FOX 5 San Diego Morning News Anchor Shally Zomorodi has been waking up San Diego for more than a decade. A dedicated journalist, Zomorodi launched her news career as an assistant for KTTV FOX 11 in Los Angeles. Quickly advancing into an on-air reporting position in Beaumont, Texas, Zomorodi, with her winning smile and refined reporting skills, woke the Southwest residents of the Lone Star state to breaking local and national news.

Shally’s embracing personality and dedicated reporting returned her to the Southland and family she loves dearly in Orange County. She reported for LA City View in Los Angeles and then became the anchor of DAYBREAK OC, a two-hour live morning show broadcasting from the heart of Orange County for all of Southern California. Versed in international broadcasting as the reporter for Voice of America, and fluent in Farsi, Shally now brings her global skills, diversity, and Southland knowledge to FOX 5. Shally credits her success in broadcasting to pageants. Shally won the title of Mrs. California Globe and was 3rd runner-up to Mrs. US GLOBE. She also held the titles of Miss Orange County Teen USA and Miss Orange County USA. It was during her competition at MISS CALIFORNIA USA that Shally won an award in journalism.... Read More

Known as "The Duchess of Decorum" by her 980,000 + followers, Pattie Ehsaei(@duchessofdecorum TikTok ), has established herself as one of the leading financial experts in the space. Pattie’s TikTok teachings on female equality in the workplace, financial literacy, workplace decorum and financial independence for women have over 7 MILLION likes answering questions such as “How do I maintain financial independence in a relationship?” “How do I make and keep a budget?” “How do I maintain my power in the workplace?” “How do I ask for a raise?” “How do I navigate male dominated industries?” These are the type of questions that Pattie provides real and honest answers to, that keep her fans begging for more. 

A lawyer by trade and currently a Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions financing for a major national bank, Pattie is the perfect example of “tough, but fair" and believes that success comes from information and empowerment. Creating her TikTok account as a way to provide education, advice, and techniques to help young folks navigate their way through work, finances, social settings and more, Pattie’s direct approach peppered with levity and some real takeaway made her an instant success and a highly sought after speaker. She has delivered keynote addresses for numerous platforms and organizations including Create & Cultivate, Iranian American Women's Foundation, Women’s Investment Summit and the University of Denver STEM Program and has been a panelist for events that inspire the next generation of women such as the Meet Me in Malibu Influencer Panel. Pattie’s voice can also be seen in print on Forbes.com where she shares her wisdom as a financial contributor. 

Born in Iran, the Persian beauty moved to Los Angeles as a youth and has spent the last 20 years in a multifaceted career focused in finance. From managing divisions of banking institutions, business development, investment banking, and raising capital from sovereign wealth funds in private equity, Pattie has seen all sides of the industry and has quickly become an authority in this space.

For the past 16 years, Kathy (Katayoun) Armstrong has been a partner at Do It American Manufacturing Company, LLC (DIA), a manufacturing company primarily supplying various products to public utilities. She currently serves as the CEO. With a passion for creating meaningful jobs and improving U.S. manufacturing, Kathy believes everyone has the potential to be a leader if given the chance and proper training. 

The company’s culture and manufacturing methodology has resulted in continued year over year growth and excellent performance. As a result, DIA’s team has received numerous awards from customers, distributors, and community leaders. Her advice to anyone starting a new business is “to make sure you have a strong foundation and set your core values right away, which is much easier than trying to fix your culture later on.”

Kathy is passionate about promoting education at any age, raising public awareness for U.S. manufacturing, and philanthropy. She is proud to be an executive board member for the Corona Chamber Foundation and the Corona Chamber of Commerce. She believes that building a stronger community will benefit everyone and encourages more productivity and independence. 

As a graduate of the Corona Chamber’s 2019-2020 Executive Leadership Roundtable, she raised funds to expand services provided to active military who pass through the Bob Hope USO at March Air Reserve Base by upgrading the kitchen facility, Wi-Fi, and office space. 

Kathy understands and appreciates the power of freedom and the opportunities given to her, recognizing the sacrifices our military makes. She immigrated from Tehran, Iran to California at the age of 15 with a dream of one day owning a successful business and being able to give back to the community.

Kathy was nominated as Businesswoman of the Year by the National Association of Women Business Owners Inland Empire Chapter in 2020. She was also one of the keynote speakers at the Riverside County Women’s Leadership Conference in 2021 and the chair of the conference in 2022 and 2023. “I hope that my work as a chair will bring the same enthusiasm and inspiration that I felt as a participant in past years. Being involved with this organization has had a tremendous effect in both my personal and professional life.”

