How To Stay Hopeful in a World on Fire: Mandana Dayani

When the world feels like it’s burning, some people retreat. Mandana Dayani builds. In this episode, Danielle sits down with the powerhouse behind I Am A Voter and Archewell, attorney, entrepreneur, and activist Mandana Dayani—a woman whose story spans war zones, boardrooms, and the front lines of cultural change. From escaping post-revolution Iran to advising the White House, launching viral civic movements, and leading Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s media and philanthropic company Archwell, Mandana shares the moments that shaped her and the values that keep her grounded, outspoken, and unshakably hopeful. Mandana shares:

• The childhood escape from Iran that shaped everything

• The guilt that became her fuel

• Why she left a “perfect” persona behind to tell the truth

• What it really took to launch I Am A Voter + why she’ll never stop

• The heartbreak of October 7th and what it revealed about her community

• How she built Our Campus United and The OCU Chronicle in response to rising antisemitism

• Why integrity is her personal compass and the question she asks herself every night

• Her experience working with Meghan & Harry—and what storytelling means at scale

• The power of reinvention, especially when you're already at the top

• And why she believes optimism isn’t naive—it’s necessary

Follow Mandana on Instagram @mandanadayaniBook Recommendation:  The Way of Integrity by Martha Beck. 

Learn more about her work at www.mandanadayani.com