Every journey begins somewhere. For Maitha, it began with rhythmic gymnastics. Hours of training, the discipline of movement, and the pressure of performance taught her more than sport. It gave her resilience, confidence, and a foundation for leadership.
While many athletes stop at competition, Maitha saw something bigger. She realized movement itself was powerful. It could connect people, strengthen communities, and inspire change. Combined with her awareness of environmental challenges, this became the spark for a career that now blends entrepreneurship, fitness, and sustainability.
How Maitha Is Turning Straws Into Global Change
The first step on her entrepreneurial path was BIRD Collaborative, a UAE-based social enterprise removing plastic from the ocean through the sale of sustainable products and services. Through its Below The Surface initiative, every purchase directly funds verified ocean cleanups — turning essential consumption into measurable environmental action.
Many underestimated the problem of single-use plastics, but Maitha knew the hidden dangers of microplastics and their long-term risks for oceans and human health. Convincing others, however, was not easy. Education was her first challenge, showing people why something as small as a straw mattered.
Through community campaigns, talks, and awareness drives, BIRD Collaborative grew. The impact soon became undeniable. Over 20 million plastic straws were kept out of the ocean. This milestone earned the venture recognition at the highest levels of leadership in the UAE.
But beyond the numbers, BIRD Collaborative showed people that change is possible. It proved that conscious choices, multiplied across communities, can reshape the future.
Fitness, Passion, and Global Coaching
At the same time, Maitha was carving out a path in another demanding industry, fitness. What started as a personal passion quickly evolved into a career. From indoor cycling rider to Master Coach, her journey is proof of persistence and passion.
Her energy, discipline, and ability to inspire led to her becoming a lululemon Ambassador, representing not just a brand but a movement around mindfulness and wellbeing. She began teaching globally, leading workshops, and training the next generation of coaches.
Every session was not just about cycling or fitness. It was about connection, energy, and transformation. Maitha used movement to motivate people, showing them that strength is as much about the mind as the body.
Building MOV: Fitness With Purpose
As BIRD Collaborative gained momentum, Maitha also laid the foundations for her second venture, MOV. Unlike traditional fitness brands, MOV was built to merge mind, body, and community into a single experience.
MOV is not just about workouts. It is about belonging. It is about showing that fitness can be a source of empowerment, healing, and unity. With MOV, Maitha hopes to create a long-term movement that outlives trends and builds healthier, more connected communities.
Lessons From the Journey
Maitha’s story is full of achievements, but what makes it remarkable are the lessons she carries with her.
- Learning never stops. She believes growth comes from education, curiosity, and staying adaptable in a changing world.
- Competition sharpens you, but leadership lifts others. For her, true leadership is not about standing out alone, it is about creating new leaders.
- Authenticity is everything. Whether in business or fitness, people connect most deeply with honesty and purpose.
These lessons shape not only her ventures but also the way she inspires others to step into leadership roles, especially women.
Struggles Behind the Success
Like any entrepreneur, Maitha’s journey has not been without obstacles. Educating people about microplastics required patience and persistence. Breaking into the fitness industry demanded countless hours of training, practice, and sacrifice.
There were moments of doubt, times when the challenges felt overwhelming, and days when progress seemed slow. But Maitha embraced uncertainty, treating each struggle as an opportunity to grow. Her resilience became her greatest strength, allowing her to push forward when many might have stopped.
Legacy of Empowerment
Numbers like 20 million straws saved and thousands trained are impressive, but Maitha’s impact is deeper. She wants to be remembered as someone who led with authenticity, empowered women, and proved that collaboration can transform industries.
Her vision is not just about running successful businesses. It is about building communities, creating opportunities, and inspiring others to take action, whether in fitness, sustainability, or leadership.
Advice to Her Younger Self
If Maitha could speak to her younger self, her message would be simple yet powerful:
“Embrace uncertainty. See challenges as the path to innovation. Remember, leadership is not about your own success but about the opportunities you create for others.”
This philosophy continues to guide her today as she balances running two ventures, coaching, and inspiring communities across the world.
Final Thoughts
From a gymnast’s ribbon swirling through the air to communities uniting for sustainability, Maitha’s journey is a story of movement in every sense. Movement of the body, movement of ideas, and movement toward a better future.
She proves that passion and purpose can co-exist, and that when combined with resilience, they can create extraordinary change.
Her path is not just about sports or entrepreneurship. It is about leadership, sustainability, and leaving a legacy of empowerment. And in that, Maitha is not only inspiring the present but also shaping a more conscious future.
Do follow her on Instagram
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