Shirin Behzadi is a renowned speaker and highly successful entrepreneur in the franchising industry. As the former CEO of Home Franchise Concepts (HFC), she led the company to significant growth, overseeing more than 1,700 franchisees and achieving double-digit sales increases annually. Shirin transformed HFC into a top-selling family of direct-to-consumer brands during her 20-year tenure. Today, she serves as a board member and advisor to various companies, helping them achieve strategic growth. Recognized by EY as Entrepreneur of the Year and a recipient of the Innovation Award by Franchise.com, Shirin shares her insights on leadership and entrepreneurship through her speaking engagements.

Sanaz Jahangard is an attorney in the business planning department at Brown & Streza, LLP, representing companies from diverse industries. She is the founder of Co-NetWomen, a women’s business networking and education organization, and serves on the board of the Orange County Iranian American Chamber of Commerce (OCIACC). Sanaz is also a past president of the Iranian American Bar Association (IABA) Orange County Chapter and currently serves on their board as president emeritus. With a background as a successful business owner, she excels in business and tax planning, succession planning, and mergers & acquisitions. As co-MC, Sanaz brings her dynamic leadership to the event.