Laya Khadjavi, a seasoned finance executive, is a Fellow with Harvard University’s Advanced Leadership Initiative program. Prior to Harvard, Laya was Head of Strategic Partnerships and Client Relations and a member of the Executive Team at Menai Financial Group, a digital asset investment management firm. She is a non-executive board member of GoldenTree ABS Management LLC since 2017. From 2012 to 2016, Laya was COO, Head of Strategy and Business Development at ICE Canyon, a global investment management firm specializing in Emerging Markets. Prior to ICE Canyon, Laya was Managing Director at Morgan Stanley where, during her 23-year tenure, she held a succession of senior management positions within Institutional Securities and Global Wealth Management divisions.

Laya is a member of Brown’s President’s Leadership Council and the University’s Center for Middle East Studies’ Advisory Council. Laya is Co-Chair Emerita of Brown’s Women’s Leadership Council. In addition, she serves on the Board of Trustees of the Institute of International Education (IIE), on the Advisory Board of the Iranian American Women Foundation and is a member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near East Department’s Visiting Committee. In 2008, Laya received The Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award.

Laya holds a BS in Applied Mathematics-Economics from Brown University, where she also completed the requirements for a BA in French Literature. She received her MBA from Columbia University.

Dr. Mitra Mogharabi Ardehali is a practicing dentist, educator, and philanthropist with a deep commitment to advancing women's causes. She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from UCLA  where she also pursued her undergraduate studies in Microbiology. With over three decades of dedicated service, Dr. Mogharabi has been a faculty member at UCLA School of Dentistry, where she has taught both clinical and didactic sections of dental medicine. Her expertise extends to licensure examinations for out-of-state and foreign graduate dentists, reflecting her passion for dental education. Additionally, she has moderated and led panels for aspiring and current dental students, as well as fellow faculty members.

Currently, Dr. Mogharabi serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Counselors at UCLA School of Dentistry. From 2014 to 2019, she was the Chair of the West Coast Parent Council at Barnard College, Columbia University, a role she took on while her daughters attended the college. In 2017, she also chaired the Barnard Gala in Los Angeles, significantly contributing to the support of women in STEM.

In her community, Dr. Mogharabi has been an active Board member of the Brentwood Park Property Owners Association since 2014. She resides in Brentwood with her husband, Dr. Abbas Ardehali, and their two daughters.

PariSima Hassani, CEO, founded Westgroup Designs (WD) in 1989 with a vision and desire to share her passion and expertise in the fields of design and architecture. Her mission has been to enrich the lives of people through design, improving the way they live, learn, work, serve, play, and heal. An award-winning, comprehensive, Architecture, Planning, Interior design and Branding firm, headquartered in Irvine, California, serving clients both in the US and abroad, Westgroup Designs continues to shape its progressive mission; building trust, creating innovative and memorable experiences and providing design solutions whose message is simple and universal. WD uses leading-edge technology as a standard process, from BIM Revit to photorealistic 3D imagery, VR, and project animation as well as drones to capture details for larger campus projects. WD is well-positioned to help usher the industry into the next decade of sustainable design practices, with sophistication and construction excellence. Westgroup Designs is a 2020 recipient of the American Institute of Architects Design Award, a three-time recipient of the Orange County Business Journal Best Places to Work, and many awards and accolades for both project work, and social responsibility. PariSima, herself, is the recipient of the Globe Street Women of Influence 2020 Award and the coveted Entrepreneur of the year, Orange County Global Woman Award. PariSima holds a Certificate of Campus Design from Harvard Graduate School of Design, Bachelor of Architecture from Kansas State University, and Bachelor of Art & Science from the University of Houston.

Julia Hashemieh is an Iranian American entrepreneur and philanthropist. She moved to the United States in 1979 and attended San Jose State University earning a BS in Business Administration and an MBA while teaching at the University. After graduation, Julia worked at multiple large corporations for several years where she gained hands-on business knowledge and established a network of peers.

Feeling not challenged enough, Julia decided to start her own business and become an entrepreneur.  The journey of the past several years has taken Julia from the tech industry to restaurant business before eventually landing her in the health care sector. Today Julia manages 21 surgery centers employing 250 of the top surgeons throughout Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and Dubai. The surgery centers provide high-quality, state-of-the art outpatient healthcare.

Through her healthcare experience over the past several years, Julia learned about the loopholes in the system and the lack of available care to those unable to pay the high insurance premiums.  That's how Aryana Healthcare Foundation was born (named after her granddaughter, Aryana.)

Aryana Health Care Foundation was formed to provide surgical healthcare to indigent and/or uninsured individuals, performing free surgeries for people throughout the State of California. To accomplish its mission, Aryana Foundation partners with facilities, physicians, and others to provide free high-quality care to those in need.  Julia believes that no one should be deprived of access to quality care due to lack of adequate funds.