Firoozeh Dumas, a proud native of Abadan, is the New York Times bestselling author of Funny in Farsi and Laughing without an Accent and the award winning, It Ain’t So Awful, Falafel. Her most recent work Sob, an audio story, is available on Audible.com and has been met with rave reviews.

Firoozeh has written for the NYTimes, LATimes, NPR and numerous other newspapers, magazines and anthologies, winning dozens of prestigious awards along the way. Her books are used in schools in the US and abroad and are considered a favorite teaching tool by educators in junior high, high school and universities. Her work has taken her to the White House, and continues to take her around the world on the lecture circuit where she is a sought after keynote speaker combining humor with shared humanity.  Firoozeh’s nerd dream came true in 2022 when she was a clue on Jeopardy.

To find out more, please visit: www.firoozehdumas.com

The host/producer of “Life  is Beautiful “ radio show at Radio Iran 670 am for the past 25 years. Past president of Rancho Park Rotary Club , and also  The Coalition of Iranian Entrepreneurs. Active with a lot of Iranian American social and charitable organizations. A Wedding officiant since 2005 , and a life coach. Proud to have been involved with  IAW Foundation from the beginning and Recipient of Women of Influence Award. 

Fiona Ma is California’s 34th State Treasurer. She was first elected on November 6, 2018, with more votes (7,825,587) than any other candidate for treasurer in the state's history and reelected on November 8, 2022. She is the first woman of color and the first woman Certified Public Accountant (CPA) elected to the position. The State Treasurer’s Office was created in the California Constitution in 1849. It provides financing for schools, roads, housing, recycling and waste management, hospitals, public facilities, and other crucial infrastructure projects that better the lives of residents. California is poised to become the world’s fourth-largest economy and Treasurer Ma is the state’s primary banker. Presently, her office processes more than $3 trillion in banking transactions. She provides transparency and oversight for the government’s investment portfolio and accounts, as well as for the state’s surplus funds. Treasurer Ma oversees an investment portfolio that currently averages over $200 billion—a significant portion of which is beneficially owned by more than 2,200 local governments in California. She serves as agent of sale for all State bonds and is trustee of billions of dollars of state indebtedness.

Known as "The Duchess of Decorum" by her 1M followers, Pattie Ehsaei has established herself as one of the leading financial experts today. Pattie’s TikTok teachings on female equality in the workplace, financial literacy, workplace decorum and financial independence for women have over 8.1 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. 

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. 

A lawyer by trade and currently a Director of Mergers & 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. 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 & Cultivate, Iranian American Women's Foundation, Women’s Investment Summit, the New England Women Banking & Mortgage Conference, and the University of Denver STEM Program. She’s also 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 and MSNBC where she shares her wisdom as a financial contributor. 

May 6, 2025, Pattie will release her highly-anticipated book, Never Date A Broke Dude. In this book, Pattie gives readers practical advice on finance, romance, and breaks down exactly why “a man is not a financial plan”!

Homa Sarshar is a published author, award-winning journalist, writer, and media personality. She is the author of six books and the editor of nine other volumes (For a complete list of publications, see Resume).

From 1964 to 1978, she worked as a correspondent, reporter, and columnist for Zan-e Ruz weekly magazine and Kayhan daily newspaper in Iran.

From 1972 to 1978 she worked as a television producer, director, and talk-show host for National Iranian Radio & Television.

In 1978, Sarshar moved to Los Angeles where she resumed her career as a freelance journalist, radio and television producer, and on-air host.

In 1982 as the co-producer, writer, and talk-show host of Omid Radio she co-founded a daily AM radio broadcast.

In 1985 Homa Sarshar became a supporter and joined Encyclopaedia Iranica Foundation’s Friends in Columbia University, NY.

In 1989 Sarshar joined the board of Iranian Women Studies Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Boston, MA.

In 1996, Homa Sarshar founded the Center for Iranian Jewish Oral History (CIJOH) in Los Angeles.

In 2006, Homa Sarshar founded Honar Foundation (HF) in Los Angeles.

From 2006 till March 2021 Sarshar has been producing, writing, and hosting a two hour weekly radio show at 670AM KIRN every Saturday at 8:00 am.

Homa Sarshar has received numerous awards for her work, including the Medal for Special Achievement in Women's Rights, given by The Iranian Women's Organization of Tehran, Iran; Journalism Award: Distinguished Iranian Women by the Encyclopaedia Iranica; Commendation for Community Affairs Services by the County of Los Angeles; 2013 Ellis Island Medal of Honor; 2016 American Heritage Award by American Immigration Council; And 2023 13 th Bita Prize for Persian Arts-Stanford University, Iranian Studies.

