Mandana Dayani

Last updated

Mandana Dayani
MandanaDayani.jpg
Born
Mandana Rivka Dayani

(1982-05-01) May 1, 1982 (age 41) [1] [2]
Tehran, Iran
Education University of Southern California (BA, JD) [3]
Occupation(s)Creator and co-founder of I Am a Voter
Spouse Peter Traugott [1]
Children2

Mandana Rivka Dayani [4] (born May 1, 1982) is an Iranian-American entrepreneur. She was the president of Archewell, the media and philanthropic company founded by Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, until 2023. [5] [6] Dayani is also an attorney and has held various business leadership roles in the fashion, entertainment, tech, and media industries and is a regular contributor on Morning Joe on MSNBC. Dayani is a human rights activist and speaks regularly on activism, leadership, and antisemitism.

Contents

Early life and education

Dayani was born in Tehran. She fled from Iran with her Persian Jewish family to Ladispoli, Italy, before being granted asylum as religious refugees to the United States through the help of the HIAS. She first settled in New York City before moving to Los Angeles. Dayani attended the University of Southern California, where she received her bachelor's degree and went on to earn her Juris Doctor from the USC Gould School of Law, where she was awarded the USC Summer Fellowship.

Career

Early career

Dayani started her career as an attorney at Paul Hastings LLP, specializing in the hotel and hospitality industry.

She later transitioned to commercial talent representation, where she represented celebrities including fashion stylist Rachel Zoe, becoming her client. Dayani then joined Rachel Zoe, Inc., as head of the company overseeing the launch of several businesses, including the Rachel Zoe Collection, The Zoe Report, Curateur, and Rachel Zoe Ventures, as well as managing licensing, publishing, endorsements, and television production. She produced a few seasons of Bravo's The Rachel Zoe Project and appeared in the show for three seasons as well.

In 2015, Dayani left Rachel Zoe, Inc. to become the chief brand officer of the online marketplace for estate sales, Everything But The House. She played a significant role in securing an 84 million dollar venture capital investment and served as the executive producer of their TV project for HGTV.

Business ventures

Dayani was the president of Archewell from May 2021 to December 2022. She led growth strategy and day-to-day operations of Archewell, which included the media businesses Archewell Audio and Archewell Productions and the non-profit Archewell Foundation. [7] During this time, Archewell launched Archetypes on Spotify, [8] the documentary Harry & Meghan on Netflix, Spare by Prince Harry, [9] and philanthropic endeavors.

Dayani also founded The Learning Series, an event series for women leaders, and serves as an angel investor investing in consumer, beauty, and biotech brands. [10] [11]

Media appearances

Dayani has spoken on activism, leadership, voting, and antisemitism, including at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Next Gen Summit, [12] and Forbes 30/50 Summit in Abu Dhabi with Hillary Clinton, Gloria Steinem, Billie Jean King, and Olena Zelenska. [13]

In 2020, Dayani, together with friend Debra Messing, launched The Dissenters podcast with Dear Media. The podcast features interviews with advocates for social issues, including Glennon Doyle, Sophia Bush, Hillary Clinton, Jane Fonda, Adam Schiff, Amanda Nguyen, Lena Waithe, Preet Bharara, Jameela Jamil, Christian Siriano, Shannon Watts, Eva Longoria, and Patrisse Cullors. [14]

Antisemitism Activism

Mandana Dayani @ The UN,Perry Bindelglass for NCJW NCJW.jpg
Mandana Dayani @ The UN,Perry Bindelglass for NCJW

Dayani has spoken out the experience of Jews and growing antisemitism. Her experience as a religious refugee from Iran, where her family fled from persecution with the help of HIAS is one of the key inspirations behind her activism. [15] Dayani was dubbed a “Jewish Champion” on the cover of the Jewish Journal LA with Debra Messing in June 2023. [16] Dayani's video about the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel was viewed approximately 50 million times. She was also named as one of the Top 100 Influential Jews for the Jewish Year 5782 (2021–22) and Year 5783 (2022-2023), by The Tel Aviv Institute. [17] She spoke on the attack at the United Nations. [18]

