From Persian family pressure to Shark Tank success! Zoya was expected to follow the traditional Middle Eastern path—become a lawyer, get married, and live the “perfect” Persian life. But she had other plans. As a gay Persian entrepreneur, Zoya had to fight against cultural expectations, family struggles, and self-doubt to build her own empire.
In this episode, we dive into: ✔️ How Zoya’s parents reacted when she came out as gay ✔️ The pressures of being Middle Eastern & breaking tradition ✔️ How she built a food empire from scratch (and made $$$ from content!) ✔️ The dark truth about raw fish & why she stopped eating sushi ✔️ Her insane Shark Tank journey and what happened behind the scenes
Watch till the end to hear Zoya’s message to anyone struggling to live their truth!
00:00 Intro 02:07 Cultural Expectations and Career Choices 16:18 Challenges of Being Gay in a Persian Family 34:28 Coming Out to Family 44:57 Reflections on Luck and Life 46:43 Reflecting on Life's Luck and Fate 47:37 The Lottery of Life 49:16 The Culinary Journey Begins 51:05 From Social Enterprise to Culinary Ventures 55:06 The Birth of Fish Foods 57:58 Challenges and Triumphs in the Vegan Sushi World 01:07:41 Shark Tank Experience and Future Goals 01:19:23 Discussing the Deal: Behind the Scenes 01:20:22 Shark Tank Experience: Expectations vs Reality 01:22:52 Challenges in the Food Industry 01:25:44 Restaurant Business: The Real Struggle 01:32:44 Content Creation: The New Frontier 01:34:16 Collaborations with Gordon Ramsay 01:39:13 Future Plans and Advice for Aspiring Creators 01:52:50 The Value of Engagement Over Follower Count 01:53:34 Earnings and Niche Differences for Content Creators 01:54:27 Negotiating Deals and Knowing Your Worth 01:55:20 Challenges of Sponsored Content 01:55:52 The Importance of Authenticity 02:00:02 Advice for Aspiring Content Creators 02:17:41 Personal Reflections and Future Plans
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