Homa Sarshar was born in Shiraz on 1946. She earned a BA in French literature from Tehran University; a MA in journalism from the Annenberg School of Communications, USC; and a Ph.D. (HC) in Journalism from College of Letters and Science at the American World University – LA, CA.

Moujan Adl, a former lawyer and law professor, currently teaches English Language Arts at Harbor Day School, an independent K-8 institution in Corona del Mar. As an Iranian American who moved to the United States at the age of five, she is passionate about sharing her perspective on fostering equity in teaching and learning. This dedication to equity and representation has been a central theme throughout her career. This past year, Moujan published her first children’s book, A Girl Named Mithra: A Poem About Yalda, the Winter Solstice. The book introduces young readers to the beloved Iranian celebration of Yalda through the eyes of a little girl, offering a heartfelt message of hope and love. It includes a beautiful translation to Persian. To learn more about Moujan’s publishing company, her book, and her mission, please visit: www.pompub.com.

Shila Vosough Ommi is an actor, voiceover artist, and director whose impressive credentials in television, film and theatre include portraying Nahid Kamali on Apple TV’s Tehran, Pas Minos in Netflix’s KAOS, Cinder Lumen in Disney & Pixar’s Elemental among others. She directed the feature film Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty, which garnered numerous awards including best feature film about women and best director at various national and international film festivals. On stage, she recently appeared in Twilight of the Empress at Theatre Del Sol, The Brother’s Play at South Coast Rep, and an adaptation of Butterflies Are Free, which she directed and produced at the Asylum Theatre in Los Angeles. Shila received her B.S. in Biological Anthropology at UCLA, and is a facilitator of the Tannous Method of Sound Therapy.

Tara Grammy is an Iranian-Canadian actor, writer and producer. She was born in Tehran but grew up in Toronto and currently resides in Los Angeles. Tara is one of the hosts of the hit series PERSIA'S GOT TALENT, part of the global phenomena "Got Talent" franchise. Grammy recently starred in the Washington DC and La Jolla Playhouse run of Sanaz Toossi's Pulitzer winning play ENGLISH. Tara starred in the hit romantic comedy A SIMPLE WEDDING opposite Maz Jobrani, Rita Wilson, and Academy Award nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo. Tara has also starred in the TBS sketch show 2042. She completed her B.A. degree with an emphasis in drama at the University of Toronto and has been performing since graduating in 2010. Her unique multi-national perspective inspired her to create her award-winning one-woman show MAHMOUD, which she co-wrote, produced, and starred in. The show won her much acclaim in Toronto (Best of Toronto Fringe and Patron's Pick Winner), New York (Fringe NYC Encore Series and Excellence in Solo Performance Award), and had sold-out runs in Los Angeles and San Francisco. MAHMOUD was published by Playwright's Canada Press in 2015 and nominated for the prestigious Governor General's Award in Canada in 2016 (the highest honor in Canadian Dramatic Literature). Tara is also known for her viral sketches which she writes, produces and stars in. Her most recent work includes a sitcom series she created starring an Iranian-American family, as well as a spoof interview series highlighting successful artists.

Nazanin Nour is an actor, writer, voice over artist, producer, and host. On stage she most recently starred in the Washington D.C., and the Berkshires, production of the Pulitzer Prize winning play ‘English,’ and originated the character of ‘Rana’ in the world premiere production of ‘Wish You Were Here’ in New York City. On TV she’s played roles on episodes of Madame Secretary and Criminal Minds, as well as voicing multiple characters on Netflix’s hit animated series, ‘Big Mouth.’ On film, she co-starred in the movie ‘A Thousand Little Cuts,’ available on streaming platforms, and co-wrote and co-starred in the horror short ‘All Of You,’ which screened internationally and won festival awards.

She was a judge on Persia’s Got Talent, the Persian language spinoff from the popular Got Talent franchise, and has hosted various Persian language shows for multiple networks. She created and hosts a new digital variety series called ‘Mehmooni with Nazanin,’ which is available to watch on YouTube. 

Nazanin is also a human rights advocate, and uses her platform to raise awareness for issues she is passionate about, with a focus on Iran. She is a proud member of the End Gender Apartheid campaign. She has advocated at The U.N. in support of the Fact Finding Mission to document the human rights abuses of the Islamic Republic, as well as for the campaign to remove the Islamic Republic from the Commission on the Status of Women, both of which passed. She has also been a guest on various news programs, including MSNBC, BBC, and Good Day LA, to advocate for victims of the Islamic Republic, and discuss the human rights crisis in Iran. 

She graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor’s in Government & International Politics, double majoring in Communications, with a minor in Media Criticism.

Sara Seyed is a distinguished actor, writer, producer, entrepreneur, and former international human rights lawyer with expertise in feminist legal theory and children’s rights. Currently working at the crossroads of film, media advocacy, digital democracy, and social impact, she harnesses technology and filmmaking to advance artistic human rights impact that garners grass root civic engagement.

Educated in London, Sara received her LLB and LLM from University College London, the London School of Economics, and the School of Oriental and African Studies. Her legal work spans high-impact advocacy on sexual violence, human trafficking, and Iran’s death penalty cases with organizations like Linklaters, Amnesty International, and the International Bar Association.

Sara earned her MFA from Harvard University, where her commitment to the arts deepened through residencies at the Moscow Art Theatre and the American Repertory Theater. During her theatrical residencies, she worked with award-winning theatre directors such as Adolf Shapiro on the sold-out play Mother Courage: The Great Capitulation and Scott Ziegler on The Assistant, among many other European Classic and Shakespeare performances in Moscow, Cambridge, London, and Paris.

She starred opposite Emmy Award winner Shohreh Aghdashloo and Parviz Sayyad in the musical feature 12th Fool’s Day/١٢ دروغ, and gained international acclaim in 2019 as a series regular on Netflix’s Young Wallander, which hit No.1 on Netflix in 15 countries. Her collaborations span Netflix, Apple TV, Hulu, Amazon, Paramount+, and Angel Studios, and include award-winning talent across film and television. Her performance in His Only Son, opposite Nicolas Mouawad, received international critical acclaim and brought the film to No.3 at the U.S. box office, marking a historic theatrical success for Angel Studios. Her latest short Raz was a finalist at the Future of Film Is Female festival and screened at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. She recently performed in a recurring role in Old Man, opposite Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow, nominated for a SAG Award and streamed on Hulu.

In her diverse portfolio for 2024–25, Sara has produced a thesis film for the American Film Institute (AFI) that delves into forced migration titled TAHA, and a coming-of-age short film by a queer Afghani filmmaker that won both the TIFF and SXSW Best Short Narrative awards last month. She has helped raise funds for an Iranian female-led team of scriptwriters and directors for a short film currently in post-production called The Day of Fire. She has also starred in an upcoming short called Bruised, set to make the festival rounds this year.

In her role as an Ambassador for the United Nations, Sara actively supports the Together Band initiative, focusing on Goal No. 3: Reduced Inequality, and Goal No. 5: Gender Equality. She is also a co-chair and founding member of the Iran Democracy Council, where she hosted and produced the inaugural Freedom of Artistry event at the Sundance Film Festival in collaboration with Gold House and helped fundraise for the largest concert for Woman Life Freedom at the YouTube Theater alongside artists such as Ebi. Her stage monologue Our Revolution premiered at the YouTube Theater and has garnered over 80 million views globally.

As a speaker and a thought leader, Sara has delivered insightful talks at esteemed institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania, University College London, the Human Rights Watch Refugee Summit, and the United States Congress, addressing artists’ oppression and censorship worldwide. She has spoken on panels at PAAIA alongside Dr. Milani and Mr. Amanat, and at the U.S. Congress on the impact of social media, technology, and civil movements.

Her TEDx talk on the renaissance of the Women, Life, Freedom movement, examining its intersectionality and intergenerational impact, topped the international most-watched TEDx list within its first month of release. A leader in navigating the complexities of social media and politics, Sara leverages these platforms to inform and empower citizen journalism and support democratic movements. She advises PhD candidates on the intersection of social media and social movements, demonstrating her expertise in engaging audiences and fostering positive social change through digital channels. Her public speaking engagements often focus on building a more democratic, transparent, and ethical digital future. Her latest interview with Iran International’s special segment with Pouria Zeraati and Annahar News on the latest developments in the Women, Life, Freedom movement is a testament to her efforts.

In 2024, she served as Executive Director of DEMOS (D3), an open-source platform advancing digital democracy through blockchain and biometric technologies. She now serves as Chief Experience Officer at Klippd, a creative tech startup empowering artists to monetize their work, and is building a community curated AI-powered creative agency and network for socially engaged artists.

Sara’s evolution from human rights lawyer to globally recognized artist and entrepreneur underscores her unwavering commitment to storytelling as a vehicle for justice and Transformation.

She believes art to be the truest and most fronting tool for civic engagement and democracy building. She continues to inspire and mobilize individuals globally, exemplifying the power of combining artistic expression with rigorous advocacy to drive meaningful societal progress. To her, art is an act of love and rebellion — a refusal to accept the world as it is, and a bold invitation to see what could be. It awakens, disturbs, and stretches our consciousness, becoming the quiet engine of all true resistance.