Kathy has worked in various male-dominated industries, including academia, information technology, semiconductor, and medical devices. She studied computer science and graphics as an undergrad and holds an MBA from Cal State Fullerton. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two teenagers. 

Rudabeh Shahbazi is a three-time Emmy award winning journalist and anchor on KCAL mornings from 6 to 10 a.m.  

Shahbazi returns to Southern California from Chicago, where she was one of the original national correspondents and anchors on NewsNation.  While there, she covered numerous national stories, including President Biden's inauguration from Delaware, the George Floyd and Jacob Blake cases and subsequent protests in Minnesota and Wisconsin, the Surfside condo collapse in Florida, and deadly tornadoes in Kentucky, as well as features about the newest national park in West Virginia, a musician commune in Nashville and profiles of women-owned businesses spanning Missouri, Indiana and Chicago.

Shahbazi served as the main anchor at CBS Miami for five years, where she anchored live continuous coverage of the Pulse nightclub and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport shootings, the Parkland school massacre, Hurricanes Matthew, Irma and Maria, President Obama's visit to Cuba and the death of Fidel Castro. 

Shahbazi knows the streets of Southern California well from her time as a reporter and fill-in anchor at KABC-TV in Los Angeles.  Previously, she was a reporter at KNXV-TV in Phoenix, where she covered the US-Mexico border and was one of the first reporters on the ground in Tucson after the mass shooting and attempted assassination of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Shahbazi got her start on the air as an education reporter at KEPR-TV in Pasco, Washington, and worked behind the scenes at KTVU-TV in Oakland, California.  She also has a background in documentary filmmaking, working on the award-winning "King Leopold's Ghost," about Belgian rule in Congo, and from the Middle East, including a piece for PBS Frontline World about Iraqi refugees in Jordan shortly after the U.S. invasion.  She also has a decade of experience behind the camera as a photojournalist and editor in major markets across the country.

Shahbazi has a BA in journalism from Pepperdine University and an MA from the University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism

Throughout her 30 plus year career, Tracey has become known as a founder whisperer, delivering epic wins for brands such as Lancer, Murad, and Dermalogica.

Tracey is an unapologetic revolutionary who propels the growth engine by unleashing innovative solutions worthy of a cult following and celebrity endorsements while staying true to the founder’s vision and the brand’s essence.

Recognized for her egoless demeanor, Tracey is a natural at cutting through politics and aligning teams behind winning strategies. An expert dealmaker, she unlocks expansion, sponsorship, licensing, exit, and M&A opportunities by steering business development efforts at the highest levels of business and society.

Tracey’s own career is an authentic success story based on ascent through the ranks of the beauty industry. Her leadership track record begins in salon management and culminates in President and CEO roles for founder-led brands that were acquired for up to $1B and sharpened P&L for businesses with teams of up to 300 and annual revenues of up to $150M.

With over 30 years experience formulating scalable growth strategies for founder-led beauty and wellness brands, Tracey decided to launch her own consulting agency called Sameyah Group. Based on Tracey’ s vast and global network of seasoned industry professionals Sameyah Group is strategically positioned to bring the best talent and expertise to companies and brands.
Tracey has a uniquely international profile. Born in London, she was raised between Iran and the UK and came to the U.S. to launch her career—drawn to its entrepreneurial framework. Her family is her greatest source of pride.

Member: CHIEF 

Contributor: Women To Watch
Board of Directors: Women of Color Retail Alliance (WOCRA)

Monir Jalili, President of InstantFigure, Inc., for women and InstaSlim for men, a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise.

She founded her first company in 1985 and has worked in the fashion industry as a leader and entrepreneur for over 35 years. She has shaped numerous fledging apparel and fashion businesses into multi-million-dollar enterprises, from contemporary apparel to casual and formal swimwear, to sportswear and evening wear.

She has also launched an exclusive bridal collection, LaMonir after her namesake, meaning “the moon” in Persian. Just like her namesake, she aims for the Moon in all she strives to achieve. 

Personally, she is a wife, mother, sister, and proud grandmother. As an American immigrant, she utilizes her background and global mindset to work with her partners with one ultimate credo in mind Work Hard, Embody Compassion. Whenever possible, she embraces opportunities to serve as a role model for many emerging young professionals including as a keynote speaker at the American Women's Empowerment Symposium. Dynamic, passionate, and embracing of a global mindset, she hires with diversity in mind, working to empower women from all ethnicities, religions, age groups, educations, and backgrounds. 

