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. 

Throughout her 25+-year career, Tracey G. Sameyah 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.

Currently CEO of Lancer Skincare and Lancer Dermatology, Tracey has successfully used the under pinning of Lancer Dermatology to further enhance the trustworthy positioning of Lancer Skincare with a more relative and inclusive message for all consumers. With a precise and strategic lens, Tracey has fiercely cascaded the Lancer brand from its original prestige origins to new heights via major deals with QVC, Amazon, Asian-Pacific and Middle Eastern distributors. As CEO, Tracey is responsible for leading Lancer’s overall vision and strategy, financial objectives, and crisis management, as well as new business development for the skincare brand’s global business ventures. With over 20 years of vast experience formulating scalable growth strategies for founder-led beauty and wellness brands, Tracey has leveraged a fierce education in the skincare industry which propels her unique approach to Lancer’s brand performance.

A respected industry leader, mentor, and power networker, Tracey is active on LinkedIn and has recently joined the Exclusive CHIEF network to further champion women to leadership positions. 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 greatest sources of pride include her LAPD officer husband, her USC graduate son, and her daughter who is in law school.

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

Halé Behzadi is the North America Head of Private Banking for Citi Global Wealth and a member of the Private Banking Global Leadership Team. Halé has more than three decades of experience working with ultra-high net worth families and their closely held business and philanthropic ventures and leads the Private Banking activities in 25 offices across the United States and Canada. Most recently, Halé was the Global Market Manager of the Western Region at Citi Private Bank and directly responsible for leading the ultra-high net worth private banking practices in seven offices in California, Arizona and Washington. Halé co-chairs Citi’s California Leadership Council and is the Executive Sponsor of Citi’s North America Diversity Committee. Previously, Halé chaired the Mentoring Committee at Citi Private Bank and served as the Business Sponsor of Citi’s Pride Network for Southern California and the Women’s Network for Northern California. Prior to joining Citigroup and establishing the Private Bank office in Beverly Hills in 2002, Halé enjoyed a long and distinguished career with Bank of America, where she was a Senior Vice President directing a team of private banking professionals in Beverly Hills. Halé holds a BA in Economics from Georgetown University, where she is an active member of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. Throughout her career she has played an active role in numerous civic and charitable organizations that provide social services, education and health care in the local community. Currently, Halé serves on the Board of Trustees for Viewpoint School as a member of the Executive Committee, in addition to chairing the Advancement Committee. She has previously held a number of leadership roles including Vice Chair and Chair of Committee on Trustees where she was focused on recruiting more diverse board members, especially women. She is also a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Governors of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation. Halé was recently recognized as a Deborah Award recipient by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for her leadership and civic contributions exemplifying the qualities and ideals of ADL. She holds Series 7, 24, 63 and 65 FINRA licenses.

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.

Bita Milanian is renowned as a catalyst for change. Her career includes leading global marketing initiatives at various corporations, founding a creative consulting agency, and excelling as a producer. Additionally, her adept leadership of a grassroots non-profit dedicated to art and culture has further cemented her impact. Central to Bita's mission is the amplification of artists, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations, aiding them in gaining global recognition and influence.

Bita’s journey began with an unwavering passion for marketing and a deep-seated desire to make a meaningful impact in the world. Throughout her career, she has led global marketing initiatives, played a pivotal role in multiple mergers and acquisitions, founded a creative consulting agency, and directed a grassroots non-profit focused on art and culture. Her path has been marked by continual growth, learning, and a steadfast commitment to bridging diverse cultures and communities through her work.

Bita's path has been shaped by incredible mentors and leaders, as well as a vast and robust global network. Her journey is more than a personal story; it's a testament to the power of community and mentorship. Today, more than ever, she is committed to paying it forward, empowering the next generation, and fostering innovation. Focused on diversity and creativity, Bita aims to contribute to a world that values and uplifts every voice. Looking ahead, she is energized by the opportunity to leverage her network to support others, continuing the cycle of support and building a more inclusive and vibrant global community.

More info at bitamilanian.com

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.

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.

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. 

Kathy Hadizadeh stands as the visionary force behind Heart Mind Tuning, a distinguished coaching and advisory agency headquartered in Los Angeles with a global footprint. She ardently advocates for the transformative potential of heart-centered leadership, positivity, and mindfulness practices in the journeys of leaders and executives.

