Parisa Khosravi
Keynote Speaker, Advocate, Strategic Adviser, & Multi-Award Winning Veteran Journalist
With over three decades of experience on the global stage as an award winning journalist with CNN, Parisa has first-hand experience dealing with world leaders, dignitaries, and high-ranking officials across the globe.
She has opened doors to difficult and dangerous parts of the world where freedom of speech is in no way guaranteed.
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Parisa now speaks on the topics of compassionate leadership and advocacy to audiences across private and public sectors.
Those who meet and hear Parisa are struck by her down-to-earth approach and wealth of life experience which is so evident in her message.
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Parisa’s joy and passion both in her career as a journalist and as a mother to her special son is to help give voice to the voiceless.
She leads with compassion and integrity earning her the nickname of “Mother Parisa” from many of her colleagues.
"As an Iranian who left Iran just before the revolution, news was a big part of my life. I wanted to be right in the thick of breaking news events since high school."
- Parisa Khosravi
Parisa's Story
Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Parisa came to the USA just before the Revolution in 1979.
She grew up in Chicago and earned her Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism from Columbia College of Chicago and studied French at the Université de Sorbonne in Paris.
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After completing seven experience-rich internships during her time at Columbia College, Parisa was quickly offered a job as a CNN Video journalist.
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She worked her way up from an entry-level position to Senior Vice President in charge of all of CNN's international news coverage and, for a period of time, she simultaneously oversaw domestic coverage.
Parisa also served as CNN's first-ever global ambassador, which meant meeting with world leaders and officials, dealing with crises, and ensuring CNN teams had access to difficult and challenging parts of the world.
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Parisa retired from CNN in 2015 after nearly three decades with the company. Throughout her career as Senior Vice President of International news gathering, domestic news gathering, and global relations for CNN Worldwide, she led CNN's historic coverage of countless award-winning news stories.
FEATURED IN
“I learned my work ethic and discipline from my dad and my can do attitude from my mom.."
- Parisa Khosravi
Notable Projects
Coverage of Historic Events
Parisa played a vital role in CNN's award-winning coverage of the most significant stories including Tiananmen Square, live coverage of both Iraq Wars, the Fall of the East Bloc, the End of Apartheid, the genocide in Rwanda, 9-11, and Hurricane Katrina.
Directed News Around The Globe
Parisa directed CNN’s coverage of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the award-winning coverage of the devastating earthquake in Haiti; the Emmy-nominated coverage of the attempted airline terror attack over Detroit on Christmas Day in 2009; and the duPont-winning coverage of the tsunami in South Asia.
Award-Winning News Coverage
Parisa led CNN's Peabody and Emmy Award-winning coverage of the conflicts throughout the Middle East and North Africa, including the revolutions in Syria, Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. In 2011, she simultaneously led the network’s ongoing coverage of the Arab Spring and the powerful earthquake/tsunami that struck Japan.
Lead Numerous Global Initiatives
The CNN Freedom Project was an award-winning, multi-platform initiative that aimed to expose the horrors of modern-day slavery and push for change, as well as numerous other CNN global initiatives such as girls’ education.
Parisa continues to be a leading force within the industry for pioneering safety and security measures for journalists.
Present Day Parisa
"Today, I am happy to continue my life's work of giving voice to the voiceless."
As the President of Payam Global Strategies, Parisa is putting her experience and global relationships to good use and continuing to make positive changes - specifically within the area of Autism.
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For all of the voices she amplified around the world during her career, none compare to her journey as a mom. Tirelessly, she has helped her son Payam, diagnosed with Autism at age 3, find his voice – a powerful voice many others would have long given up looking for.
Her poignant story is chronicled in her TEDx talk (below), The Power of Finding Your Voice.
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Are you interested in having Parisa contribute to your event, conference, podcast, or webinar? Let's connect.
"Deserving the world should not be granted to only those with resources, but instead to every person that exists."
- Payam
Proud to Have Been Honored By
