Jasmine Samsami

I attribute my success primarily to my mother, who is the CEO and founder of Moms Against Poverty and has been my greatest role model and driving force. She consistently pushed me to reach my potential, often holding me to very high standards while also believing in me from the start. Through my experience working at Moms Against Poverty, I was able to build my skills from the ground up despite having no formal background in marketing, growing from an intern to taking on responsibilities such as designing annual reports, flyers, and gala programs. Her guidance, high expectations, and unwavering support have been central to both my personal and professional development.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is to trust my conviction and move forward on the things I truly believe in, even when others doubt them. I’ve been surrounded by strong, high-achieving women who consistently challenged limiting beliefs placed on them—often being told something couldn’t be done, only to go ahead and do it anyway. That example taught me not to let outside opinions dictate my direction or discourage me from trying. I used to second-guess myself and fear failure, but over time I’ve learned that taking the leap, even without certainty, is often the only way to grow. I now see failure not as something to avoid, but as an essential part of learning, building experience, and better understanding my own capabilities and goals.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to not let outside noise dictate your goals or limit what you believe you can achieve. There will always be opinions about what you can or cannot do, but it is important to trust your own vision and give things a real chance, even if you feel uncertain at first. Growth often comes from simply trying, learning, and adjusting along the way. Most importantly, believe that women are fully capable of making anything happen when they set their minds to it, especially when they stay focused, persistent, and true to their goals.

The biggest opportunities in my field right now lie in scaling nonprofit impact in a way that meaningfully expands access to resources for children and underserved communities. There is also significant potential in further empowering the Iranian diaspora and women across the United States by strengthening representation, access, and support systems that enable long-term success. At the same time, a key challenge is maintaining momentum at the local level—ensuring there is sustained energy, structure, and commitment to help organizations and startups not only launch but truly thrive and create lasting impact.

The most important values in my work and personal life are purpose, service, and impact. Being adopted from Iran at a young age shaped my perspective and initially brought a sense of guilt, which I’ve since turned into motivation to give back and help expand access to education, healthcare, and basic resources for children. I’m deeply drawn to nonprofit and mission-driven work that creates real, tangible change, and I’m committed to empowering the Iranian diaspora and women. At the core of everything I do is a focus on meaningful impact and helping others thrive.