A Passion for Change: From Childhood Activist to Climate Leader
Rana Hajirasouli’s journey toward environmental advocacy and innovation began long before she founded The Surpluss. Her passion for the environment was sparked at a young age, where she made her first significant mark by organizing one of the UAE’s first beach cleanups at just six years old. By the time she was 10, she was already turning recycled plastic into art, launching a plastic upcycling initiative that would become a key part of her future mission. This early drive to make a difference led her to one of the most innovative platforms in sustainability today.
The Birth of The Surpluss: Rethinking Waste and Opportunity
Rana’s decision to start The Surpluss was driven by a deep understanding that waste is the most visible indicator of a broken system. “Waste reveals the gaps between industries, inefficiencies in supply chains, and untapped opportunities,” she explains. Her belief is simple: The real issue isn’t just dealing with waste, it’s about how we rethink the way resources are connected, shared, and valued.
Rana knew that creating a sustainable future meant addressing the core of the problem—not just the symptoms. She set out to prove that surplus wasn’t a failure, but an opportunity for a complete system redesign. By focusing on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), The Surpluss works to bridge gaps between industries, creating new models for collaboration and sustainability. It’s about fostering a circular economy where resources are not discarded but repurposed.
Rising Above Challenges: Overcoming Skepticism and Industry Resistance
One of the hardest aspects of The Surpluss was convincing businesses to see excess as an opportunity rather than a burden. “The greatest resistance to change isn’t a lack of solutions, it’s the comfort of familiarity,” Rana explains. She recalls launching a pilot project with the hope that data would do the convincing, but it fell short. Businesses weren’t ready to view their excess waste as something valuable. This failure taught her a critical lesson: systems don’t change through logic alone. It takes shifting the narrative, building trust, and meeting people where they are.
Turning Crisis into Opportunity: Resilience Amidst the UAE Floods
In 2024, when the UAE faced unprecedented floods, The Surpluss showed its true potential. The platform quickly adapted to provide real-time matchmaking, connecting 3,000 neighbors to share resources and support one another. This experience proved that The Surpluss was not just a tool for stable conditions—it was a dynamic solution that could provide value even in times of crisis.
Through this initiative, Rana realized that the platform had an even broader impact than she originally envisioned. It wasn’t just for businesses or SMEs, but also for individuals, proving that sustainable systems can have far-reaching, real-world applications.
The Road Ahead: Scaling The Surpluss and Pursuing a PhD
While growing The Surpluss into a global platform, Rana is also pursuing a PhD at the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on industrial symbiosis, exploring how interconnected industrial networks can share resources and build resilience. This aligns closely with The Surpluss’ mission to break down barriers between localized industries and create super economies through Industry 4.0 technologies. Her work is paving the way for circular economies that prioritize sustainability while fostering growth.
The Role of Her Mother: Shaping Rana’s Vision
Rana attributes much of her personal and professional outlook to her mother. “She taught me the importance of kindness and open-mindedness—seeing value where others see nothing,” she says. Her mother’s perspective has influenced the way Rana approaches both problem-solving and business. Whether it’s people, resources, or opportunities, Rana is always looking for the hidden value in everything. This philosophy has become a cornerstone of her entrepreneurial spirit, guiding The Surpluss as it continues to evolve.
Embracing Life Beyond Work: The Importance of Balance
While Rana is committed to her mission, she also understands the importance of maintaining balance in life. She enjoys activities outside of work that help keep her sharp and disciplined. Whether it’s boxing, cooking, learning Mandarin, or playing music, these pursuits help her stay grounded. They offer her the mental clarity and physical discipline needed to run a fast-paced startup. “It’s about being calm, precise, and focused, which are essential qualities when navigating the challenges of building something new,” she says.
Learning from Discomfort: A Key to Innovation
Rana emphasizes the importance of embracing discomfort and challenging the status quo. “Don’t rush to simplify what you don’t yet understand,” she advises. “Sit with the complexity, map the connections, and learn to see the invisible threads that hold it all together.” This mindset has been crucial in her work, especially when navigating the complexities of sustainable innovation. It’s a reminder that change takes time, and sometimes the most profound breakthroughs come from understanding the complexities of a system, not just looking for quick solutions.
A Vision for the Future: Leaving a Lasting Legacy
Rana’s ultimate goal is not fame or recognition, but to leave a legacy of systemic change. “I don’t mind if my name is forgotten,” she says. “As long as the work lives on.” Like a bridge builder whose name fades but whose creation stands the test of time, she hopes the systems she’s helped shape will continue to thrive long after she’s gone. Her dream is to see a world where industries, resources, and people are connected in a sustainable, circular economy—a future where surplus isn’t seen as waste, but as a key to unlocking new opportunities.
Conclusion: Inspiring Change for a Sustainable Future
Rana Hajirasouli’s story is a testament to the power of passion, innovation, and persistence in creating real-world change. From childhood environmental activism to the launch of The Surpluss, her journey has been driven by a deep commitment to sustainability and systemic transformation. Through overcoming skepticism, facing industry resistance, and embracing both successes and failures, she has built a platform that is reshaping how we view waste and opportunity. As she continues to scale The Surpluss and pursue her PhD, Rana’s work is not just about business—it’s about creating a world where sustainability, collaboration, and circular economies can thrive for generations to come.
Her journey shows that the future is not just about solving problems—it’s about rethinking the systems that create them. By continuously challenging the norms, building resilience, and fostering collaboration, Rana Hajirasouli is proving that even surplus can be a catalyst for transformation.
Connect with him on Linkedin.
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