…in a family in Tehran where my father was an art professor and my mother was an architectural project manager, I was highly influenced by the arts. Therefore, it was natural that I would pursue a bachelor’s degree in Arts and Crafts, which was the degree at the time which incorporated aspects of both design and architecture. After graduation at the age of 24, I co-founded my own company. In 2010, I received an MBA in Marketing, which furthered the success of my business and helped to expand my firm. Nevertheless, it had always been my heart’s desire to obtain a master’s degree in Interior Design, so I searched to determine the #1 educational program in this field, which led me to Savannah College of Arts and Design in Atlanta, Georgia. Here I was accepted and received a scholarship. This was the beginning of a new journey in my life, which brought both joys and challenges.

Upon arriving in the U.S. in 2017 as an international student, the currency rate exchange plummeted, which left me with the need to work multiple part-time jobs while also enrolled in a full academic program. This, in addition to improving second-language skills and adapting to a new culture, was very challenging and left me homesick, but with perseverance, I was able to graduate with a 4.0 GPA, having earned an award for outstanding academic achievement. This resulted in multiple job offers across the U.S.

Despite my past experience and educational achievements, I deliberately accepted an entry-level position which would further enhance the development of my knowledge and skills to be more proficient in the field of Interior Design in the United States. However, this created challenges if its own, and I missed personal engagement with clients and the management of projects. Over time, it became clear that my best contribution to the field of Interior Design is to operate my own business where I have the freedom to directly influence the outcome of all aspects of design and installation with quality and integrity.