Authenticity Is the Anchor: Building Real Business Relationships

Always be real and authentic, in and out of business settings.

In a professional world often driven by personas and performance, Ariya Malek of Educational Awakening Center offers a powerful reminder: authenticity isn’t just admirable—it’s strategic. Our ability to succeed in business hinges on our ability to build and maintain real human relationships. But how do we make those last? By being ourselves—on and off the clock. When authenticity becomes your standard, trust becomes your currency.

Your success in your business is a direct correlation to your ability to be in relationships with others. In business, no one is an island by themselves. The best way to maintain any relationship

is to just be real and authentic. You can still be yourself while maintaining a business relationship with someone outside of work. To maintain that, be yourself in business and outside of business. When you are consistently the same person, inside and out, relationships are easy to maintain. Obviously, we should maintain boundaries depending on the relationship, but there should be no “act” or “persona” that exists just for business relationships. To me, that’s manipulative and fake. – Ariya Malek, Educational Awakening Center

Key takeaway: Strong professional relationships are built when there is no difference between who you are at work and who you are outside of it. Being consistent and authentic allows others to feel safe, respected, and connected to you. Putting on a professional facade may seem strategic, but over time, it erodes trust. The most powerful business relationships are rooted in truth, transparency, and the human connection we extend beyond the job title.