She always says, “Act as if what you do makes a difference, it begins with a decision and a defined purpose. Being a woman who makes a difference is a matter of choice”.

She volunteered for many types of organizations from social to political and participated in many local and national elections, Civic activities, fundraising and Much More…

Her passion has always been to initiate creative ideas, advised, coaching, consulting, and set up many entrepreneur women owned businesses and organizations, that were successfully launched and are still operating to date.

Amy Astaraee is an extraordinary entrepreneur and visionary in the jewelry industry. As the founder of Brax Jewelers, she has not only established herself as a trusted business owner but also emerged as a leading figure in the field.

Amy's educational background is diverse and impressive, reflecting her passion for continuous growth and learning. She holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, showcasing her exceptional analytical and technical skills. However, her true calling for artistry and design led her to pursue further education and become an Accredited Jewelry Professional (A.J.P.) through the prestigious Gemological Institute of America (GIA). This additional training allowed her to deepen her expertise and refine her craft in the world of jewelry.

Since opening her store in 2005, Amy has been devoted to nurturing meaningful connections with her clients. Drawing on her strong artistic foundation, she created her own jewelry line, Amy Astaraee Jewelry, which takes inspiration from the lotus flower—a symbol of strength and resilience. With her tagline, "Choose Confidence," Amy demonstrates her unwavering dedication to empowering individuals through her designs.

In February 2024, Amy is set to launch her second location in Laguna Niguel, California. This new store promises to be an oasis of luxury and uniqueness, meticulously designed to provide an extraordinary experience for clients. Amy's meticulous attention to detail and her commitment to creating a serene and modern aesthetic will undoubtedly set her stores apart in the industry.

Amy's unwavering commitment to excellence and ethical practices has earned her a Tier 1 rating with the Jewelers Board of Trade (J.B.T), a testament to her impeccable reputation as one of the most trusted business owners in the jewelry industry. She is also a proud member of the Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO), an esteemed association that only accepts jewelers of the highest ethical standards and professional integrity.

Beyond her remarkable achievements in business, Amy possesses a deep passion for supporting young girls and advocating for children's rights and awareness. In 2020, she established the Brax Girl Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to young girls with ambitious aspirations. Amy's commitment to making a positive impact extends to her involvement with charities such as the Children's Hospital, CHILD International, and Global Genes.

Amy's accomplishments have garnered widespread recognition from various publications and organizations. She was featured in Success125 Magazine as one of the most inspiring leaders in the industry. Moreover, Brax Jewelers was honored with the "America's Coolest Store" award in 2020 and has been prominently featured in InStore Magazine. Amy also curates Brax Girl Magazine, a monthly digital publication that showcases and empowers women, sharing their tales of resilience and inspiration.

Amy values the lifelong connections she has forged with her customers and is grateful for the love and support she has received throughout her career. She eagerly looks forward to welcoming new clients and guiding them in realizing their jewelry dreams with her expertise and personalized approach. Amy Astaraee exemplifies true inspiration in the jewelry industry, embodying a unique fusion of artistry, professionalism, and compassion.

Julie is a Financial Executive & Family Office Principal focusing on diversified investments, and development and execution of strategies.  Julie has over 30 years of experience in the corporate world in financial management positions such as Corporate Controller (Movandi Corporation) and Compliance Executive (Broadcom) in the technology space in California.

As part of management of the Family Office, in 2008 Julie founded Ruehle Realty which has significantly invested in high-end residential real estate across the US, Canada and recent expansion to UAE.  She is responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of the investments including decisions to further invest, divest or expand in new geographies.

Being passionate about fueling the next wave of innovation and in particular helping female founders, Julie founded Aspirational Ventures (AV) in 2022 as the investment venture arm of the Family Office.  AV thrives on identifying and backing visionary entrepreneurs with disruptive ideas.  Women and minorities are the most under-served sector of the entrepreneurs in this ecosystem.  In AV, we hope to contribute to bridging that gap.

The non-profit arm of the Family office, the Ruehle Private Family Foundation, was established in 2016 where Julie serves as the Executive Director and Chair of the Board.  The Ruehle Foundation focuses on health, education and animal welfare (mostly in under-developed countries) and funds a variety of organizations every year serving those causes (i.e., teen suicide, scholarships, etc.).  Furthermore, Julie served as a board member to the San Diego Humane Society (a $60M non-profit) and chair of the Finance Committee.

Julie holds a BA in Accounting from University of Houston and MBA from Pepperdine.  She is currently enrolled in an Executive Program focused on Venture Capital/Private Equity at Columbia University in NYC.  Julie lives with her husband, Bill Ruehle, and her two daughters who live in Austin, TX and in San Francisco, CA.

