Mandana Dayani has made a lot of major pivots over the course of her career.
She went from being a lawyer to working in the fashion industry at Rachel Zoe, Inc. Then, she worked at the startup Everything But the House, an online marketplace for estate sales, before founding I am a voter, a nonpartisan organization aimed at improving voter turnout and civic engagement.
Below, the multi-faceted media personality, entrepreneur, attorney, and activist shares her advice for women who haven’t found their passion yet, her tried-and-true tips for avoiding activism fatigue and staying positive, and the #1 book she always recommends (psst… it’s a must-read before the 2020 election).
CREATE & CULTIVATE: How did you decide to start I am a voter? What called you to take action?
MANDANA DAYANI: I am a voter was founded by some of the most brilliant women I have ever known. As an immigrant, I have always felt incredibly privileged to be an American, and I was really heartbroken seeing our country so divided the last few years.
After making the decision to just dive in and learn what I could do to help, I quickly saw that there was an opportunity for a modern voting brand that really spoke to our generation. One that was positive, empowering, and more focused on what unites us. A brand that really captured how cool it is to be an active participant and maybe made you feel a little FOMO if you weren’t. And I knew that if I could get these incredibly talented and inspiring women together in a room, we could build a meaningful message and leverage our relationships and skills to create true impact.
After doing lots of research, I learned that identity was an important predictor of voter turnout, which is where the name came from. And once we partnered with CAA, they were able to provide us with the tools, infrastructure, and support we needed to really get this off the ground.
“Fail fast. Time is incredibly valuable. If the job is not right, if the boyfriend sucks, if your friend continues to disappoint you and if the campaign isn’t gaining traction, move on quickly.”
I am a voter's media shutdown campaign has swept social media by storm. What was your plan for that campaign? How did you get partners to participate? Why do you think it has resonated with voters?
The media shutdown campaign was created by Vice Media for I am a voter and we launched it last year on National Voter Registration Day. It was a huge success and we all decided to do it again this year.
Since the beginning, I have always believed that the success of our campaign would be contingent on the support and participation of our communities. So when we reached out to all of our contacts and provided them with a very simple way to participate and with a nonpartisan message that wouldn't create conflict on their channels (but would instead provide their followers with a clear way to engage), many immediately jumped on board.
We also believe the simplicity of the message is what resonates with many people—we can all put everything aside for two minutes to participate. We were completely blown away by the support this year and just feel so grateful for everyone who showed up, believed in our mission and supported in any way possible.
When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you #FindNewRoads + switch gears to find success?
This has actually happened several times throughout my career. Each time, I begin with research. I take lots of meetings, do lots of LinkedIn stalking, ask countless questions, read tons of books about my heroes and think about who I am at the point in my life and what my goals actually are.
I find that so many people feel pigeonholed by decisions they made about their careers early on and I try to encourage them that they can pivot—it's crazy to think that who you are as a person, what your interests are and what is important to you will be the same forever. I don't think I could have ever predicted any of the major shifts I have taken in my career. But the challenge of learning something new that scares me is also so exciting.
I would also highly recommend listening to Hillary Kerr's “Second Life” podcast—it's incredible.
With success comes opportunity, but it also means you have your hands full. What keeps you inspired and motivated to keep going even on your most challenging days?
I have the incredible privilege of working every day with some of the most brilliant women I have ever known on a mission we all really believe in. We have all become mentors to each other and have built an invaluable support group for one other. I remember about two years ago, I was at an event that I didn't want to be at and I looked around the room and couldn't answer why I was there—there were so many things I was much more passionate about. And I was just determined to change my room. And so I guess that's what we did. We built the room we want to be in—with the people who drive us to focus on the work that inspires us.
Speaking of challenges, what have been some of the biggest mistakes you’ve faced throughout your career and what did you learn from them? How did you turn them into opportunities?
By far, the biggest mistakes I have ever made were staying in situations longer than I should have—both personally and professionally. So my advice is to fail fast. Time is incredibly valuable. If the job is not right, if the boyfriend sucks, if your friend continues to disappoint you and if the campaign isn't gaining traction, move on quickly. Learn from it. Pivot. Grow.
What advice do you have for women who haven’t found their path or passion yet?
Just start trying. If there is something you are curious about, dive in. If there is a topic that keeps you up at night, just take one little step forward today. I find that people often wait for the right time—there is no right time. Just begin now!
I also find that people too often doubt their ability to have a meaningful impact. But they don't realize just how much help all these organizations need across all functions and skillsets!
Moms Demand Action is also a great way to start getting involved. They have volunteers on the ground in every state, and you can participate with as much (or as little) time as you have to give.
I would also highly recommend they read Fight Like a Mother by Shannon Watts—it is everything you ever need to know about how to make a real impact!
What are your plans for I am a voter as we approach the 2020 elections?
We are working on many different media campaigns, partnerships, registration drives, and activations all across the country. We would love to partner with anyone interested in supporting the campaign! Please email me or DM me on Instagram any time!
What are your tricks to avoiding activism fatigue and staying positive?
I don't engage in Twitter battles and I block trolls on Instagram. I also stay focused on several issues that I am very passionate about.
Whose work do you most admire? Why?
At this point in my life, I am really passionate about my work in activism so I would have to say, Shannon Watts. She is the founder of Moms Demand Action, a grassroots organization of six million moms across America fighting together for gun safety. She was a stay at home mother of five when she began this incredible movement and has been a leading force in defeating the NRA. The clarity in vision, commitment to community, and ability to mobilize and inspire, that it takes to create something like this in just seven years is beyond extraordinary. She is as badass as it gets.
What is the #1 book you always recommend? Why?
Last year, I read On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder. It was incredibly eye-opening and a critical reminder that we must learn from our mistakes. It also provides context for how critical this time is for democracies across so many countries in the world.
Photographer: Jenna Peffley
Hair: Styled by OGXpert & Celebrity Hairstylist Jillian Halouska
VIEW THE FULL CREATE & CULTIVATE 100 FIND NEW ROADS LIST HERE.
