Parkha Zeb, Founder, Seryaana
Every woman is encouraged to chase their dreams, follow their passion, and dream big—until she becomes a mother. Then, without anyone explicitly saying it, the rules quietly change. Their ambition is expected to soften, passion is meant to wait, and dreams are postponed in the name of responsibility, selflessness, and care. It’s common for women to put their goals on hold, not because they lack drive, but because the world subtly convinces them that wanting more is somehow selfish and it’s better to pause, wait, and sacrifice.
Yet despite these social norms, unspoken pressures, and the endless responsibilities that come with motherhood, some women refuse to accept this quiet erasure. They choose not to see motherhood as the end of ambition, but as a reason to redefine it. It takes courage to reclaim ambition without guilt, and resilience to rebuild purpose in the margins of nap schedules, school runs, and sleepless nights. But even in moments of exhaustion and uncertainty, these women stay the course, proving that ambition and motherhood can, in fact, coexist. Parkha Zeb is one such remarkable woman. A mother, designer, and entrepreneur, she refused to let motherhood pause her dreams and went on to carve her own space in the luxury interior design industry.
Rekindling a Lifelong Passion after Motherhood
Parkha spent several years in the corporate world, building a rewarding career in media and marketing. But after the birth of her first child, she chose to step away from her career to become a full-time mother. It felt like the right choice at the time. However, it didn’t take long for her to realize that staying idle simply wasn’t in her nature. While her responsibilities had changed, her need to create, think, and contribute remained firmly intact. That quiet, creative pull naturally drew her toward interiors, a passion that had been part of her life since childhood. “My love for interiors has been shaped since childhood. I grew up in homes thoughtfully designed by my mother, who had a remarkable natural flair for creating beautiful spaces—always mindful of budgets yet rich in character,” asserts Parkha.
That influence was further nurtured by her elder sister, formally trained in interior design, who curated a home filled with art and pieces collected from around the world. Growing up surrounded by that kind of creativity gave her a real instinct for design. “Surrounded by creativity and an instinctive understanding of design, it felt only natural for me to channel my passion into interiors—combining my professional background with a lifelong exposure to well-designed, meaningful spaces,” she adds.
Seryaana: A Commitment to Timeless Interior Design
After the birth of her second daughter, Parkha knew deep down that returning to a conventional 9-to-5 role would no longer align with the phase of life she was in. So, rather than stepping away from work altogether, she chose to redesign it. With encouragement from her husband, she decided to build something of her own, at her own pace, on her terms. That’s when she started Seryaana, her own interior design studio. The name itself is deeply personal. “Seryaana is named after my daughters, Elyaana and Serena—a reminder of why flexibility, purpose, and ownership matter to me,” shares Parkha.
Her journey into interiors was anything but impulsive; it was the result of years of hands-on experience and a recurring pull toward creating spaces. From designing her first apartment in Dubai over a decade ago to eventually launching Seryaana, Parkha found herself returning to design again and again. To strengthen that foundation, she enrolled in an interior design diploma and almost immediately secured her first project. “I didn’t begin with a market gap analysis or a rigid business plan. I began with execution. I focused on delivering quality, learning on the ground, and building momentum project by project. Seryaana was built organically—driven by passion, guided by discipline, and scaled through experience,” affirms Parkha.
Lessons Forged in Early Challenges
Building Seryaana in a competitive market like Dubai came with its share of hard lessons. On her very first project, she got an early glimpse of just how unpredictable the industry could be. The contractor assigned to the project vanished after taking nearly 80 percent of the down payment—an expensive, gut-punching lesson at the very start of her entrepreneurial journey.
For Parkha, however, stepping back was never an option. She stepped up, dug into her own savings, absorbed the financial hit, and took full responsibility for delivering the project as promised. What followed were long, sleepless nights, difficult conversations, and moments that tested her patience to the limit. Still, she saw the project through to completion, ensuring the client was fully satisfied, even as almost everything that could go wrong did.
Looking back, she now sees that experience as one of the most valuable turning points of her career. It accelerated her learning, teaching her how to manage people better, stay calm and think clearly in moments of crisis, maintain financial discipline, and understand the unspoken realities of operating within the local market. Those hard-earned lessons still guide how she runs Seryaana today.