Driven by a vision for a world where early cancer detection and treatment pave the way for healthier and longer lives, Neda’s contributions have enabled Fortune Top 50 Biotech (past employers) to mobilize the organizations to execute and prepare for the stages of expansion, which generated cumulative revenue of  $9B+. 

A biologist with 23 years of commercial experience directing product development & market entry of six new platforms/categories (65 products), Neda is a patient’s centered and versatile CEO who excels at building business enterprises,  introducing new product categories/platforms, and driving growth in the health tech markets for brands such as illumina, Roche, Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic, Natera, Allergan, and Baxter. She combines her Finance MBA with deep techbio knowledge to fortify the enterprise's value. Neda advised and invested in multiple companies, including iSono Health.

Most recently, Neda led Stanford Emergence’s Industry affiliates, building the foundation for industry collaboration, ecosystem, and fundraising while catalyzing the impact of an entrepreneur’s journey. Previously, as a Clinical Marketing Director at Illumina, she led teams that delivered a $1.7B annual revenue. Before that, Neda commercialized a clinical- -research IVD sequencing platform at Roche with a revenue projection of $1.9 billion and $60+ million in joint development agreements and R&D, managing a large team of over 600 stakeholders. While at Medtronic, Neda developed and executed strategic global business plans that uncovered  $650M in opportunities for the Type II diabetes market for Medtronic Diabetes. I identified a pharma partner, Sanofi, for the robust distribution of the product. 

Neda spearheaded the go-to-market strategy and execution for Abbott Laboratories, Kytehera (acq by Allergan), Baxter Bioscience (acq. By Takeda), and Natera, culminating the sales of Evercord. Neda skillfully steered every phase of the product lifecycle, implementing effective strategies and partnerships and building organizations across diverse healthcare areas, including women’s health, oncology, and diagnostics.

Elnaz Sarraf is a successful entrepreneur and CEO, renowned for her innovations in EdTech, AI, and Robotics. She is the founder of ROYBI® Robot, an AI-powered smart toy that teaches children language and STEM skills. This groundbreaking product has won several prestigious awards, including being named one of TIME Magazine's Best Inventions in Education and winning the World Economic Forum Smart Toy Award.

With over 15 years of experience as a serial entrepreneur, Elnaz has established herself as a leader in the industry. As the CEO of ROYBI, an investor-backed EdTech company, she has raised millions in funding to focus on early childhood education and self-guided learning through artificial intelligence.

Elnaz's journey to success has been shaped by her early experiences growing up as a woman in Iran, where opportunities were limited. However, her drive and passion for entrepreneurship led her to the U.S., where she has significantly contributed to the tech industry. Her achievements include being selected as Inc. Top 100 Female Founders, Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center Milestone Maker, named the Woman of Influence by Silicon Valley Business Journal, and Entrepreneur of The Year in Silicon Valley.

As a board member of the Consumer Technology Association Small Business Council and a member of Forbes Technology Council, Elnaz continues to play a crucial role in shaping the future of education and technology. She has also been invited to speak at various conferences, such as the Mobile World Congress, ASU GSV Summit, LEAP, and Consumer Technology Association.

Haleh Khatami is an advocate of children, who strongly believes that education is the key to rising above socio-economic crisis. In the last 25 years, Haleh has been continuously and voluntarily pursuing her passion toward providing the gift of education for underprivileged children through various family assistance programs across the world. As the president and co-founder of CHILD International, she successfully leads the cause through her strategic planning, especially in areas of marketing, public relations and fundraising. Haleh is an entrepreneur with a background in Management Information Systems, and holds extensive experience in fields of finance and real estate. Her company, SSS Real Estate acquires and develops real estate in the Orange County area. Haleh is the mother of three compassionate daughters who kindly support her in pursuing her goals in life. Her personal achievements include a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo, earning her a silver medal in 2011, and two gold medals at 2013 ATU National Taekwondo Championships. As a side business, she managed Peaceful Warrior Taekwondo along with her husband.

Maryam Ayromlou is an Executive Vice President at Ruder Finn, focusing on corporate communications and reputation for Fortune 500 companies. With over 20 years experience in both journalism and communications, Maryam has an established track record of successfully building and scaling global communications programs. She is an Emmy-winning producer who works on corporate transformation, CEO thought leadership, media relations and content strategy as well as issues and crises. She joined Ruder Finn from CBS News/The Early Show where she managed a team in charge of securing newsmaker interviews.

