I’m a negotiation consultant specializing in weaponizing empathy and stoicism training; a law professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, teaching complex negotiation, global transactions, and leadership; and a thought leader with a long history of civic engagement. I’m also the author of the critically acclaimed, best-selling novel “Butterfly Stitching,” inspired by the true experiences of myself and the women in my family before and after the Iranian revolution. Before this, I was a partner at the law firm of Barack Ferrazzano where I represented international and Fortune 500 companies for 17 years.
My greatest joy comes from helping my clients and students augment their reality to the next level. Many tell me they struggle because most other coaching and teaching is offered by those from unrelatable positions of economic, racial, ethnic, and political power, and those methods just won’t work for them. Others tell me they are too empathetic, to the point where those around them take advantage. Still others need help learning empathy and stoicism, both of which are forms of emotional control. I work with them all to raise cognitive empathetic abilities to the superpower level while teaching emotional regulation. In addition to this, I bring together a curated and select group of high level executives, admitted on a referral basis, for uniquely curated peer-to-peer mentoring events, forging innovation and alliances that expand opportunities for professional and personal growth. My goal is to help every client capitalize on their full human potential, enabling them to become visionaries in their industries and their lives.
I often speak on issues relating to complex negotiation, tactical empathy, stoicism, change-agency, leadership, and professional development. But I’m also often asked to speak on issues of international relations, non-profit management, and civil and human rights. I was recently named as the annual Woman Extraordinaire by the International Women Associates, featured by WomanScape Magazine for my global humanitarian work, and named one of the nation’s top 100 “Women to Watch” by BizWomen Magazine, one of Chicago’s most influential women by Chicago Business Journal, and one of Chicago’s Women of Inspiration by Today’s Chicago Magazine.
I’m very dedicated to my local and global community. I’m currently a founder of Pasfarda Arts and Culture Exchange, a director of the international refugee center RefuSHE, and a founding member of the Chicago Council for the American Writers Museum. Previously, I served as a director of the ACLU of Illinois and a director of the Lincoln Park Community Services. I’m currently authoring a textbook on global transactions issues, to be published by Northwestern Library in 2022, and I’m a frequent columnist and commentator for a variety of international magazines, including WomanScape, Fete Lifestyle Magazine, and The Huffington Post.