Katty Douraghy is an entrepreneur, author, podcast host, and facilitator dedicated to fostering open conversations about loss, resilience and hope. Through her work, Katty seeks to de-mystify grief and create a supportive space where individuals can process their loss without judgment or the pressure to "move on" too quickly.

As the author of The Butterfly Years, Katty shares her personal journey through grief toward hope. Her follow-up project, The Butterfly Years Journal, is a 12-week guided journal designed to help others navigate their own journeys through grief using reflective prompts and explorations.

In addition to her writing and speaking engagements, Katty is the president of Artisan Creative, a recruitment and talent development agency with a focus on creative and marketing roles. She is also an experienced team facilitator, working closely with leadership teams to enhance collaboration, communication, and personal growth.

Katty believes we all have a story to tell and that our greatest journey is through self-discovery.

Raised in San Francisco, England, and Iran, Katty brings a multicultural perspective to her interactions. She earned a BA in English Literature from UC Santa Cruz and a Merchandising Degree from FIDM in San Francisco. She now lives in New Mexico with her husband of 30 years, Jamie, and their two furry felines.

Samaneh helps enterprise organizations boost their bottom line by using AI to drive revenue growth, cut unnecessary costs, and make work better for employees. With an MBA from UCLA Anderson, a master’s in experimental psychology, and a bachelor’s in philosophy, she blends strategic insight with real-world execution. Her approach is simple: AI isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about impact. She helps businesses implement AI in a way that actually moves the needle, from increasing sales to automating the grunt work that drains employees’ time and energy. The result? Higher profits, lower costs, and happier teams. When she’s not helping businesses evolve, she’s hanging out with Leia, her playful husky, who reminds her daily that sometimes the best strategy is just to be in the moment.

Dr. Saba Rahimi is a Senior AI Research Associate at JPMorgan Chase, where she pioneers novel applications of machine learning and generative AI. With a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toronto, Saba blends deep technical expertise with real-world impact—whether it's forecasting markets with hybrid deep learning models or mentoring top-tier students from MIT and Columbia. She’s led innovations like the “Satellite Data in Finance” initiative and developed cutting-edge tools in Retrieval-Augmented Generation and LLM fine-tuning. Her approach to AI is both rigorous and visionary: not just solving problems, but redefining what's possible.

Nicole’s Kitchen LA, founded by Chef Nicole Leah Dayani, an iconic in-person cooking school in Beverly Hills, has been a vibrant hub for over 10 years, hosting more than 8,500 students from around the globe. It’s a place where people of all backgrounds come together to learn, celebrate, eat, and truly feel at home. Nicole’s passion for cooking began at UCLA as a way to stay focused during finals, and what started as a personal distraction soon became a life-changing career.

Nicole’s culinary expertise has attracted clients from prestigious companies such as Warner Brothers, Neutrogena, Sephora, PlayStation, top law firms, and medical companies, as well as individuals seeking a memorable experience. Whether it's corporate team-building or private events, Nicole teaches all ages, connecting people through the joy of food and learning.

Though Nicole's parents were initially unsure about her career choice, over time, they came to fully embrace her culinary journey with open arms. Her greatest inspiration comes from the memories shared with her grandmother in the kitchen, and she now channels that passion into her cooking classes, inspiring students to create dishes that are both simple and spectacular.

In addition to her popular classes, Nicole recently launched a short documentary, which will be showcased around Los Angeles before being made publicly available. She’s also putting the finishing touches on her long-awaited cookbook, promising to share her culinary wisdom with the world.

Kimya Rezaei is an accomplished accounting and finance professional with over 27 years of experience. She has extensive leadership experience in SaaS, healthcare, startups, and mergers & acquisitions (M&A). Throughout her career, Kimya has held senior roles as a financial controller and consultant, leveraging her expertise to drive financial strategy and operational efficiency.

Kimya graduated with a degree in Accounting from Chapman University and began her career at Helsely, Mulcahy & Fesler, CPA, in Tustin, California.

In addition to her professional achievements, she is an active member of the Iranian American Women Foundation (IAWF) and currently serves on its Board of Directors.

Dr. Sara Ardehali, DDS is a pediatric dental resident at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles through the University of Southern California. She will obtain her advanced certificate in pediatric dentistry in July. She is deeply passionate about preventive care and fostering positive dental experiences that help children transform into confident and healthy patients. Her training at CHLA has provided invaluable experiences in treating infants and children with complex special health care needs. 

