Empowering Growth | Amplifying Impact
Meet Our Founders
​​At Growingly, we don’t just advise—we partner, strategize, and build alongside you. Whether you're looking to transform your fundraising, expand your reach, or refine your digital presence, we're here to help you grow, sustainably and successfully.​
Empowering Communities, Driving Sustainable Growth
We believe in the power of community-driven growth, strategic collaboration, and innovation. As a woman-owned and veteran-owned business, we bring a unique perspective to everything we do. Our mission is to help nonprofits, local businesses, and government entities thrive through tailored solutions in strategy, development, and digital transformation.
With a focus on operational excellence, sustainability, and measurable impact, Growingly is committed to supporting organizations as they navigate the evolving challenges of today’s world.
We are passionate about fostering long-term growth, creating opportunities, and making a difference in the communities we serve. Together, we lead the way in empowering organizations to scale sustainably and create lasting impact.
CEO & Founder
Samar is a visionary leader with a proven track record of driving strategic growth, organizational optimization, leadership development, and nonprofit transformation across multiple sectors worldwide. With over two decades of experience spanning government, nonprofit, and corporate environments, she has spearheaded high-impact initiatives that have shaped policy, expanded opportunities, and empowered diverse communities.
A Harvard-educated strategist and global changemaker, Samar has been recognized by presidential administrations and Fortune 100 companies for her leadership in advocacy, partnership development, community empowerment, and audience engagement. She is passionate about fostering sustainable growth and amplifying impact through data-driven solutions and innovative collaborations.
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Managing Partner
Matt is a transformational leader with over 30 years of experience driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence across aerospace, defense, manufacturing, and tech industries.
A distinguished U.S. Navy Captain, U.S. Diplomat, and business consultant, Matt has shaped high-impact strategies and partnerships at the intersection of military, corporate, and international sectors. Leveraging his background in operations, strategic planning, and organizational leadership, he helps businesses and organizations navigate growth, optimize operations, and drive innovation across diverse industries.
Biography of Samar Arny
A Global Leader in Strategy, Leadership Development, and Nonprofit Transformation
Samar Arny is a global leader in growth strategy, nonprofit transformation, organizational optimization, leadership development, and community engagement, with over 20 years of experience driving high-impact initiatives across the U.S., Sweden, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Lebanon. She is a Dean’s List graduate of Harvard University, holding a Master’s in Management and executive credentials in Strategic Management and Business Communications from Harvard, Business Analytics from Cornell, and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. She is also a distinguished graduate of the Joint Military Attaché School.
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Samar has been recognized by two presidential administrations—Dr. Jill Biden as First Lady and Mrs. Karen Pence as Second Lady—for her leadership and advocacy for military families. She played a key role in the White House’s Joining Forces Initiative, driving policy changes to amplify the voices of military spouses and service members.
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At Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI), she served as a key leader, advocating for over 10,000 military families across 50 commands, She partnered with Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, and Nordstrom to break employment barriers for military spouses. Her impact earned her recognition on LinkedIn’s TopVoices list for the military community and the title of NASWI Military Spouse of the Year, placing her among the top three Navy candidates nationwide.
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As a U.S. Diplomat in Sweden, Samar led stakeholder engagement and community strategy, developing partnerships with 45 embassies and directing 26 U.S. Embassy events. A highlight of her tenure was leading a high-profile "Meet & Greet with Vice President Joe Biden," working closely with the White House Protocol and Secret Service. She also led the U.S. Embassy’s Community Liaison Office and served on several diplomatic and nonprofit boards.
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In Abu Dhabi, she managed three Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects, overseeing a $35M budget to develop underserved regions bordering Saudi Arabia and Oman. She improved education quality across 25 schools, led strategic partnerships, oversaw 90 staff across five regions, and managed HR initiatives for 254 personnel from 42 nationalities—including onboarding, training, and succession planning.
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During her tenure in Dubai, she played a critical role in launching a $20M national education reform initiative, overseeing 500 school inspections in record time. Her leadership resulted in the program earning ISO Certification for operational excellence within just eight months
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Most recently, as Executive Director of the WhidbeyHealth Foundation, Samar led record-breaking fundraising efforts, increasing giving by 70%, event revenue by 140%, and corporate sponsorships by 106%. She expanded the donor base by 52%, achieved a 55% donor retention rate, and oversaw 16 restricted funds, allocating $1.2M in 2023 to enhance care quality. Her strategic digital marketing initiatives drove a 1,750% surge in website views and a 3,800% increase in social media reach.
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Now, as Founder & CEO of Growingly, Samar leverages her global expertise to help mission-driven organizations scale, diversify revenue streams, and optimize operations. A sought-after strategist and keynote speaker, she has served on twelve nonprofit boards, overseeing multi-million-dollar initiatives. Recognized for her leadership in empowering communities and driving systemic change, she continues to be a catalyst for organizational growth and impact.
Matt is a transformational leader with over 30 years of experience in operations, strategy, leadership development, partnership building, and digital transformation across aerospace, defense, manufacturing, and tech industries. A retired U.S. Navy Captain, former U.S. Diplomat, and seasoned business consultant, he has driven high-impact initiatives across military, corporate, and international sectors.
As the Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Matt managed a $55M budget, led 1,000 personnel, and oversaw operations for 11,000+ personnel across 50 organizations. He spearheaded strategic initiatives, including multi-million-dollar infrastructure projects and a 5G private network pilot that integrated AI and AR/VR for aviation maintenance. His leadership spanned aviation readiness, facilities management, emergency services, and security, overseeing firefighting, EMS, law enforcement, and NCIS operations. As the primary liaison to government and community leaders, Matt strengthened strategic partnerships, aligning military operations with civilian interests.
Internationally, Matt served as a U.S. Diplomat and Naval Attaché to the Kingdom of Sweden, where he advanced U.S. security, aerospace, and defense strategies across 25 nations. His expertise also extends to the Middle East, particularly Abu Dhabi, where he played a key role at the U.S. Embassy in the United Arab Emirates, shaping military strategy, defense contracting, and international cooperation on emerging aerospace technologies.
Matt is the Managing Partner of Growingly, where he co-leads strategic consulting, business development, and digital transformation solutions for nonprofits, local businesses, and government entities. His expertise in financial strategy, leadership development, and operational optimization helps organizations scale and drive sustainable growth.
Additionally, he serves as Senior Vice President of Growth & Business Development at Industrial Automation, leading defense-sector expansion, digital innovation, and real estate development. Matt’s prior roles at KPMG, Roosevelt Group, and The Arnold Group focused on commercializing AI-driven B2B solutions, digital transformation, and financial forecasting, unlocking 2x revenue growth for clients. He also founded CAS Enterprise Management, advising aerospace, defense, and manufacturing firms on go-to-market strategies, business development, and operational transformation.
A recognized thought leader, Matt is the Chair of the Airport Commission at Paine Field, where he influences aviation infrastructure and policy. He is also the host and public face of the Fighter Pilot Podcast, the nation’s top-ranked aviation podcast, with 30+ episodes and over 15 million views, further solidifying his influence in the aerospace and defense community.
Matt holds an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, a Master’s in National Security & Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, and a B.S. in Naval Architecture from the U.S. Naval Academy. He is also a Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), and a Resilience-Building Leadership Professional Trainer (RBLP-T).
With unparalleled expertise in strategic leadership, financial governance, digital transformation, and international defense, Matthew Arny continues to drive innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth across the industries he serves.
Biography of CAPT Matt Arny
Driving Growth, Innovation, and Operational Excellence in Business Strategy and Leadership
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