Mahan Tavakoli – Servant Leader, Strategic Leadership Ventures and Leadership Greater Washington

Mahan Tavakoli on connecting and networking in Our Town region~ Leadership Greater Washington . . . brings people from different backgrounds, different industries, and different parts of our region together. But there's also a connection to meaning . . . All of us want to connect and network, want to do good and have meaning in our work lives, in our networking. So Leadership Greater Washington allows for the senior leaders in the region to address those issues and have meaning in terms of their involvement. Mahan Tavakoli, Servant Leader, Strategic Leadership Ventures and Leadership Greater Washington, and host Andy Ockershausen in-studio interview Andy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen. This is Our Town, and I have the opportunity to talk to a wonderful, wonderful man who means so much to this community, to Our Town. He was one of the leading business executives in my estimation. Mahan Tavakoli, welcome to Our Town. Mahan Tavakoli: Andy, thank you very much. I am super excited to be here with you as your guest. Andy Ockershausen: Well, yeah, I know you've been telling me that and I am so flattered because you're an important man, Mahan. You've made a tremendous impact on this town. So let's talk about pre WMAL, and pre Washington D.C. What was Mahan doing? Are you a native of D.C.? Mahan Tavakoli - A Washingtonian from Iran Mahan Tavakoli: Yeah, so Andy, my parents are from Iran and the first few years of my life I actually lived in Iran. Andy Ockershausen: Oh, you did? Mahan Tavakoli: I did. Yes and- Andy Ockershausen: Of all these years, Mahan, I never knew that. I never knew that. That's wonderful, I think for your parents. Mahan's Dad - A Servant Leadership Attitude Mahan Tavakoli: It is. It is. And we settled. My Dad traveled a lot for his work, but we settled right here in Bethesda on Wilson Lane. Andy Ockershausen: Wow, a thoroughfare. What business was your dad in? Mahan Tavakoli: He was with ITT when ITT was more of a telecommunications company. So he- Andy Ockershausen: ITT Worldwide. Mahan Tavakoli: They were worldwide. One of the best that eventually lost some traction. I tend to believe post my dad, they lost some traction. Andy Ockershausen: I heard a story about the man that was the president of ITT used to drive himself to work and brought his lunch. That's when he made that company great. I'll think of his name, very famous name, head of ITT, International Telephone and Telegraph. Nobody has a telegraph anymore, do they, Mahan? Mahan Tavakoli: No, they don't and Andy, what you mentioned is actually one of the things that had a big impact on my life. My dad also had a servant leadership attitude with respect to the role of the leader to the organization. So I think that had a big impact for me, as I ended up getting into the business community, I try to emulate a lot of what my dad had done. Andy Ockershausen: What a great role model though. Listen Mahan. Andy Ockershausen: When did you move to D.C.? You spent the first four years of your life in Iran? Mahan Tavakoli On Growing Up in Our Town Mahan Tavakoli: Yes. So right about middle school, right before middle school moved to D.C. Went to Washington International School right out there on Macomb Street. Andy Ockershausen: Oh yeah, that's right. Mahan Tavakoli: From there to Whitman, Maryland, Georgetown. So- Andy Ockershausen: A real local guy. Mahan Tavakoli: Absolutely. I said I'm not moving anywhere else for the rest of my life. I love it here. Andy Ockershausen: All these years I've known you, I never knew that, but I know you were involved in everything. So your dad must have taught you that to get involved and you have done that to a fare thee well. You brought so much to the table. Our Town Business Leaders Espouse Responsibility to Give Back to Community Mahan Tavakoli: Yeah, there's a big sense of responsibility, Andy, that I have. There is a great privilege that all of us have living in this region,