Straight to Why
Season 1
Episode 21: Investor Moj Mahdara on Entrepreneurship, Resilience and Reinvention
Episode 20: Dr. Lara Devgan on Beauty, Ambition, and the Art of Building a Full Life
by Amanda Hindlian
Amanda sits down with Moj Mahdara, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and co-founder of Kinship Ventures, for a conversation on entrepreneurship, identity, reinvention, and the experiences that shape great founders. From growing up as a first-generation Iranian American to building Beautycon and now investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs, Moj reflects on how resilience, community, and pattern recognition have defined both her career and her philosophy of leadership. Together, they explore the role of trust in business, why rejection is often the beginning rather than the end, and how entrepreneurs can cultivate conviction while remaining open to new information. The conversation also examines venture capital, artificial intelligence, founder psychology, and why building a meaningful life ultimately depends on creating agency—for yourself and for others.
Amanda sits down with Dr. Lara Devgan, world-renowned plastic surgeon, founder of Dr. Devgan Scientific Beauty, and mother of six, for a conversation on beauty, entrepreneurship, motherhood, and the discipline required to build an extraordinary life. Drawing on her background in art, biochemistry, and surgery, Dr. Devgan reflects on how creativity and science converged to shape her career and her philosophy of modern beauty. Together, they explore the future of aesthetic medicine, the importance of preserving identity while enhancing natural features, and why efficacy has become the new luxury in skincare. The conversation also touches on entrepreneurship, fragrance, motherhood, and the tradeoffs required to balance a demanding surgical practice with family life. Ultimately, the episode is a thoughtful examination of purpose, precision, and what it means to build a full life with intention.
Amanda welcomes back Samira Panah Bakhtiar, General Manager of Media, Entertainment, Games, and Sports at Amazon Web Services, for the second installment of their conversation on the future of media and technology. This episode explores how artificial intelligence is democratizing filmmaking, transforming content creation, and lowering barriers for the next generation of storytellers, while giving enterprises entirely new ways to produce, analyze, and distribute content. Together, they discuss AI-powered filmmaking, the growing influence of gaming as a primary entertainment platform, and how creators and brands are building deeper audience engagement across immersive digital experiences. The conversation also turns to leadership, mentorship, and overcoming imposter syndrome, as Samira shares the lessons that have shaped her career and why curiosity, resilience, and viewing obstacles as opportunities remain essential in an era of rapid technological change.