From Iran to CEO

Furkhan Dandia sits down with Shirin Behzadi — former CEO of a billion-dollar company, entrepreneur, and author — to explore her extraordinary journey from surviving the Iranian Revolution to leading with purpose in the United States. Born and raised in Iran, Shirin shares her powerful story of resilience: escaping the Iran-Iraq War, rebuilding her life as an immigrant, and breaking barriers in business and leadership. She opens up about navigating cultural challenges, facing a life-threatening health crisis, and transforming hardship into fuel for growth and empowerment. This profoundly moving conversation reveals how Shirin’s courage, authenticity, and compassion shaped her leadership philosophy and her belief that adversity can be the greatest teacher. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an immigrant, or a leader seeking purpose, this episode offers inspiration and practical insights for thriving through change and redefining success on your own terms. Shirin Behzadi is the former CEO of a billion-dollar company, an entrepreneur, a board advisor, and an author. Born in Iran and arriving in the United States as a teenager with little more than hope, she built her career through resilience, authenticity, and compassion. Today, Shirin shares hard-won insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and thriving through adversity, empowering women to own their voices and define success on their own terms. 00:00 Introduction to the EZ Conversations Podcast 01:00 Shirin Behzadi's Early Life in Iran 01:55 Challenges and Adversities Faced 03:17 Journey to the United States 03:57 Starting a New Life in America 05:34 Building a Career in Business 06:29 Experiences and Reflections on Iran 13:07 Pursuing the American Dream 17:32 Career Growth and Achievements 24:34 Navigating the Great Recession 28:14 Facing a Health Crisis 32:00 Lessons from Adversity 33:12 The Power of Listening 38:06 Writing the Book 43:59 Finding Purpose and Impact 47:01 Staying Grounded and Humble 48:12 Conclusion and Contact Information Sponsors of the Podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BetterHelp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For 10% off your first month of therapy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aura⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: For a free two-week trial ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dookio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mental⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NuCalm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: for a one-week free trial ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Descript ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LeanWorlds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Lewis Nutrition ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WeInspect⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Optery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or find Furkhan's Book, Pursuit of Self Love: 30 Uplifting Messages and Reflections. The Kindle version is available on Amazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.ca/Pursuit-Self-Love-Uplifting-Messages-Reflections-ebook/dp/B0C4D1XYL1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the EZ Reflections Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ez-reflections-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ Sponsors of the Podcast:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BetterHelp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For 10% off your first month of therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Aura⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: For a free two-week trial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dookio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mental⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NuCalm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: for a one-week free trial⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Descript ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LeanWorlds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Lewis Nutrition ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WeInspect⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Optery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eleven Labs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jane⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the EZ Reflections Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ez-reflections-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer: The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered therapy, counselling, or clinical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist–client relationship. The views expressed are my own and are separate from my clinical practice. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.