“I grew up in the diaspora—born and raised in Austria, with Armenian parents who themselves came from different countries. That mix always made it difficult to find one place that truly felt like home”, explains Clara, “For most of my life, Armenia was more of an idea than a physical place—something we celebrated through language, food, and tradition, but from a distance.” Clara first visited Armenia in 2019. “It was a short trip, but something about being here felt familiar in a way I hadn’t experienced before”, she says, “Then in 2020, during the war in Artsakh, that distant connection suddenly felt very real. Watching everything unfold from abroad left a deep impression on me—it made me think more seriously about how I could get involved and contribute in a meaningful way.”
 

“Running a business in Armenia has been both rewarding and challenging. Being on the ground has allowed me to build stronger, more personal relationships - with artisans, partners, and the broader community. That kind of trust and collaboration is much harder to cultivate from abroad”, says Clara, “Living here has also helped me better understand and connect with the local market. It’s allowed me to participate in events, collaborate with local partners, and build brand awareness more organically. There’s a growing interest in small brands, especially those with purpose and a story behind them, which creates a lot of opportunity—whether it’s through pop-ups, concept stores, or festivals.”
 

In addition to her jewelry line, Clara also continues to run her company ONE-SIGNAL, which helps individuals make better investment decisions, alleviating the stresses that come with investing through compiling daily trading signals. The goal is to remove noise and over-analysis, offering clear, actionable insight in just a few seconds. ONE-SIGNAL is a family-run business, with the algorithm originally developed over 20 years ago by Clara’s father for his own personal use—born from a need for more clarity in everyday trading decisions. What began as a private tool has since evolved into a product used by a growing community of global investors.

One of Clara’s long-term goals is to help strengthen financial literacy in Armenia. “While there’s a growing interest in investing and entrepreneurship, many people still lack access to clear, trustworthy information about how financial systems work, whether it’s budgeting, saving, or understanding markets. Financial literacy is essential because it empowers individuals to make informed decisions, avoid debt traps, build long-term stability, and take control of their economic future”, she explains, “For Armenians in particular, financial literacy carries an even deeper importance. Because of our history of displacement, many families have been cut off from generational assets like property, land, or long-standing financial knowledge. As a result, there’s often a lack of inherited financial security or guidance—making it all the more important to build those tools from the ground up today.” Through ONE-SIGNAL and future initiatives, she hopes to contribute to making financial knowledge more accessible and less intimidating, especially for younger generations who are shaping Armenia’s future.


 

“For Clara, the best thing about living in Armenia is the sense of connection to the land and the people. “The lifestyle is more grounded. People take the time to talk, to help, to share. There’s a real sense of warmth and solidarity that’s hard to find in the West”, she says, “Professionally, there is a lot of room for creativity and collaboration—especially in the world of small brands, design, and impact-driven work. There’s a strong emerging creative scene, and because the ecosystem is still developing, there’s space to experiment, build something new, and actually see the impact of your work. It feels like a place where your ideas can grow alongside the country itself.”
 

“She loves the diversity Armenia has to offer too. “Even though Yerevan is a small city, it doesn’t feel like it. It’s lively, full of energy, and constantly evolving - there’s always something happening, and you quickly find your rhythm here”, says Clara, “What I also really appreciate is how close and varied nature is. Within a few hours, you can go from vibrant city life to peaceful mountains, lakes, forests, or ancient villages. Armenia may be small, but diverse.”

 

 

“Clara sees Armenia as a long-term base - both personally and professionally. “With Nayiri Jewelry, I want to continue expanding our work with local artisans, especially those affected by displacement. The goal is to create sustainable, purpose-driven jobs rooted in craftsmanship, while building a brand that reflects Armenia’s identity and creativity to a global audience”, she says, “At the same time, I’m also growing ONE-SIGNAL. While it's a fully digital, global business, living in Armenia has given me the focus and flexibility to develop it further. The tech and finance talent pool here is growing, and I see a lot of potential in building out lean, innovative ventures from Armenia that can compete internationally.”
 

“In both businesses, she’s driven by the idea of creating value from Armenia—whether through handcrafted products or smart digital tools—and showing that you don’t need to be based in a major capital to build something impactful. “Over the next few years, I hope to continue strengthening both ventures, stay involved in the creative and entrepreneurial ecosystem here, and contribute in a small way to Armenia’s growth story”, she says. Overall, living in Armenia has made Clara’s work feel more connected and meaningful, and she’s excited about the opportunities that continue to emerge.