Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian

Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. My guest today is Aren Deyirmenjian, Country Representative for AMMA (Armenian Missionary Association of America) and a seasoned professional in entrepreneurship, social impact, and community development. Aren has long been a thoughtful voice in shaping how return, belonging, and impact are approached in Armenia. In his current role at AMMA, he’s leading initiatives that center long-term impact, and people-first solutions. In today’s episode, we explore the foundations of Aren’s values-driven leadership, the emotional landscape of returning to build, and what it truly means to serve — quietly, intentionally, and for the long haul.

Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. For this episode, I’m joined by Marina Mkhitaryan, a civic innovator and social entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience designing and leading initiatives that bridge civic tech, youth development, and cultural resilience.Her work is rooted in a belief that systems change begins with people, and that every young Armenian should have the opportunity to lead, create, and thrive. In today’s episode, we’ll explore the foundations of Marina’s mission-driven leadership, her approach to building trust between the diaspora and the homeland, and what it really takes to create long-term change in Armenia.This episode was recorded while Marina was still part of AGBU. She is now with Armenia Tree Project.

Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. I’m joined today by Ruben Malayan — an artist, calligrapher, and cultural thinker whose work has reignited global interest in Armenian script and sacred aesthetics. Known for his intricate calligraphy and thought-provoking commentary on identity, Ruben’s art is more than visual — it’s a statement. His career bridges the personal and the political, the historical and the modern. In this episode, we’ll explore the foundations of Ruben’s artistic voice, and how he uses art as a form of resistance and remembrance.

Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. Today’s guest is Maria Titizian — journalist, editor-in-chief of EVN Report, and one of Armenia’s most trusted public voices. With a career spanning politics, media, and civic education, Maria has consistently used words to bring clarity to chaos. Whether writing about war, identity, or accountability, she brings moral courage and emotional honesty to every piece. Today, we’ll talk about the foundations of truth-telling in fragile democracies, the role of independent media in shaping civic consciousness, and the personal cost — and purpose — of documenting a nation’s most difficult moments.

Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. Today, I’m joined by Samvel Martirosyan — cybersecurity expert, media analyst, and one of Armenia’s most essential public educators on digital safety. Known for making complex threats understandable, Samvel has spent the last two decades protecting Armenia’s digital borders and fighting disinformation. Whether advising institutions or speaking to everyday citizens, he’s helped shape national awareness in an increasingly chaotic information landscape. In this episode, we’ll dive into the foundations of his public service and what’s really at stake in the fight for digital truth.

Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. Today, I’m joined by a remarkable duo: Marie Lou and Pegor Papazian — the visionaries behind TUMO, Armenia’s world-renowned creative tech center. Together, they’ve redefined what’s possible in education by centering self-learning, imagination, and access. Their work has touched tens of thousands of students in Armenia and beyond, and their partnership — both personal and professional — reflects a shared commitment to long-term nation-building. In this episode, we’ll explore the foundations of their journey, how they built something that didn’t exist before, and what it takes to imagine the future while staying rooted in purpose.

Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. Today’s guest is Suzanna Shamakhyan, Executive Director of FAST (Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology) — a leading institution working to accelerate innovation, science, and talent in Armenia. With a background in education diplomacy, policy, and diaspora engagement, Suzanna brings systems thinking and emotional intelligence into every room she enters. She’s also a mother and a mentor, navigating leadership with grace and groundedness. In today’s episode, we dive into the foundations of Suzanna’s purpose-driven work, her vision for Armenia’s tech and education future, and how she balances personal clarity with national responsibility.

Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. Today, I’m joined by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan — world-renowned painter, Armenian soul, and master of introspective realism. Known for his hauntingly layered “Mirror” series, Tigran’s work explores visibility, identity, and the blurred boundaries between self and world. Born in Yerevan and based in New York, he carries Armenia in his brushstrokes while speaking a global visual language. In this episode, we explore the foundations of Tigran’s creative world, the philosophical questions that fuel his art, and what it means to be both seen and unseen as an artist and as a person.

Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. Today’s guest is Tatevik Revazyan — aviation executive, trailblazer, and one of the most fearless voices redefining leadership in Armenia and beyond. As the former Chair of Armenia’s Civil Aviation Committee and a founder of the country's first low-cost airline, Tatevik has broken barriers not only in a male-dominated industry but also in systems resistant to change. Her work has been fueled by courage, clarity, and a deep belief in action over fear. In today’s conversation, we’ll explore the foundations of Tatevik’s bold decision-making, what it means to lead with both strength and grace, and how she’s stayed grounded while constantly challenging the status quo.

