Looking Back at August 2024: A Month of Engagement, Insights, and Growth

Dear Community

As summer slowly gives way to the cooler days of September, I want to take a moment to share some highlights from what has been an incredibly busy and fulfilling August. This past month was packed with exciting events, deep discussions, and meaningful work across various projects. Here’s a look at what I’ve been up to.

Bridging Disciplines at the Idea Designers Magazine Event

August kicked off with a fantastic event on the 1st, where I had the pleasure of participating in the launch of the eighth issue of Idea Designers Magazine. Held at the Malekzadegan House of Architecture, this event brought together some of the brightest minds in architecture and design. During the panel discussion, I joined Issa Taherianfar and Mohammadreza Moheydi to discuss the vital role that interdisciplinary publications like Idea Designers Magazine play in advancing knowledge and fostering collaboration across different fields. Seeing how much enthusiasm there is for this kind of cross-disciplinary work was inspiring, and I’m excited to see where these conversations lead.

Supporting Family Businesses

On August 10th, I was honored to be appointed to the Joint Commission on Family Businesses. This commission, a collaboration between the Iranian Family Business Promotion Association and the Federation of Management and Business Consultants of Iran, is dedicated to supporting the growth of family businesses in our economy. I’m thrilled to be part of this initiative and look forward to contributing my experience to help these businesses navigate their unique challenges and thrive in today’s market.

Judging on Karmani: Promoting Entrepreneurship

My commitment to supporting entrepreneurship continued through my role as a judge on Karmani, Iran’s first economic reality show. On August 24th, I judged the 11th episode, where I had the chance to evaluate some truly innovative business proposals. The winning team, “Kalaye Khoone,” stood out with their approach to the home goods market.

Then, on September 9th, I was back for the 13th episode, reviewing two exciting projects in the entertainment and e-commerce sectors. It’s always rewarding to see the creativity and drive of these entrepreneurs, and I’m proud to play a part in helping them secure the support they need to succeed.

Inspiring Better Decision-Making at the Emkan Club

One of the most thought-provoking moments of the month was my speech at the Emkan Club, where I talked about “Inspiration, Ambiguity, Uncertainty, and Illusions: Four Images for Better Decision-Making in/for Our Iran.” In this talk, I explored why so many of our efforts to improve Iran don’t achieve the desired outcomes, often due to poor decision-making. I shared ideas on how we can enhance the quality and impact of our decisions by rethinking our approach to work, identifying true experts, navigating uncertainties, and avoiding common pitfalls. The discussion was an enriching experience, and I hope it sparked new ways of thinking among those who attended.

Driving Innovation and Transformation

Beyond these public activities, much of my time this month was spent working closely with clients on exciting projects. I’ve been helping startups like Artunity and Gaply scale their operations and push forward with digital innovation. Additionally, I’m deeply involved in the digital transformation of AVA Airlines, where we’re modernizing their systems to boost efficiency. I’m also leading organizational transformation efforts at Post Bank of Iran, helping them adapt to the evolving market landscape. It’s been a busy but incredibly rewarding time as I work to drive real change across these different sectors.

Sharing My Thoughts Through Writing

In addition to all this, I’ve also found time to share some of my thoughts on my Persian blog. I recently wrote two pieces: one analyzing Hamrah Aval’s investment in Digikala and what it means for the future of Iran’s startup ecosystem, and another exploring how a culture of revenge could hinder Iran’s development if not addressed. These topics are close to my heart, and I hope they provoke some thought and discussion among readers.

Looking Forward

August was a whirlwind of activity, but it was all deeply fulfilling. I’m excited about what lies ahead as we move into September. Thank you for being part of this journey with me—your support and engagement mean the world. Let’s keep pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve together.

Warm regards,

Reza