I am an entrepreneur, investor, author, and founder of One Planet Group, a private equity firm that invests in and owns a range of technology, media and hospitality businesses. My journey from Iran, where I fled at 16 due to my Baha'i faith, to finding asylum in the U.S., and ultimately establishing a successful business venture, is fueled by a mission to infuse business with spiritual values to better humanity. After graduating from the University of California, Davis, my brother and I launched AutoWeb, pioneering one of the first online car marketplaces and taking it public in a record IPO in 1999, reaching a market cap of $1.2 billion. In 2023, I initiated the One Planet Summit, a platform for leaders to discuss how business can positively impact humanity, highlighting our commitment to spiritual capitalism. This effort aligns with our broader goal to blend spiritual principles with business practices, enhancing societal and economic welfare. I am humbled for the various accolades received over the years, especially the Tahirih Justice Center’s ‘Hope Award’ and the University of California, Davis Award of Distinction in 2018. These honors reflect not just my business achievements but also my deep commitment to using business as a force for societal good. My National bestseller memoir, ‘Crossing the Desert’, further explores these themes, sharing the challenges I've faced and the principles guiding my professional journey. Together with my wife, Gouya we run BahaiTeachings.org and the One Planet One People foundation, focusing on women and girls empowerment and racial unity, which we see as vital to America’s progress. Our life's work, while being parents to two daughters, is dedicated to creating a world where business and spiritual progress are interconnected, fostering a just, unified society.