Introduction

Ariella is considered SA’s leading female auctioneer, and has been in the industry since 2007. Her oratorical skills, extensive general, cultural and world knowledge has earned her an admired reputation in business and placed her in demand by leading figures at notable charity events.

She has raised in excess of R125 million over the last few years for a variety of charities in SA, USA and UK.

Ariella’s achievements include a BA Joint Honours in Economics from Wits (with Majors in Art History & Italian), an MBA (2002) from UCT’s Graduate School of Business where she was Class President and an exchange Scholarship to Columbia Business School (NY, USA) 2003.

Continental Winner (Nov 2015) for CEO Communication’s “Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business & Government 2015 – Mining Sector”

Finalist for: Standard Bank Business Woman of the Year 2016, All Africa Business Leaders Assoc. (AABLA) 2015 Award (Forbes Africa / CNBC), ABSA Awards
Entrepreneur of the Year and Europcar Woman in Leadership 2015 Award.

She received the GSB MBA Director’s Award 2009

Winner Business Women’s Association (BWA) Western Cape Corporate Business Achiever Award 2010

Sits on the NEC Board for Ort SA, a major Charity focussing on mathematical & science education for underprivileged children in SA.

Ariella is Vice Chair of the Cape Chapter of the Maritime Law Assoc.

After 10 years as one of a handful of women international steel traders for Macsteel International BV (UK), including several years heading up South America for them, Ariella returned to South Africa and entered the auction industry, electing to combine her negotiation and verbal skills with a new sector where few women feature whilst simultaneously finding a key role in raising funds for charity.

In 2012 Ariella co-founded an online mining and shipping auction company which specialized in the disposal of niche value assets via an online auction platform as well as through physical auctions and concluded annual turnovers of R1 Billion year on year with over 50% sold to international buyers.

Confirmed the largest sale of a single 2nd hand mining asset in 20 years in SA, equivalent to an 8 storey building for $17 million (2014)
Sold several arrested bulk carrier ships and oil tankers (SA, Namibia) exceeding $40 million (2016/2017).

In 2019 Ariella founded Solution Strategists Pty Ltd, dedicated to commercial maritime auctions through which she continues to act for the Courts, international banks and notable correspondent local law firms.

In 2020, Ariella sold the mv Advantage Sky 2010 crude oil tanker for $25.25 million.

Notwithstanding her commercial obligations, Ariella has dedicated her spare time to raising much needed funds for charity leveraging off her auction skills and network.

Her extensive repertoire and knowledge, supported by 5 years under Stephan Welz in association with Sotheby’s UK whilst a university student, has proven a key attribute in her professionalism as well as her ability as an auctioneer – being able to help people conceptualize and appreciate the items on hand.

In the last few years Ariella has raised over R125 million for charity including being retainer the auctioneer for inter alia; Woolworths, Homestead, FIFA and Francois Pienaar’s MAD Annual Foundation dinners. For Francois Pienaar each year she also hosts his Make a Difference Charity (MAD) dinner in New York, USA and United Kingdom to raise much needed funds for academic scholarships in SA. In April 2019 Ariella conducted an auction for Operation Smile in NY,USA.

In 2023 Ariella raised R11.5 million for Gaynor Rupert’s Imibala Trust, R4.5 million for MAD (UK) and R5 million for Woolworths gala auction.

Her colourful professional and academic career and success as a female in business has proven an inspiration to women in SA. For Women’s Day in Aug 2014, Ariella was a guest speaker as part of a panel including Amy Kleynhans, Ann Nurock and key note speaker & past Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela.

Since 2018, Ariella has been approached and spoken at notable Business conferences on inter alia; Adversity to Opportunity, Business Leadership and the 4thIR .Her clients have included Business schools, Unilever and International audit firms.