Shirin Behzadi was born and raised in Iran. As a young teenager, Shirin witnessed the chaotic and violent changes as a result of the regime change and the ensuing war in Iran. After being arrested twice, her parents decided to send her out of the country. At 17, Shirin immigrated and was left alone in Turkey with little money and no friends. Through self-reliance and tenacity, she found her way to the United States where she began her life working at a gas station. Following a vision to run a big company, Shirin worked full time and earned her bachelor’s degree. She rose quickly through the ranks as a CPA and CFO and left it all to pursue entrepreneurship. After years of trial and tribulations and lessons learned, Shirin was able to navigate the growth of the company and recruited private equity. Her years of hard work built on principles she had learned through her years of adversity helped her grow the company to a billion dollars. Today, Shirin dedicates her life to helping others grow and realize their visions through speaking and board and advisory work. Shirin lives in Southern California with her husband and is close to her two children and their families.
The Unexpected CEO
By Shirin Behzadi
$12.99 – $32.00
In The Unexpected CEO, CEO, entrepreneur, and business advisor Shirin Behzadi shares her inspiring journey of fleeing Iran to the United States, working at a gas station, rising through the corporate ranks, and eventually becoming a billion-dollar CEO, revealing the struggles and challenges she faced along the way and how resilience—her own and yours—can lead to amazing outcomes.
Description
COMING OCTOBER 2025
Drawn from a remarkable personal journey of resilience and courage, this inspiring guide to navigating life’s challenges and emerging stronger from them offers a beacon of hope for aspiring entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone feeling lost or overwhelmed or seeking to break through to achieve a dream.
After multiple arrests under an oppressive regime, Shirin Behzadi left behind everything she knew in Iran to build a new life. As a teenager, Behzadi fled alone to Istanbul and then to the United States, finding work at a gas station to make a living. Even then, she announced to those who would listen that she would one day run a big company and appear on business magazine covers.
Determined, Behzadi earned her bachelor’s degree, rose through the corporate ranks, raised substantial private equity funding, and grew her company to a billion dollars—all while experiencing countless setbacks, including everything from poverty to near terminal illness, which she overcame by relying on the survival skills and resilience she developed from a young age.
Behzadi shares her incredible story and all the hard-won lessons she’s learned in The Unexpected CEO, both an inspiring account of her journey and a guide filled with practical strategies to harness the opportunities nestled in some of life’s most difficult challenges. Readers will discover:
- Practical strategies and tools to turn challenges into opportunities
- Insights into resilience and how setbacks can catalyze growth
- Examples of authentic leadership that embraces empathy as a key strength
- Guidance on how to raise funds in private equity sector
- Lessons learned about to how to build a foundationally sound business and life
- Inspiring stories from Behzadi’s path from immigrant to billion-dollar CEO
Success isn’t merely about achievements but also how you rise after falling down. The Unexpected CEO is a powerful companion for all those seeking personal and professional growth, offering a real-life example of how resilience can lead to truly extraordinary outcomes.
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Publication Details
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781637747537
Dimensions: 6 x 9 x 1 in.
Weight: 1 lbs.
Publication Date: October 2025
Format: E-book (epub)
ISBN: 9781637747544
Publication Date: October 2025