Shirin Conversations Marjaneh Peyrovan

On today’s episode, I am joined by Donya Bouzarjomehri. Donya is currently a strategy director living in Paris, France, after spending 5+ years in NYC working in advertising. Donya promised herself after studying abroad in Paris that she would one day return not as a student but to start her career. Then in 2016, as she was advancing in her career, she decided to honor that promise even if that meant quitting her job, moving to a new country, and figuring it out day by day… she calls her journey a “wild experience but also one that tests your patience and tests your passion.” For Donya, it was this drive to make it work, so she maintained her optimism to make that happen.

On today’s episode, I am joined by Rhoda Rahaii. A seasoned tech executive with a strategic vision to take businesses to the next level. She is Mary Poppins for the corporate world, and she even comes equipped with a tool-belt filled with what every company needs to succeed. Her experience includes executive compensation, talent and performance management, executive coaching, expansion strategies, and more. Working for companies like Oliver Wyman, Mercer, Postmates, Compass, and most recently, GoPuff. However, don’t be fooled; Rhoda isn’t the type of consultant that comes into an organization to sit back. No. She will roll up her sleeve and get to work; that’s just her style.

On today's episode, I am joined by Layla Sabourian. A seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in product management, partner marketing, digital media, and community development, working for top companies like LVMH, Oracle, eBay, and Yahoo. She is currently the founder and CEO of Chef Koochooloo, an educational software platform that encourages interdisciplinary, intercultural learning for children through cooking lessons. She is also a published children’s book author writing books that teach children awareness of their own (and other) cultures to shape them to become better compassionate and emotionally intelligent human beings. Her mission is very obvious - she hopes to educate, enlighten, and inspire others to be their best and make a positive difference.

On today's episode, I am joined by Azin Valy- the co-founder of the award-winning multi-disciplinary Architecture firm, I-beam Design, based in New York, and the founder of Cityzen by Azin, a luxury brand that merges fashion with social impact. Her fashion brand transforms aerial views of cities into wearable art, and the mission is to promote global dialogue and diplomacy by transcending physical and mental borders with her pieces. Her brand has been worn by celebrities and public figures like Anousheh Ansari, Yara Shahidi, and Tory Burch. In addition, her Chicago Cityzen gown was accepted as a gift by Michelle Obama. Azin has always known what she wanted to do and teaches us that being clear with our vision is the first step in building the career or life we desire.

On today's episode, I am joined by Sorina Vaziri - A multi-disciplinary artist, professional designer, and the founder of Teapot (@teapot.la), a nonprofit in Mid-City Los Angeles fostering a lifestyle of creation in paradise. Teapot was inspired by Sorina's grandparents' tea garden in Iran, where she spent summers as a child. Sorina's mission is to share art, culture, and beautiful stories through gardening projects in hopes to inspire, create memories and grow the community along the way.⁣

On today's episode, I am joined by Nini Ordoubadi - an educator by nature, an artist at heart, and a third-generation tea enthusiast who founded Tay Tea in 2003 in NYC before relocating her shop and home base to the Catskills. Nini has created over 22 beautiful blends of exotic loose leaf teas. She intends to teach people the art of slowing down by sharing the history, stories, and of course, the hospitality of our culture over a cup of tea prescribed specifically for what you need at that moment.