Welcome to All of It

A Note From Mandana

I’ve never quite fit in. I’ve never been what I was supposed to be. I’ve never fit into the boxes others built for me. For most of my life, that nonconformity was the root of my imposter syndrome - what exacerbated my fear of abandonment and my relentless desire to please others and be “perfect.” 

And then I finally realized at the age of 40, I was never meant to fit in. That my career would never fit into a neat category and my opinions wouldn't conform to others' expectations for simple, binary choices. My magic - was that I was all of it.

I am Iranian, Kurdish, Jewish, American, an immigrant, a voter, a mother, a daughter, a sister. I’m a lawyer, an agent, a brand builder, a marketer, an activist, organizer, political advisor, investor, podcaster, producer, chef, and aspiring gardener. I love fashion, interiors, hosting, and I try to hold the center between political extremes which, ironically, seems to make everyone mad. I am creative and strategic, obsessed with fonts and fabrics - but spend most of my time in spreadsheets. I’m hopeful, spiritual, curious, and I value integrity above all. My family (and dog!) are my whole universe, and nothing makes me happier than being at the table with loved ones.

For years, I’ve been told to start a Substack, launch a podcast, write a book. But I resisted. Every time I tried, it felt like I had to pick a lane - to shrink myself into one version of who I am. To make my thoughts smaller, simpler, easier to categorize. To fit them into a box. 

But here - with you - I want to be ALL OF IT.  All of me. I want this space to be different. I want it to be a place where you can bring your whole self - your joys, your struggles, your contradictions. Where we embrace the gray, the messy, the complex. Where we refuse to be confined by labels or expectations. Where being “too much” will never be the problem.

Join me. To ask questions, challenge assumptions, and break free from the boxes that don’t serve us. Let’s explore, learn, laugh, and grow - all of it. Thank you for being a part of this.