Ms. Ayromlou has worked on CEO thought leadership programs including Francois-Henri Pinault, the CEO of Kering (owner of Gucci and other brands), Paul Hudson, the CEO of Sanofi, Joe Kiani, the CEO of Masimo, Stephane Bancel and Stephen Hoge, the CEO and President of Moderna, Christi Shaw, the CEO of Kite Pharma, John Chambers, the tech titan and longtime former Chairman/CEO of Cisco, Tim Armstrong, the former CEO of Oath (AOL and Yahoo assets combined), Kathy Giusti, a TIME 100 honoree who is a cancer warrior and business leader and the founder of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation  others.

Recent clients include Sanofi, Teva, Masimo, Moderna, Lilly, Allianz, Kering (the French luxury company which owns Gucci and Saint Laurent), Balenciaga, Kenneth Cole, H&M, the Swedish retailer, the Kennedy Center for Arts & Culture, McKinsey & Company, Laureate Education, the world’s largest network of higher education, non-profits such as the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, the Harvard Business School Kraft Precision Medicine Accelerator, tech companies such as Cisco, Infor, Bluescape, Oath and Polaroid Swing.  Recent examples of the top-tier placements that Ms. Ayromlou has facilitated include the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal,  inclusion in Fast Company’s “World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies,” CNBC’s Squawk Box and Mad Money, The Claman Countdown, profiles in Wall Street Journal “Weekend Confidential,” Barron’s “CEO Spotlight” and NY Times/Corner Office, in-depth stories for the Atlantic, Bloomberg Businessweek, Huffington Post, Inc. T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Quartz, Recode, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal Magazine,  Washington Post as well as the lead story for CBS News/Evening News and stories on ABC News/World News Tonight and NBC/Today Show among others. Ms. Ayromlou has secured top conferences including Aspen Ideas, The Atlantic, Axios, Bloomberg, the Financial Times, Forbes, Fortune and more.

Ms. Ayromlou helps manage Ruder Finn’s Corporate Communications practice and serves as the lead in-house media trainer. She has media trained CEOs and celebrities such as Helena Helmersson, the CEO of H&M, Sandrine Gandol, the Chief Innovation Officer at L’Oreal, Academy award winning actress Mira Sorvino, photographer Anne Geddes, actor Anthony Mackie (Marvel’s Captain America, The Hurt Locker, 8 Mile), fashion designer Kenneth Cole, and many more.

Ms. Ayromlou is an Emmy-winning senior producer who has worked at leading networks such as CBS News/The Early Show, MSNBC/NBC News and Fox News Channel. She worked on several primetime programs at MSNBC including the broadcast’s number one rated show “Countdown with Keith Olbermann.” In addition to winning an Emmy, Maryam was nominated for an Emmy award at CBS News for outstanding morning program Ms. Ayromlou’s expertise lies in politics, international affairs and breaking news. She spent four months in Northern Iraq for NBC News back in 2003. She has secured a number of newsmaker interviews including Presidents Obama, Bush, and Clinton, Prime Ministers Benjamin Netanyahu and Tony Blair, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, and Queen Rania of Jordan. She has traveled numerous times on the presidential campaign trail for MSNBC/NBC News where she covered the presidential and vice presidential debates as well as several presidential inaugurations. 

Ms. Ayromlou also spent four months covering the start of the war in Iraq for NBC News, has traveled several times on assignment to Iran including a trip with NBC News’ Tom Brokaw. She has covered a number of historical events such as September 11th, the tsunami in South Asia, the Gulf Oil Spill, the deaths of President Reagan, Ford and Pope John Paul II, the earthquake in Haiti, and reunion of the flight crew and passengers of “Miracle on the Hudson: Flight 1549,” among other top news stories.

Ms. Ayromlou graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration from New York University, and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University. In 2023, she was named by PR News as one of their People of the Year for her contributions as a Media Relations Titan and Business Insider named her as “one of the top 18 people in crisis communications.” She serves as a judge for the NY Press Club and lives in the DC area with her husband and two children.

For the past 12 years, Zoya Biglary has been working in social enterprise, with a belief that business can and should be a force for good. 

Born in Orange County, CA, she spent the first decade of her career founding LSTN Sound, a CPG audio company that donated proceeds to helping provide hearing aids to children in need around the world. After traveling for over a decade, Zoya shifted her focus to the culinary world. 

She founded a revolutionary plant-based raw fish brand called Finneato Fysh Foods in 2021 and has been growing the company since. It is now served in some of LA’s hottest restaurants. 

She is also a food content creator on social media with over 600,000 followers across platforms. Her content shows various cuisines but especially Persian dishes and some pieces of Persian family history.  She is one of the first and few openly gay Persian social media personalities and has a diverse following all over the world interested in her perspective.

