About this episode

Shirin Behzadi shares her inspiring journey from a gas station cashier to a successful CEO and advocate for inclusive leadership.

Shirin Behzadi is a transformational CEO, investor, board member, and bestselling author whose career is defined by resilience, disciplined leadership, and purpose-driven growth. After arriving in the United States alone at 17 and working as a gas station cashier, Shirin built a remarkable business career spanning finance, private equity, and franchising. She rose from CPA and CFO roles to become CEO of Home Franchise Concepts, where she led the company’s transformation into a billion-dollar platform of home services brands, overseeing hundreds of millions in systemwide sales and a successful private equity-backed exit.Today, Shirin serves as a trusted advisor, board director, and keynote speaker, helping leaders turn adversity into strategic advantage. She has raised more than $900 million in private equity, served on corporate and nonprofit boards, and is a passionate advocate for inclusive leadership and women’s empowerment. Her national bestselling memoir, The Unexpected CEO: My Journey from Gas Station Cashier to Billion-Dollar CEO, chronicles her journey from war-torn Iran to the C-suite and offers a powerful framework for leading with vision, empathy, and courage. Known…

People in this episode

Host: Tommy Mello

Guest: Shirin Behzadi

Topics covered

• leadership
• entrepreneurship
• resilience
• women's empowerment
• private equity

Keywords

• CEO
• business transformation
• private equity
• memoir
• women in leadership

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Home Franchise Concepts

Books & works: The Unexpected CEO: My Journey from Gas Station Cashier to Billion-Dollar CEO

Places: United States, Iran

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