Immigrant. Mother. Living Donor. Storyteller.

That’s me in a nutshell, but let’s get into the details. My lived experience as an Iranian immigrant and a single mother have fostered a drive and passion for storytelling — across any platform. My decision in 2022 to donate a kidney to a colleague I barely knew nearly 900 miles away cemented my belief that empathy and communication are my life’s compass.

My love of storytelling stoked my deep interest in exploring media beyond my traditional print background – diving into broadcast, audio, and digital platforms at CNN for more than 15 years. Through various roles at CNN – from an editorial watchdog to managing multi-platform investigative projects – I’ve had the privilege of learning about and working on ways to best tell high-impact stories that engage and move the audience.

From the remote corners of Appalachia, where coal ash dusted my hair and tales filled my notebook, to the confines of women’s prison in Alabama, my storytelling journey had a head-spinning, often jaw-dropping start — chasing stories and filing details with speed.

This is how I have evolved in my pursuit: I don’t want to just tell stories. I want to deliver them in the most exciting and engaging ways possible.

That’s my story. What’s yours? Let’s talk.