She lives with her girlfriend in Los Angeles, CA. 

Shiva A Mortazavi is an accomplished Iranian-American entrepreneur with a diverse background in healthcare, academia, and the beverage industry. Currently serving as the COO and co-founder of Melograno cocktails, a rapidly growing ready-to-drink beverage brand that is expanding its presence across the United States. 

Shiva began her professional journey as a dental hygienist and simultaneously launched a sustainable dental hygiene product line known as Your Bazoo. Alongside her dental career, she also excelled as a clinical Professor at the University of the Pacific, imparting her knowledge and expertise to aspiring dental professionals.

As former Miss San Diego and automotive and motorcycle enthusiast, Shiva has shattered stereotypes for Persian women, proving that no task is beyond their capabilities.

Dr. Iravani is the Founder and CEO of EyeXam Optometry and the Co-founder of EyeXamVirtual. Motivated by her passion to deliver a new experience in eyecare, she created EyeXam's flagship locations in Silicon Valley and Newport Beach. Dr. Iravani combined her decades of experience in clinical practice and clinical research with the latest eye care technology and personalized care, to create a new experience in the eye care industry.

Dr. Iravani is the inventor of The EyeXam™app, a patented method for self guided vision screening using a mobile device. EyeXam™ was the second most downloaded free app in the medical category and was featured on ABC World News. Later she cofounded EyeXamVirtual, enabling eye care providers to connect with patients virtually using a comprehensive telemedicine platform designed for eye care.

Prior to founding EyeXam, Dr. Iravani was the Vice President of Clinical and Professional Affairs at CooperVision, the world's largest contact lens manufacturer.   Dr. Iravani is an optometrist with extensive experience in clinical ophthalmology and optometry and is on the advisory board for ophthalmic and health care start-ups. Dr. Iravani has been recognized as one of the successful women in the optical industry and was recognized as "women of influence in Silicon Valley".

Dr. Iravani graduated from the University of California-Irvine with a bachelor of science in biological sciences and received her doctor of optometry degree from the University of Houston, College of Optometry. She is married and has three daughters.

With over a decade of experience in Leadership Development and Coaching, Maryam helps leaders unlock the best version of themselves. She has supported and made an impact on the lives of people at companies such as: Apple, NBCUniversal and The Walt Disney Company & around the world in countries such as: Korea, Singapore, Canada, The UK, China, India, Costa Rica, France & the United States. Her experience with innovative, high volume & fast-paced organizations have evolved her into the passionate and committed leader she is today. She has coached and supported leaders of all levels in organizations, ranging from: CEO'S, C-Suite Executives, SVPs, VPs, Directors, Managers and first-time leaders.

Maryam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from California State University, Fullerton & a Masters of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business. She is a certified coach and a graduate of the Co-Active Coach Training & Certification program and holds the Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) designation, one of the most highly respected and sought-after certifications in the coaching industry & accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF). She has also received her PCC (Professional Certified Coach) accreditation from ICF, which means she has completed over 125 hours of coach-specific education and 500+ hours of client-coaching experience. As of today, this number is continuously growing and currently sits at over 600+ hours. The ICF is to coaches what the American Medical Association (AMA) is to doctors or the American Psychological Associate (APA) is to psychologists, therapists and counselors. She also is a Certified Practitioner of the Enneagram Assessment and the Leadership Circle Profile 360º Assessment. Maryam pairs her education, her experience and her expertise with these assessments to provide deep insights for leaders, uncover new levels of leadership effectiveness & create awareness of blind spots and reveal untapped potential -- igniting positive and sustainable change for the leader, their team(s), companies & communities. 

DR Masi Mokhtari Hashemian received her doctorate degree in Dental Surgery ( DDS) from University Of California ( USC) in 1991. While in school she founded “Persian Student Dental Association”  of USC; (PSDA). 

Dr Hashemian started her successful private practice in Irvine, Ca in 1999 and for 22 years, until it was sold in 2021, provided extensive pro bono dental services for less fortunate members of our community as part of her philanthropic activities. 

For the last 4 decades she has been a passionate activist on social, cultural and political matters that affect the community as well as supporting individuals and organizations that work towards improving human relations and quality of life for all.

Dr Masi Hashemian has been an active member, volunteer, chair of different committees  as well as sponsor of IRANIAN AMERICAN WOMEN FOUNDATION ( IAW Foundation) from inception. She also has been an Executive Board Member of CHILD INTERNATIONAL, an organization that works with Iranian diaspora and refugees both in the USA and in Turkey and helps them get on their feet once again. Dr Hashemian is also an Advisory Board Member to ISCC, International Society for Children with Cancer which is a sister organization to MAHAK in Iran.

