#LifeLessons - The Biggest Life Learnings Of Kanessa Muluneh

NAME: Kanessa Muluneh

AGE: 34

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @kanessamuluneh

JOB TITLE: Serial Entrepreneur, Investor, and Mentor

Kanessa Muluneh is a seasoned serial entrepreneur turned impact investor, currently living in Dubai. She was born in Ethiopia, raised in the Netherlands, and moved to the UAE three years ago.

Her background was typical. An immigrant upbringing in Europe, but even as a young girl, she knew there was more to life than what she saw around her. In her eyes, success meant building a life filled with freedom. And in the beginning, that vision didn’t include having a partner or kids.

When she went to medical school, she quickly realized she wasn’t chasing her own dream, she was chasing her parents’ dream. Becoming a doctor wasn’t going to make her happy. So, she made a deal with herself to finish the degree for them, then follow her own path. Since she was already in the medical world, she decided to start there but on her own terms.

Her journey began by identifying problems she saw in the workplace and turning those into products. That formula, finding the problem, building the solution, and turning it into a business, is something she discovered in her early 20s and still uses to this day.

She went on to launch companies in Tech, Fashion, and Sports, and successfully sold several for 7 figures before hitting her 30s.

And that was just the beginning…

Today Kanessa shares with us her 3 biggest life learnings to-date:

#LIFELESSON – 1 - Fear is just an emotion

My whole life, fear held me back from the things I wanted most. In my early 20s, I was deeply insecure, and it affected my daily life more than I cared to admit. At first, I didn’t realize it was fear that was blocking me. It showed up in different ways: insecurity, anxiety, self-doubt, but all of it had the same root.

I didn’t recognize those emotions for what they were until I started paying closer attention. Bit by bit, I began analyzing what was really standing in my way and the answer was clear: fear.

But the thing is, fear is just an emotion. Like any other, it doesn’t have to control you. You can choose not to listen to it. And with a little practice, it becomes less loud in your head, less dominant, and easier to move through.

#LIFELESSON – 2 - Expect life to happen

And I mean both the good and the bad. If you’re starting something new, expect the unexpected (even though it sounds cliché). Because no matter how excited or prepared you think you are, life will throw you a curveball - or ten. And I’m not talking about one or two little bumps, unfortunately. I mean the kind of stuff that makes you stop and question why you even started in the first place.

People love giving advice like “just avoid the drama” or “plan better.” Sounds nice, but that’s not how growth works. The truth is, the real gems - the wisdom, the confidence - come from walking through the mud, not around it. You need those challenges. You need the so-called “mistakes.” That’s where the muscle builds.

So when you fall (and you will), don’t panic. Don’t beat yourself up. Just get up and keep moving. Over time, falling won’t scare you as much. You’ll bounce back quicker. Stronger. Wiser. Sharper. And next time a similar situation pops up, you’ll know exactly how to handle it.

Since you can’t avoid it, you might as well expect it!

#LIFELESSON – 3 - Go back to your roots

This one’s especially for those who grew up in an immigrant household. It might sound strange, but if you can, visit your birthplace or your parents’ homeland at least once as an adult. And if possible, do it alone.

There’s a kind of healing that happens when you reconnect with your roots. You start to understand why you were raised the way you were. Why your parents made certain choices. It all begins to make sense.

The feeling you get from that trip? I can’t put it into words. You have to experience it for yourself.

Just trust me on this one. Go. Feel it.

And let it shift something in you.