Young Millionaire

In just a short period of 4 years after her graduation, Merry Riana has earned more than S$1,000,000 through her business.

This phenomenal achievement is featured as an article titled 'She’s made her first million at just age 26’, in The Straits Times on 26th January 2007.

As an icon in the regional, financial, and educational communities Merry has broken down barriers to become one of the most admired and watched individuals in the media today.

Successful Entrepreneur

At her young age, Merry Riana has achieved many successes that a lot of people twice her age have never even attempted to do. She has won many awards and broke industry record time and time again.

Within the last 3 years, Merry has grown her Organization, MRO (Merry Riana Organization), to a size of more than 60 people. All its members are outstanding young individuals who believed in her vision and have been working together with her to achieve their dreams together ever since.

At this moment, Merry owns and manages several businesses in different industries, namely Financial Services, Training & Consultancy, and Non-Profit. Through her Organization, MRO, she will be expanding her horizons beyond these current businesses, applying the same drive, passion, and business savvy that have made her previous ventures regionally successful. MRO is based in Singapore, where she currently resides.

Finance Expert

Merry Riana has been called 'a force in the field of personal finance’ and a 'one-woman financial advice powerhouse’ by her thousands of clients and seminar participants.

Merry clinched various prestigious awards in the finance industry, with constant support from her dynamic and dedicated team of more than 60 Financial Consultants who are working full-time with her Organization, MRO (Merry Riana Organization).

A best-selling author, magazine and online columnist, and one of the top motivational speakers in the region today, Merry is undeniably one of the most recognized expert on personal finance.

Award Winner

In the finance industry, Merry Riana is known for breaking down barriers with her extensive list of 'firsts’. She is a recipient of numerous awards within the finance industry, including the prestigious 'Top Rookie Consultant of the Year Award’, 'StarClub President’, 'Top Rookie Agency of the Year Award’, 'Top Agency of the Year Award’, as well as 'Agency Development Award’. After a successful and impressive career in finance, she made the decision to branch out from the financial world and expand her ventures in Training & Consultancy.

In December 2006, Merry was conferred the Nanyang Outstanding Young Alumni Award by the President, NTU (Nanyang Technological University), Dr Su Guaning. This award was presented to her as NTU young alumna, who has gained national standing due to the significant contributions made in her profession, bringing honor and distinction to the University. She received this award from Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister of State for Education and Manpower.

In 2008, Merry was awarded the Spirit of Enterprise Award. This award was presented to her as one of Singapore’s most successful and prominent business leaders. She received this award from Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State for Trade and Industry.

Best-Selling Author

In July 2006, Merry Riana successfully published her first book “A Gift From A Friend”, which, within the first month of its launch, has successfully made its way into the Best-Seller list in the major bookstores in Singapore & Indonesia.

Currently, “A Gift From A Friend” is available in English, Mandarin, and Bahasa Indonesia. At the same time, it is in the process of being translated into its Vietnamese and Filipino version to reach out more to the regional market.

Merry is on a mission to provide avenues for others to reach their ultimate goals. In her words: 'I'm passionate about inspiring people to fulfill their own goals and dreams through education that is engaging, uplifting, entertaining, and of course, fun! This is my dream realized.’

Dynamic Trainer

Merry Riana is well-known as one of the most powerful and dynamic trainers in the region. As one of the most sought-after corporate speakers today, Merry always bring her large personality and even larger heart into her talks and seminars to encourage and impart wisdom to her audience.

Over the last 5 years, Merry has motivated and trained more than 50,000 professionals, managers, executives, business owners, salespeople, teachers, and students to tap their personal power and achieve excellence in their various fields of endeavor in areas like Entrepreneurship, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Financial Planning, Strategic Marketing and Sales, Motivation, Presentation and Communication Skills, and many more.

Some of Merry’s corporate clients include Singapore Armed Forces, National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, Singapore Institute of Management, National Library Board, Kinokuniya, World Book Fair, Development Bank of Singapore, Prudential Assurance, IPP Financial Advisers, Hong Leong Assurance, MAA Assurance, City Harvest Church, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Rotary, Adam Khoo Learning Technologies Group, d’Oz International, Elisher Communications, Shanghai University, Tarumanegara University, Inti College, Sancta Ursula Senior High School, Indonesian Professionals Association, New Hope Ministry, Oriflame, Havilah Pratama Mandiri, Vina-link Group, and many more.

