Zahra Amanpour

Zahra Amanpour is an entrepreneur, mother and activist. She is driven by passion and metrics. Zahra’s career has been dedicated to economic access and equality. She is currently consulting with economic development non-profits, teaching entrepreneurial courses and serves as a Senior Advisor at Jobs for the Future focused on implementing new technologies in small businesses throughout the country.

She founded Indiegrove, the first coworking space in Jersey City in 2013, and grew it to over 200 businesses from diverse backgrounds and industries. She then closed Indiegrove in 2020 due to COVID. Prior to starting her entrepreneurial journey, she ran NYC Business Solutions, a system of programs and centers managed through the New York City Department of Small Business Services that provides direct services to entrepreneurs and small businesses. She also worked for Workshop in Business Opportunities, a non-profit organization focused on growing entrepreneurs in underserved communities to obtain financial success by starting, operating and building successful businesses that develop economic power, provide jobs and improve communities.

She has a MA in Social Psychology and MBA in International Business. She serves on the board of Women’s Freedom Forum, an organization focused on human rights and advocacy for women globally. She was also part of the Tide Risers leadership team from 2018 to 2020 and facilitated the 2019 Jersey City cohort. Zahra believes business can and should be used as a tool for empowerment, happiness and change.

Zahra was born in Tehran, Iran in the middle of the 1979 revolution. Her family, upbringing and career have been hugely impacted by the events of that time. She lives in Jersey City with her husband and two children.