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.