Ep 162 | Mandana Dayani

Written By Yasmin Nouri

How to Reinvent Yourself & The Art of Following Your Gut Intuition

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Mandana Dayani is the Creator and Co-founder of I am a voter., a national, nonpartisan voting organization, and was most recently President of Archewell, the production, audio, and philanthropic company founded by Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

In 2018, immediately upon witnessing the child separation policy at the border, Mandana brought together 20 incredible women around a table to launch I am a voter. Since launching, the organization has generated billions of media impressions and has partnered with hundreds of brands shaping culture across entertainment, fashion, beauty, tech, and sports, including the NBA, Disney, Bumble, Starbucks, NFL, H&M, and so much more.

Mandana began her career as a corporate attorney at Paul Hastings. She then worked as a commercial talent agent before joining Rachel Zoe, Inc., where she led and launched the company’s consumer products, media, and strategic investment businesses. After six years, Mandana switched her career again and joined Everything But The House as Chief Brand Officer, raising $84 million in venture capital.

In our episode, Mandana shares how she’s been able to have multiple career pivots and reinvent herself, moving from law to fashion and then to tech. We also talk about her childhood in Iran during a time of war and her drive to make a meaningful impact on the world. We also talk about the importance of setting boundaries, overcoming people-pleasing tendencies, trusting your intuition & how to build that muscle, and so much more.

Show Notes:

  • The advice Mandana received from her mentor, Shannon Watts, and how it impacted her. [02:31]

  • How her outsider’s perspective has aided her in her career. [04:44]

  • Mandana’s early childhood memories of Iran during the war and moving to the US. [05:41]

  • How her experience inspired her to start I am a voter. [07:08]

  • What sparked her mission to change the world. [09:35]

  • How she managed the expectations of fulfilling the American dream. [11:38]

  • The secret to a successful pivot. [17:32]

  • Mandana’s first big leap: moving from law to fashion. [17:58]

  • How she changed her story to facilitate her pivot. [22:47]

  • Mandana shares insight into her time working with Rachel Zoe; how she got the job and what she found most rewarding. [26:03]

  • The importance of using your voice and leaning into your passion. [28:42]

  • Overcoming people-pleasing tendencies and stepping into vulnerability. [29:09]

  • What led to the creation of I am a voter and how it was developed. [31:52]

  • Mandana’s vision for the movement. [35:55]

  • How to gauge if you’re on the right path. [36:13]

  • What Mandana found to be so deeply rewarding about the project. [36:42]

  • Her fears in the early stages of creating I am a voter and how she overcame them. [37:35]

  • How she has ensured that I am a voter is an inclusive space. [40:02]

  • What she considers to be the proudest moments of her life. [43:59]

  • Mandana’s advice for building the muscle of trusting your intuition. [46:54]

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Yasmin Nouri
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