely, close-knit team with my mother Raoudha Riza, one of the first female television announcers, and Philippe Xerry, a fashion enthusiast.”
For Myriam, Miss Anaïs and MODE FM are “more a passion than a job. That’s why I manage to handle it all.”
Sources of Inspiration and Creative Vision
Tunisian Heritage Revisited
Myriam’s sources of inspiration draw first on Tunisian heritage. Her famous “Tounsia” T-shirt is a great success. She has also developed an “mfalfla” collection, derived from the well-known “felfel barla3bid”. Her flagship products feature the eye, the khomsa and the fish.
Her Pop Rock world draws on designers such as Zadig et Voltaire for its luxury rock style, and Alexander McQueen for his nonconformism. Kate Moss influences her with her offbeat style marked by a strong rock signature.
Craftsmanship of Excellence
The production pace remains deliberately artisanal. The sequins are embroidered traditionally with a crochet hook, by hand and on the reverse of the fabric. It takes 48 hours to produce one model, guaranteeing exceptional quality.
The Challenges of the Tunisian Sector
A Lack of Structures
“The fashion sector in Tunisia lacks structures. Designers are not supported, especially if they do not reproduce traditional craftsmanship to the letter. There is neither a union nor a label. Only the artisans and manufacturers are well organised.”
Through MODE FM, Myriam regularly makes appeals to raise awareness of this issue. The Tunisian Federation of Textiles and Clothing has chosen her as a founding member of the designers’ collective currently being set up.
“We still have a great deal to do, and I will make sure my contribution lives up to the expectations of Tunisian designers.”
Favoured Materials and Future Plans
A Love of Authentic Materials
Cotton, jean and denim are Myriam’s materials of choice. She also works with vintage, unearthing her future one-of-a-kind pieces in second-hand shops, such as her collection of kimonos or the famous mechanic’s overalls that were a great success.
An Ambitious Vision for 2029
Myriam is brimming with projects. She is writing a book on Tunisia with her friend Isabelle Enault. “I find the time at night before going to bed; it’s an excellent stress-reliever! The book should come out in December.”
She intends to expand the workshop, to industrialise while preserving the artisanal side, and to open points of sale throughout Tunisia.
The Synergy Between Finance and Design
Complementary Skills
Asked about her preferences, Myriam confides: “My greatest pleasure lies in design and radio, but finance is part of my life, of my studies. I can’t shake it off! It’s rather complementary.”
The financial world gives her a fine analysis of the market. She observes that women are becoming more active and are looking to save time. They are also more demanding: originality and quality take precedence over price.
“On this basis, I created the concept of personalised garments delivered to your door. Finance taught me how to negotiate in order to buy quality raw materials at the best price, how to run the company and its employees, and how to recruit better.”
Commitments and Values
Preserving Traditional Crafts
One cause is especially dear to Myriam’s heart: “I would very much like to help safeguard the traditional crafts I use, such as crochet embroidery, by taking part in training new embroiderers and then hiring them.”
A Memorable Encounter
Among her wonderful encounters, one struck her in particular: “I was able to talk at length with Jean Paul Gaultier, whom I admire, and who surprised me with his simplicity and humility.”
For Myriam, “there is no such thing as chance. People are placed on our path to open up ways for us, to guide us or to make us react.”
Life Philosophy and a Message of Inspiration
The Keys to Success
“What I take away is that I am versatile and passionate, that one must not go against one’s nature, and that everything is a matter of organisation.”
Her message to readers rings out as encouragement: “You have to see your dreams through to the end, not stay in your comfort zone, while not forgetting yourself and protecting your family.”
Myriam Riza Rouissi perfectly embodies this generation of Tunisian women who are reinventing professional norms. She proves that it is possible to combine excellence, passion and family balance with determination and organisation. A true source of inspiration for all those who dream of reconciling multiple ambitions with personal fulfilment.
Myriam Riza Instagram Facebook Website Source: La Sultane #49