Dr Hashemian has also founded the “Iranian American Women’s Volleyball Club”( IWVC) in 2009 in Irvine.IWVC has helped women find their passion, work hard to improve their health, overcome many serious health challenges and stigmas, all while having fun through group interaction and constructive competition. This sisterhood has in turn inspired many more women to get active in an organized sport and to participate in community activities that encourage cooperation and mutual understanding. 

Before gaining popularity on social media, Dellara received her law degree at UCLA School of Law with a focus on the intersection of technology and the legal frameworks. During her time at UCLA, she publicly announced her status as an undocumented DACA recipient (Deferred Action Child Arrivals) and joined the Regents of the University of California in its Supreme Court challenge to the Trump administration’s rescission of DACA in 2017. In 2020, Dellara was honored with the UC President’s Award for Outstanding Student Leadership in recognition of her advocacy work in support of immigration reform.

Shortly after passing the California bar exam, Dellara transitioned from her clerkship to pursue a full time career in content creation. Her engaging presence on social media reflects a blend of sophistication, humor, authenticity, and a keen awareness of current trends. She seamlessly navigates various topics, including personal development, beauty, education, social justice, entertainment, fashion, music, and mindset, providing valuable content for her audience. Dellara has gone on to work with prominent global brands like Netflix, Adidas, Adobe, and many more. Dellara also uses her platform to amplify the work of organizations she is passionate about, like the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) and Informed Immigrant. 

Dellara's ability to connect with her followers goes beyond mere influence; she embodies relatability and aspiration. Through her work, she strives to educate, inspire, and uplift her audience, staying attuned to the ever changing cultural landscape.

"Everyone has a story to tell, I’d love to share yours.”

Neda Iranpour connects with San Diegans as the 6-time Emmy award-winning morning show anchor and meteorologist on CBS 8 San Diego. 

A versatile journalist, Neda has handled reporting, anchoring and weather assignments. She joins News 8 from KPIX 5 San Francisco, CA where she served as morning weathercaster. Previously, Neda anchored evening newscasts at CW6 San Diego, worked at CBS 13 in Sacramento, CA and KTVN in Reno, NV as anchor/reporter.

Her Emmy award-winning body of work has taken Neda across the country, covering such diverse stories as riots, immigration along the U.S. Mexico border to the homeless crisis and environmental issues. Among her most memorable assignments, sky diving with the U.S. Army Parachute Team and capturing interviews with newsmakers including Barack Obama, Mitt Romney and George Lucas.

Born in Los Gatos, CA, Neda spent her early years in Spain and spoke Spanish and Farsi before learning English. She was raised in Woodland Hills, CA and then Flower Mound, TX, a suburb outside Dallas. A proud Longhorn, Neda graduated with a business degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where the tragic events of 9/11 shaped her broadcast future. Impacted by the coverage, she went to the nearest TV station and offered to help. She immediately landed her first newsroom job while still in college and interned at CNN’s International Desk in Atlanta, GA.

A sports and wellness enthusiast, Neda has completed several marathons, triathlons, cycling and paddle board (SUP) races. She also earned pro fitness status during an international fitness competition.

Passionate about serving others, Neda traveled to Kenya to donate shoes to orphans with nonprofit, Think Kindness. She’s volunteered and raised thousands of dollars for Big Brothers, Big Sisters, American Cancer Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Club, multiple sclerosis research and helping find a cure for Friedreich's Ataxia, a rare neuromuscular disease.

After obtaining her Masters in Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona, Behamin worked in the field as an Architect and Lead Project Manager for 6 years seeing multiple large-scale industrial projects to completion. During this time and in her free time away from her work, she started to develop a love for content creation on social platforms covering a variety of topics including fashion, food, lifestyle, and fitness. Along the way she started receiving positive feedback on her posts from her audience, and in the process saw her social platforms network grow exponentially.

She has since transitioned this passion into a business and utilized her skills in the field of “influencer marketing” while working with many large brands and companies including but not limited to, Guess/Marciano, Sephora, YSL beauty, Google, and Revolve, helping them promote their products and services to her social network of over 600,000 followers while becoming one of the top online sellers for some. After gaining this valuable experience, Behamin’s plans for the future include launching her own brand and hopes of seeing the same great results for it as she has been able to produce for the various brands she has worked with.

