She Was Arrested at 15. Then She Built an $850M Company | Shirin Behzadi | What Happens Next Podcast

In this week’s episode, host Dhar Mann sits down with Shirin Behzadi, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and former CEO of Home Franchise Concepts, to discuss her extraordinary journey from surviving political unrest to leading a multi-million-dollar empire. Shirin shares her harrowing experience of being arrested as a teenager in post-revolution Iran, fleeing to Turkey alone at 17 with no passport, and arriving in Southern California working the graveyard shift behind bulletproof glass at a gas station. She reveals the mindset of "delusion", turning hope into certainty, that propelled her from a cashier studying calculus to a CPA at a Big Eight accounting firm, corporate CFO, and ultimately a private-equity-backed CEO who doubled a major enterprise before executing a massive exit. Shirin also opens up about the life-or-death health crisis that forced her to relearn how to walk, redefining her perspective on leadership, empathy, and resilience. Get started with ShipStation today and get sixty days free at ⁠https://ShipStation.com⁠, with code dhar. Taxes and fees apply. Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code DHAR for up to 20% off. Chapters: 00:00 - Surviving Post-Revolution Iran & Learning Resilience 06:48 - Fleeing Alone to Turkey at Age 17 16:02 - The Power of Hope & Reaching America 24:12 - Working Behind Bulletproof Glass at a Gas Station 30:35 - Climbing the Corporate Ladder to CFO 40:12 - Scaling Home Franchise Concepts to a Multi-Million-Dollar Sale 48:39 - Surviving a Life-Threatening Brain Tumor & Relearning to Walk What Happens Next... The Dhar Mann Podcast is the latest venture produced by Dhar Mann Studios. Hosted by Dhar Mann, the NY Times proclaimed "Moral Philosopher" himself, this podcast will invite the audience in on exclusive conversations between Dhar and his high-profile guests so that they can listen to never before told stories of their shocking journeys on their paths to success. Through their challenges Dhar will reveal unknown twists, setbacks, and turning points that almost derailed them - and how instead these moments led to their success. Each episode will highlight never before heard moments that shaped who they are today - and the lessons we all can learn from them. Subscribe to the Podcast: @dharmannspodcast Listen on Spotify/Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/WhatHappensNextwithDha... Follow us on Instagram: Instagram: thewhathappensnextpodcast Find us on TikTok: TikTok: whathappensnextpodcast Connect with us on Facebook: Facebook: WhatHappensNextDharMannPodcast #DharMann #ShirinBehzadi #Podcast #Inspiration #Entrepreneurship #Resilience #Leadership #SuccessMindset