Բարի գալուստ «Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian» փոդքասթի հերթական դրվագ։ Այսօրվա իմ զրուցակիցը մարդ է, ով կրթությունը տեսնում է ոչ միայն որպես համակարգ, այլ որպես երկրի ապագայի հիմք: Պատիվ ունեմ մեր տաղավարում հյուրընկալելու Հայաստանի կրթության, գիտության, մշակույթի և սպորտի նախարար տիկին Ժաննա Անդրեասյանին: Տիկին Անդրեասյանն առաջին նախարարն էր, ով բարձրաձայնեց կրթության այն իրական պատկերը, որի մասին տարիներ շարունակ լռել էինք։ Նա կիսվեց ոչ միայն փաստերով ու վիճակագրությամբ, այլ նաև այն գիտակցումով, որ առանց տեսնելու, ընդունելու ու խոսելու իրականության մասին՝ փոփոխություն պարզապես հնարավոր չէ։Այսօրվա զրույցը հենց այդ իրականության, սխալների, ճշմարտությունների, ռազմավարական փոփոխությունների և մարտահրավերների մասին է։

«Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian» տասներորդ դրվագի հյուրը Հայ կրթական հիմնարկության տնօրեն Արմինե Հարոյանն է: Հիմնարկությունն արդեն 75 տարի է, ինչ աջակցում է հայկական տարբեր կրթական կառույցներին և նախաձեռնություններին՝ թե՛ Հայաստանում և թե՛ սփյուռքում: Արմինեի նվիրվածությունն ու աշխատանքը մեծ ազդեցություն է թողել մեր կրթության ոլորտում և շատ հայ երիտասարդների կյանքում: Այս զրույցում մենք խոսում ենք նրա անձնական և մասնագիտական ուղիների, Հայ կրթական հիմնարկության և այն հիմնարար արժեքների մասին, որոնք առաջնորդում են նրան իր աշխատանքում:

Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. Today, I’m so happy to be joined by Sheila Paylan, an international criminal lawyer and human rights expert with over 15 years of experience advising the United Nations. Sheila has played pivotal roles in prosecuting war crimes and advocating for justice at tribunals for Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia, and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. Her expertise in international law, conflict-related gender-based violence, and human rights has informed her work in courtrooms and through her writing. Today, we’ll explore the foundations of Sheila’s unwavering commitment to justice, the lessons learned from standing at the forefront of global human rights challenges, and her thoughts on the role of law in creating lasting change.

Today, I’m honored to be joined by Tigran Jrbashyan, one of Armenia’s most respected economists and strategists. As the Director of Management Advisory Services at Ameria Group, Tigran has played a key role in shaping economic policy, business strategy, and long-term development planning in Armenia. His expertise spans across urban development, innovation, and public policy—making him a vital voice in conversations about Armenia’s economic future. In this episode, we’ll explore the foundations of his work, the challenges and opportunities Armenia faces, and his vision for sustainable growth.

I’m thrilled to be joined today by Esther Wojcicki—trailblazing educator, best-selling author, and fierce advocate for autonomy in learning and life. She founded the renowned Media Arts Program at Palo Alto High, where students thrived in an environment built on trust, freedom, and responsibility—earning fans like Steve Jobs along the way. Her books—How to Raise Successful People and Moonshots in Education—aren’t just about parenting or pedagogy; they’re blueprints for cultivating independent thinkers and courageous leaders. And Esther walks the talk: she raised three powerhouse daughters—Susan, CEO of YouTube for nearly a decade; Janet, a Fulbright-winning medical researcher and professor at UCSF; and Anne, co-founder of 23andMe.

For this episode, I’m sitting down with Rev Lebaredian, a guy who’s been shaping the future of tech before most people even realized where it was headed. He’s the VP of Omniverse and Simulation at NVIDIA, basically leading the charge in designing our virtual future. But before he was building the infrastructure for the metaverse, he was knee-deep in video games, visual effects, and real-time graphics.Rev’s career is a masterclass in playing the long game. He started out working on VFX for Warner Bros. and Disney, then got into the game engine scene at Steamboat Software before landing at NVIDIA, where he’s now engineering simulated worlds that are transforming entire industries. From Hollywood to Silicon Valley, from film to gaming to AI-driven virtual environments—Rev has seen it all.We get into how our virtual and real worlds are colliding, where AI-driven simulations are taking us, and what it really takes to be ahead of the curve in a world that’s changing faster than ever. This isn’t just a tech talk—it’s a look at the future through the eyes of someone who's building it.

Այս տարվա մեր առաջին թողարկման հյուրը Հայաստանում առաջին կին Գլխավոր դատախազ, իրավաբան, իրավաբանական գիտությունների թեկնածու և դոցենտ Աննա Վարդապետյանն է։ Աննան տասը տարուց ավել է, ինչ իր աշխատանքով Հայասանում նպաստում է արդարության և իրավունքի ամրապնդմանը։

For the final episode of 2024, I’m joined by my friend Gevorg Poghosyan, a bold and courageous leader in Armenia’s technology, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy sectors. As the CEO of reArmenia and Co-Founder of IDram and The Crowdfunding Formula, Gevorg has played a pivotal role in connecting Armenians worldwide and empowering startups. From pioneering fintech solutions to leading impactful social initiatives, his contributions are remarkable. I’m thrilled to explore his insights and experiences in this episode.

For this episode of Foundations, I’m thrilled to welcome Raffi Krikorian. Raffi currently serves as the CTO of Emerson Collective, where he harnesses the power of technology and data to lead social impact initiatives. Prior to Emerson, Raffi held key leadership roles, including CTO of the Democratic National Committee, Head of Uber's Advanced Technologies Center, and VP of Platform Engineering at Twitter. Join us as we explore the foundations of his incredible career and discuss how technology can drive meaningful, positive change.

For the second episode of #FoundationsPodcast, I had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Lorky Libaridian, a U.S. board-certified physician in internal medicine and pediatrics. We dive into her vast experience in health system reform and medical education in Armenia.

For the very first episode of Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian, I’m thrilled to be joined by my dear friend, Sara Anjargolian, a multidimensional force in law, entrepreneurship, and public service.