Some careers unfold quietly—and then there are careers built in rooms where the stakes are high, the conversations are charged, and the pressure is relentless. Today's episode is about what it takes to earn a seat at those tables and keep it.

Meet Lisa Daftari: award-winning investigative journalist, foreign policy analyst, and founder and editor-in-chief of the Foreign Desk, an independent global affairs platform focused on international security, human rights, and Middle East geopolitics. She's also the host of the highly acclaimed Foreign Podcast.

Lisa's expertise has taken her into some of the most influential rooms—briefing institutions like the United Nations and Congress, contributing exclusive reports for the Pentagon, and working closely with the White House during the rollout of the Abraham Accords. Her work has been recognized with the Medal of Valor, the Simon Wiesenthal Award, and the Champion of Freedom Award.

But this conversation isn't just about what Lisa does—it's about who she is, how she built resilience while navigating male-dominated spaces, and how she stays grounded while working in some of the most demanding fields in the world.

In this episode, Lisa shares:

• Growing up as a shy girl who rarely spoke unless answering a question
• How college opened her world: triple majoring, vocal performance, pre-med, EMT work, and falling in love with Middle Eastern studies
• The moment she realized her favorite thing was debating in class—and wishing she could do it as a job
• Being recruited by the CIA for clandestine operations (and why she didn't take it)
• The agent who told her, "You're too nice" to make it in the industry
• How integrity, loyalty, and respect became her greatest assets—not liabilities
• Navigating Iranian culture, studying abroad, and breaking barriers while staying conservative
• The challenges of being Iranian in a field where your heritage is both a blessing and an obstacle
• How meditation and surrender to God help her prepare for high-pressure moments
• Why does she see herself as a "vessel" in her work
• Balancing a demanding career with being a deeply present mother
• Waking up at 5 am and working until midnight to never miss a moment with her son
• Teaching resilience through modeling work ethic, just like her immigrant parents did
• The power of thriving on human interaction and learning from influential circles
• Why "only a tree can be a tree"—and why being yourself is your greatest brand

The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only.

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The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical, psychological, financial, or legal advice

References:

• Follow Lisa Daftari on Instagram @lisadaftari
• Visit The Foreign Desk at https://foreigndesknews.com/
• Listen to the Foreign Podcast
• Connect with Rita @journeywithritaorg and @ritanaffasdesign
• Visit www.journeywithrita.org for more episodes and resources