Leyla Skyler Rakshani is a Clinical Psychology Doctoral student at The Chicago School in Anaheim. One of the youngest members of her cohort, Leyla was inspired by her brother Aryan’s experiences with Autism Spectrum Disorder to provide therapy services and treatment to children, adolescents, and their families. Currently, she provides developmental assessments and therapeutic support for toddler & preschool-aged children who are exhibiting behavioral challenges in the classroom and home environments. Leyla has also conducted her own research on the effects of demographics on self-image, which she has presented at the Western Psychological Association conference and is currently in the process of publishing.

Nikan Mangani is an accomplished fashion designer with over 7 years of experience in the fashion industry. She garnered her education at an established institution, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, in June 2015.  This knowledge honed her to proceed to diverse and exemplified experiences throughout the years. 

After earning her degree, her skills and knowledge at hand have afforded her to grasp more opportunities in terms of experiences in the same line of industry. In the year 2015, she became part of LadyLax Swimwear as a design intern. She learned and applied the value of being keen on details in this work. 

She then entered a job at Chynnadolls from the year 20l6 up until July 2021. She worked as a fashion designer and operations manager in the said company. She is also keen on cutting the samples for the line and preparing them for the photoshoot. Generally, in the line of marketing, designing, and training or mentoring other new hires is her expertise in this work

Indeed, all her works and experiences pave the way for her to develop skills such as flat sketching, fabric constructions, illustrating, technology-based editing (photoshop), pattern making, technical and spec packs. Her skill in marketing as to understanding target customers, drafting, trend and color analysis made her the professional who is equipped with expertise in various works related to her career. She launched a bridal beachwear collection in 2021 on her birthday which was a success. After she sold her share, she was offered to go back to Chynnadolls as a partner to continue her path. As Chynnadolls senior designer, she designed 65 bikinis for "Miss Swimsuit USA" pageant in 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2023. 

As Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Counsel at Kia America, Inc., Zoya has helped bring privacy to the forefront of motor vehicle manufacturing, design, and marketing during her time at the company. As a veteran in the data privacy space, Zoya thoroughly enjoys the fast-paced environment of working in the automotive world and the fact that every day provides an exciting new challenge in an area of the law that is still developing. 

Zoya received her Bachelor's degree from UCLA (where she was one of the co-founders of the world's first Iranian sorority, Sigma Pi Sigma Psi) and graduated from Loyola Law School with First Honors in Legal Drafting. As a Silicon Valley native, Zoya's passion for advancements in technology combined with her legal knowledge has helped her become the specialized attorney she is today. While her professional path wasn't a traditional one, she hopes to inspire more women to take risks and dive into the unknown when it comes to their careers as it has certainly paid off for her.

Kathy Kaveh is an author, editor and ghostwriter. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from USC with degrees in journalism and English literature. She is the author of “And Sometimes Why,” a novel chronicling an Iranian girl’s journey post revolution and exile. She has experience as a journalist in Iran, and has worked as a writer, editor, and teacher at various companies and publications in the United States. She also ghostwrites manuscripts for clients on a freelance basis. She is currently completing her master’s degree in psychology and working toward becoming a licensed therapist in California. She has one son and lives in Los Angeles. 

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.

Shahrzad Tavakol is a Persian Opera Singer, artist and a skilled luthier. She graduated in Fine Arts, specializing in making musical instruments in 2003. Shortly after graduation, she was able to receive the best musical instrument award from the 6th National Festival of Musical Instruments in 2004. 

Shahrzad is known as the first woman making Harp in Iran’s history. After completing her training in Persian traditional music she started her classical music career as an opera singer (Soprano) in 2006. She studied voice under the supervision of some of the best well-known vocal coaches Till today she has performed in more than 50 recitals and solo concerts in California and Iran, also she has received awards from California Music Studios, Dolce Music Academy, and American Prize (Opera competition). 

She established her own music academy named “Shahrzad Music Academy”. In her academy she is coaching voice l. Moreover she is working on her original tracks and performing in specific events.

L.A. Daf Ensemble by Arezoo Koochakan

Arezoo Koochakan was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. She started learning Daf with master Vandad Masahzadeh . Arezoo played Percussion and Daf with many great and famous artists, bands, groups and also performed in many wonderful concerts in Iran. She built a very successful career during the next 25 years.

After migrating to the U.S they both continued performing and teaching many different Instruments and music theory to both adults and children at their music academy ; Vandad_Arezoo_Music_Academy in Los Angeles. Few years later, they came up with an idea that led them to establish LA.Daf Ensemble in 2016. LA.Daf has a large number of students at the academy who are learning the Daf instrument professionally.

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