Soon after completing that project, Parkha entered into a partnership with Joao, someone she describes as truly heaven-sent after everything she had been through. Joao not only invested financially in the company, but more importantly, he brought stability, perspective, and a real sense of partnership. “That sense of shared responsibility is invaluable, especially as an entrepreneur. It safeguards not just the business, but your mental and emotional well-being. Thankfully, in all the years since, we have never faced a situation like that again—but knowing that someone has your back makes all the difference,” she reflects.
Leading with Collaboration and Shared Responsibility
When it comes to leadership, Parkha rejects the typical “my company, my rules” mindset. “At Seryaana, we don’t operate with the mindset of ‘my company’ or ‘I am the owner.’ Seryaana belongs to everyone who builds it every day, and with that comes pride, responsibility, and deep ownership,” she emphasizes.
Each team member at Seryaana feels personally invested in the company’s success. They care for it, pray for it, and stand by it, much as Parkha does. It’s this deep alignment and shared commitment that has allowed Seryaana to retain the same core team since the beginning, growing together through years of projects, challenges, shared learning, and wins along the way.
While Parkha sets the creative direction for each project, she makes a conscious effort to leave space for the team’s input as the work evolves. Ideas and suggestions from the whole team are welcomed, considered, and thoughtfully woven in, creating a truly collaborative process. This approach works because the team shares a common vision, language, and standard of excellence. The outcome is a close-knit, unified creative environment where collaboration sparks better ideas, and everyone feels empowered to contribute meaningfully. It’s this culture of mutual respect, trust, and shared purpose that keeps creativity flowing and innovation alive at Seryaana.
Finding Harmony between Work and Life
Parkha admits that running a growing design studio while being a hands-on mom isn’t always easy. Yet her genuine love for what she does makes the long hours and challenges worthwhile. Like many working mothers, she does feel the occasional tug of mom guilt, though it’s rare—typically surfacing only during intense deadline crunches, when a project demands her full focus from morning until night for a few stretched days each month. Beyond those intense deadlines, she manages her schedules thoughtfully and remains fully present both at work and at home.
That kind of balance, she emphasizes, wouldn’t be possible without the exceptional team around her. “I am fortunate to work with an exceptionally capable team, and Krizia, my right hand, is truly an extension of me. Having people you can rely on—people who take ownership and give you complete assurance that things are handled—is invaluable,” she shares. Trusting her team allows Parkha to lead with confidence, step away when she needs to, and build a business that’s not just successful, but also sustainable and deeply fulfilling, even after years of growth and challenges.
Expanding Horizons and Creative Boundaries
Parkha’s eyes light up when she talks about what lies ahead for Seryaana. “2026 is going to be our most exciting year yet. We are taking a bold leap forward with two major milestones that mark a new chapter in our growth,” she reveals.
First on the horizon is the launch of Seryaana’s very own furniture line, marking a confident entry into the retail space. This expansion allows the studio to extend its design philosophy beyond individual projects, offering curated, tangible pieces that reflect Seryaana’s aesthetic and craftsmanship.
Second, the team is spreading its wings geographically, taking on its very first international projects: one in Bangkok and another in Bali. Stepping into new markets brings fresh challenges and endless inspiration, and Parkha and the team are diving in wholeheartedly.
With the scope of work widening, the team continuing to grow, and ideas evolving with each project, the energy at Seryaana has never felt more electric. The adrenaline is high, the vision is clear, and the journey ahead looks incredibly exciting.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Designers
Parkha believes that young designers and entrepreneurs entering the luxury design industry need to understand that the industry has room for everyone willing to put in the work. “I’ve always said this—and I continue to say it to anyone who asks—the market has space for all of us. There is no shortage of opportunity; there is plenty of work to go around. The key is showing up and doing the work,” she emphasizes.
At the same time, she also cautions that talent alone is never enough. “Success in this field demands commitment, consistency, and professionalism. It comes from discipline and from building a strong, reliable team. Invest in both, stay focused, and everything else follows,” Parkha advises. Her words reflect the resilience, determination, and thoughtful leadership that have shaped her journey with Seryaana and her rise as a creative entrepreneur.