She regularly appears on MSNBC to comment on the impact of antisemitism on Jews in the diaspora. [19] [20] [21] In January 2024, Dayani spoke at a rally in Tel Aviv to commemorate 100 days of the hostages who were taken on Oct. 7th being held in Gaza. In March 2024, Dayani released an interview with Moran Stela Yanai, a 40 year old jewelry designer who was kidnapped and released after 54 days in captivity in Gaza. [22] In April 2024, Dayani spoke at a rally in Ithaca, NY at Cornell University where she stood in solidarity with Jewish students nationwide against antisemitism on their campuses. [23]

I Am a Voter

In 2018, Dayani co-founded I Am a Voter, a nonpartisan organization aimed at promoting civic engagement and increasing voter turnout. The organization was founded by 20 volunteer women and the Creative Artists Agency. It has partnered with many well-known brands, including the NBA, Disney, NFL, ABC, H&M, Tom Ford, Bumble, and Urban Outfitters. Their campaign to boost voter registration has included many celebrities and athletes. Upon launch, their campaign generated over 1 billion digital impressions and 250 media articles. [24]

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References

  1. 1 2 Mandana Dayani, Peter Traugott
  2. ↑ United States Public Records, 1970–2009 (California, 2007)
  3. ↑ LinkedIn Profile
  4. ↑ University of Southern California (Class of 2003) Commencement
  5. ↑ "Archewell boss Mandana Dayani resigns days before Harry and Meghan's new Netflix documentary release". Economic Times. December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  6. ↑ Hinchliffe, Emma (September 3, 2021). "Meghan and Harry's Archewell hires Mandana Dayani as first COO". Fortune. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  7. ↑ Hinchlifee, Emma (September 1, 2021). "Meghan and Harry's Archewell hires Mandana Dayani as first COO". Fortune.
  8. ↑ Petit, Stephani (August 23, 2022). "Meghan Markle Releases First Episode of New Podcast on Spotify — Featuring Pal Serena Williams!". People.
  9. ↑ "Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke Of Sussex". Penguin Random House. January 20, 2023.
  10. ↑ O'Brien, Sara (November 5, 2016). "15 Questions With Mandana Dayani". CNN Money. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Power Player: Mandana Dayani". GOOP. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Watch: Fortune Most Powerful Women Next Gen Summit Livestream". Fortune. October 15, 2022.
  13. ↑ "First Lady Olena Zelenska, Billie Jean King And Jessica Alba Join Speaker Line Up For Forbes' 30/50 Summit In Abu Dhabi". Forbes . February 16, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Debra Messing And Mandana Dayani Launched Their Podcast Series, The Dissenters, In Honor Of RBG". Forbes. May 22, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  15. ↑ Dale, Shakira (February 21, 2021). "Debra Messing and Mandana Dayani: Supporting Refugees is a Core Jewish Value". HIAS. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  16. ↑ Refael, Tabby (June 1, 2023). "Debra Messing and Mandana Dayani: Jewish Champions". Jewish Journal. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Jewish100 5782". Tel Aviv Institute. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Sheryl Sandberg Calls for More Outrage Over Attacks on Women on Oct. 7". TIME. December 4, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  19. ↑ "'Everyday it gets harder; it feels like nobody cares': Mandana Dayani meets with families of hostages held by Hamas". MSNBC.com. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  20. ↑ "'We are actually terrified': 'I Am a Voter' co-founder shares fears over growing antisemitism". MSNBC.com. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  21. ↑ "'Heartbreaking' to watch people not show up for women assaulted by Hamas, says activist". MSNBC.com. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Former Hamas hostage recounts horrors of captivity". MSNBC.com. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Jewish Community Members Rally for Israel as Pro-Palestine Students March for Divestment". cornellsun.com. November 30, 2001. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  24. ↑ Scharf, Lindzi (October 10, 2020). "She wants to make voting as epic as the next Marvel movie". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
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