Before her current venture, Kathy served as an Executive Director at YP®, a leader in local marketing solutions in the US, dedicated to fostering the growth of local businesses and communities.

Prior to that she oversaw the development of the DirecTV CRM solution platform, leading both offshore and in-house talent. Simultaneously, she played a pivotal role in advancing the CIO's efforts to instill a Fearless Leadership mentality within the IT organization. Her transformative journey took a significant turn as she faced a traumatic brain injury, defying the odds presented by medical professionals.

With 15 years of leadership experience in Fortune 100 and soo companies across various industries, Kathy boasts profound insights into corporate dynamics. Her trademarked methodology, Pause to Rise™, stems from her deep understanding of corporate structures, coupled with her dedication to reflective practices.

Armed with dual Masters in Engineering, a rich coaching certification background, and a keen interest in mindful leadership, she extends her mission beyond the corporate realm. Her focus lies in assessments and innovative approaches to building capacity, coupled with the integration of this capacity into the rewiring of human brains. Kathy is on a broader mission

- Empowering folks to slow down and connect to what truly matters.

Acknowledged for her extraordinary resilience and inspiring journey of overcoming a significant health challenge, Kathy broadens her impact through speaking engagements and guest appearances on podcasts. Her discussions delve into the power of the mind, mental well-being, the art of reflection, and the pivotal question of crafting a life and leadership journey that leaves a lasting legacy, positively influencing humanity.

An avid world traveler fluent in five languages, Kathy possesses extensive experience in immersing herself in the cultures of Southern American countries as well as Europe and the Middle East. Beyond her explorations, Kathy has a passion for writing and was honored with the New California Media award for her role as a bridge builder between Spanish and Persian immigrant cultures in California.

During the pandemic, Kathy found solace in singing Farsi songs, paying homage to her grandmother's memory. Beyond her musical pursuits, she delights in painting, hiking, and exploring life near Venice Beach with her husband, two children, and her newly inherited dog, Vicki, affectionately known as MarMar.

In a Career that spans over fifteen years and includes twelve collaborative and solo albums as well as two prestigious Canadian JUNO Award nominations, Azam Ali has confirmed her place as being one of the most prolific, versatile, and gifted singers and composers on the international stage today. Born in Iran, raised in India from the age of four, and currently based in Los Angeles, Azam’s most notable work is with the cutting-edge world music electronic/acoustic project Niyaz with whom she has released four best-selling and critically acclaimed albums on Six Degrees Records. All four albums have debuted at #1 on iTunes and garnered the band an incredible amount of media attention including features on NPR, The BBC, Huffington Post, and PRI. Azam continues to tour internationally with Niyaz and build on its impressive and loyal fan base worldwide. Azam’s otherworldly voice has become highly sought after by some of the biggest film composers in Hollywood. She has worked with Harry Gregson- Williams, Mychael Danna, Graeme Revell, Ramin Djawadi, Brian Tyler, Michael Giacchino, Trevor Morris, Christopher Young, Tyler Bates, Jeff Rona, etc. Azam's distinctive voice and music can be heard in myriad film and television scores among which include “Thor- The Dark World”, "Matrix- Revolutions", “Prince of Persia- The Sands of Time”, “300”, "Godsend", “The Priest”, “John Carter”, "Papparazi", "The Nativity Story", "Speed Racer", “Lara Croft- Tomb Raider”, “The Fight Club”, “Season of the witch”, "Children of Dune", "Earthsea", "Dawn of the Dead", “True Blood”, "Alias", "The Agency, and "Prison Break". Azam's immense talent and ability to adapt her voice to any musical style have also drawn the attention of many diverse artists. Azam has collaborated in studio and on stage with Serj Tankian of System of a Down, The Crystal Method, Pat Mastellato and Trey Gunn of King Crimson, Peter Murphy of Bauhaus, Dredg, Chris Vrenna formerly of Nine Inch Nails, Ben Watkins of Juno Reactor, Buckethead, Steve Stevens, Mercan Dede, the world-renowned Japanese group Kodo, Zakir Hussain, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, and Mickey Hart with whom she also toured for two years as a lead singer in his group Bembe Orisha.

More Speakers to be Added Soon!