Dr. Ardehali earned her undergraduate degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Barnard College of Columbia University. She then obtained her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she dedicated much of her clinical work to caring for children and adolescents in underserved communities.

Beyond her dental career, Dr. Ardehali is committed to leadership and community engagement. She served as the co-chair of the IAW Los Angeles Rising Leaders and remains an active member. Additionally, she contributed to her undergraduate alumni organization as a class correspondent, assisting in the publication of its quarterly magazine. She has also been involved with Visionary Women, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry. 

Dr. Ardehali resides in Brentwood, Los Angeles, with her husband. She is trilingual, fluent in Farsi, English, and Spanish.

Pooneh Manshadi the founder of Golden Caviar Skin Care, a luxury skincare brand built on quality, elegance, and results-driven innovation. My passion lies in empowering others to feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and I’ve dedicated myself to creating products that reflect that mission. With my 23 years on television, producing and directing my own show and with a strong eye for detail and a deep love for refined simplicity, I’ve grown my brand with both heart and strategy. Im excited to share insights from my journey as a founder, creative, and advocate for beauty that goes beyond the surface.

Neda Kanani is a financial advisor at Kanani Advisory Group. She works with retirees and pre-retirees and helps them plan for retirement. She is especially passionate about empowering women to take control of their financial futures, providing them with the tools, education, and support they need to make confident decisions about their money and retirement goals.

Neda holds licenses in life and health insurance in California and is registered as an Investment Adviser Representative, having passed the Series 65 securities examination. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in finance from Cal State Fullerton.

Outside of her work, Neda enjoys staying active through workouts, exploring new destinations around the world, spending time outdoors, and relaxing with her husband and their dog.

Dr. Shohre Mehvar is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, and founder of Newport Wellness Group in Newport Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she has built a successful integrative medicine practice focused on acupuncture, mind-body medicine, and functional nutrition. A two-time breast cancer survivor, Dr. Mehvar brings resilience, empathy, and purpose to her entrepreneurial journey—blending Eastern and Western approaches to aid physical and mental transformation, healing and resilience for her patients.

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Dr. Nehzat Farnoody, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialty in Cross-Cultural Psychology. Dr. Farnoody was accepted into the Master's program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Kansas in 1969 in the United States as one of the top students. In 1975 she acquired her Ph.D. from USIU (an APA accredited program) in San Diego. She was recruited by Tehran University and functioned as Associate Professor, Chair of Psychology Department, Director of Clinical Counseling Center, and was an active member of the University Assembly where she taught at JSU from 1975 to 1980. Dr. Farnoody has provided over 30 years of community service here in Los Angeles, in an effort to raise awareness on Mental Health, and has hosted several Media Literacy programs in helping families cope with cross-cultural conflicts. From 1989 to 1992 Dr. Farnoody hosted radio and television programs on psychological topics interactively with her wide audiences. Her practical solutions for people’s problems increasingly widened her popularity, and to comply with this growing demand, she increased her programs from 1995 to 2001 and complemented that with publishing numerous articles in varying newspapers and magazines in California. 

In 1999, the Mayor of Los Angeles appointed her as the “Incredible Woman Making History” for serving her community in Los Angeles. Dr. Farnoody has a passion for raising awareness on women’s rights issues. Dr. Farnoody has given over 200 seminars, conferences, and has given many lectures on psychological and socio-cultural topics such as: Successful Relationships, Parenting, Healthy Families, Healthy Societies, The Psychology of Democracy, Psychology of Love, Emotional Intelligence and several other topics. Since 1986 Dr. Farnoody has been a guest lecturer to prestigious Universities such as Brown University, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UCSD, Johns Hopkins University, and several others. Because of her profound passion for the subject of human psychology, she always studies the new findings and theories on the subject. Dr. Farnoody has published well over 100 articles in popular magazines in two different languages and has produced several CDs to comply with the demand of her vast audiences on topics such as ABCs of parenting, Emotional Vitamins, Self-Esteem, From Narcissism to Love and Intimacy and more… Dr. Farnoody is the author of the popular book ‘ABCs of Parenting’, and has translated several books to English such as ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’, ‘Todd’, and ‘Crisis’. Dr. Farnoody’s unrelenting curiosity on the psychology of spirituality has urged her to explore the psychology of religion, what compels religion, how it fragments humans into hostile spiritual tribes and how it can be fixed. 

Besides Dr. Farnoody’s commendable achievements, her quest to explain the psychology of faith distinguished her from most of the rest of the applicants who applied for this position. Hence, Happiness in Wisdom invited her to join this committee and we are pleased that she accepted to join us.

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