Media Personality

Merry Riana’s success and achievements are regularly featured in regional media like the newspaper such as The Straits Times, Today, and The Sunday Times, and magazines such as Smart Investor, Your Choice, Career Central, Cleo, Simply Her, Human Capital, Lime, Indonesia Tatler, Prestige, Palem, Seventeen, Smart Investor, Lifestyle, E3 World, SIM Interactive, and Female.

Merry has also been interviewed on-air by Warna 94.2 FM, Radio Singapore International, Radio Pelita Kasih 96.3 FM, Heartline 100.6 FM, and TV Channel Suria, about her successes and achievements which she has reached in such a short period of time.

"My life has been a total accident — a very happy, wonderful accident that I didn't and couldn't have planned," says Merry. Despite her growing celebrity status, she is determined to stay grounded and hold on to her down-to-earth values. She still spends as much time as she can with her husband, Alva, and her beloved baby girl, Alvernia.

Influential Networker

Merry Riana not only broke several industry records but also broke-down barriers for young people all over the region. She believes that networking accelerates goal achievement. She builds value-based networks that help grow her businesses to create a lifetime of success. Networking helps her realize transformational opportunities.

Charismatic and inspirational, Merry did not accomplish her goals all on her own. She has quite an impressive circle. Her amazing network allowed her to pursue her dreams and become a marvel of the fields she is in.

Among Merry’s respected mentors and role-models are Most Rev Msgr Nicholas Chia (Archbishop, Catholic Church of Singapore), Mr Chang Long Jong (Deputy CEO, MediaCorp), Mr Ron Sim (Group CEO, OSIM International), Mr Charles Wong (Director, Charles & Keith International), Mr James Ang (CEO, Crocodile International), Mr Soon Min Yam (Director, Nanyang Technological University), Mr Edward Navarro (Regional Head of Insurance, Citibank), Ms Elim Chew (President / Founder, 77th Street), Mr Adam Khoo (CEO, Adam Khoo Learning Technologies Group), Dr Clemen Chiang (CEO, Freely), Ms Wendy Kwek (Master Trainer of Entrepreneur Action Program), Dr Dennis Wee (President, Dennis Wee Realty), Mr Kenny Yap (Executive Chairman, Qian Hu Corporation), and many more.

Rising Artiste

In 2007, Merry Riana produced her first album 'A Christmas Gift’, which is a collaboration project with 5 church youth groups to help them raise funds, featuring five songs performed personally by herself. In August 2009, she performed solo at a concert organized to celebrate the feast day of the Church of St Mary of the Angels.

Besides singing, Merry is known for her love of fashion. She rarely uses stylists, preferring instead to dress herself, mixing and creating her own style. She has been engaged professionally as a model for The Aspirant magazine, and retail fashion shops such as Wood Wood, Cicada / Xue, Toss, and XOXO Boutique.

She may be young, but Merry loves what she does, fearlessly embracing new creative directions every chance she gets. She takes singing and modeling as seriously as any other aspect of her career. And while she certainly has the momentum to carry this and every other project to success, it all starts with the creative spark that burns brightly within her.

Charity Advocate

Equally important to Merry Riana is her dedication to today’s youth. After writing 'A Gift From A Friend’ she realized that the trials she overcame in the beginning of her success journey could be used to connect with young people who struggled with similar issues. She has long believed that education is the door to freedom, offering a chance at a brighter future.

Aligned with Merry’s commitment to contribute back to society, she has pioneered many non-profit initiatives. Through these initiatives, Merry has mentored hundreds of young individuals (Personal Mentorship Experience), contributed hundreds of her books (Project: A Gift From A Friend), raised thousands of dollars through her Christmas CDs (Project: A Christmas Gift), inspired thousands of young people through her numerous free talks (Project: Pay It Forward), and interviewed many successful public figures (Project 100); all for the purpose of supporting, educating and empowering young people in the region.

The philosophy of hope, of looking beyond the surface, and seeking a deeper beauty and meaning to the everyday moments of life has always driven and inspired Merry. In her non-profit initiatives, the scars sustained through life’s challenges become the fertile soil in which the seeds of hope are sown.

Experts Question and Answers Column

Let our esteemed experts enlighten and advise you on your life issues! Simply email your name, age, question to experts@being-woman.com.sg for us to forward to the relevant expert.

Please allow us to share your question & our experts’ advice online. With a pseudonym, should you want to remain anonymous. You may like to request to stay anonymous in your email.