Farnaz Vahdani
Farnaz Vahdani is an experienced Executive Assistant and administrative professional based in Los Angeles, California, with over 20 years of experience supporting senior leadership across banking, real estate, medical, and nonprofit sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and has built a career centered on executive support, internal operations, and organizational efficiency. Her professional strengths include managing confidential records, coordinating communications, maintaining audit-ready documentation, and supporting leadership in fast-paced, high-responsibility environments.
Throughout her career, Farnaz spent nearly three decades in the banking industry, including roles such as AVP where she supported senior leadership with regulatory compliance, documentation control, and operational administration. Following a career shift after the 2008 real estate downturn, she also gained experience in the medical field, further broadening her administrative and technical capabilities. In 2024, she made a purposeful transition into the nonprofit sector, choosing to focus her skills on mission-driven work that serves vulnerable communities.
Currently, she serves as an Executive Assistant with NoHo Home Alliance, where she provides direct support to executive leadership, manages donor and financial records, coordinates volunteers, and develops operational documentation. Her work is guided by a strong commitment to service, confidentiality, and reliability, with a focus on enabling organizational leaders to concentrate on strategic and community-facing initiatives. She is also a commissioned Notary Public and continues to pursue contract and temporary executive support opportunities, including remote and hybrid roles.
• Medical Assistant Certification
• X-Ray Technician Certificate
• Notary Public Commission
• PMP® Certification Training Course
• University of Phoenix - BBA
• NoHo Home Alliance
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a strong drive to take initiative and a mindset shaped by resilience and adaptability. Operating in what I would describe as a “survival mode” early in my career motivated me to consistently perform well, maintain stable employment, and prioritize independence, all of which have pushed me to excel professionally.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to take pride in my job. I think when you take pride in the job that you're doing and you end up loving what you're doing, you push yourself and put your best foot forward. That pride in your work really makes all the difference in how you perform and succeed.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
For them to be dedicated to what they want to do and make sure to do what they love to do. I think, in a way, when I went into banking, I just stayed because of the money. I mean, I did enjoy what I did, but it wasn't really what I really, really wanted to do. So just go for what you love to do, because I think when you end up doing what you love, then you will succeed in that field. Don't just chase the money like I did - follow your passion instead.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge right now is finding people who want to help nonprofits, and also the personal challenge for me is that eventually I do have to find a paying job. Finding a position in a nonprofit that actually pays enough for me to be able to pay my bills and keep a roof over my head is a real challenge. It's difficult to balance the desire to help others through nonprofit work with the practical need to support yourself financially.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My biggest value is to do something that helps me and helps others as well at the same time. That's a big, big thing for me. I want my work to have meaning beyond just supporting myself - I want it to make a positive difference in other people's lives too. That's what truly inspired me to get into the nonprofit field, just being able to help people and have a job where it helps me and also helps other people.