Welcome to our blog series, Sync with Symbians! Our team at Symba is growing and we would love for you to get to know us.
With each post, we’ll highlight a rockstar team member of the Symba team. You’ll learn a lot about the people who make Symba, their journey so far, what their day looks like in their role at Symba, and much more.
Meet Ahva Sadeghi, Co-Founder & CEO of Symba. Ahva founded Symba in 2017 with co-founder Nikita Gupta joining shortly after. Ahva works on all things related to Symba’s growth like building the team, fundraising, sales, and more. Outside of work, Ahva loves yoga, cooking new recipes, and music. Come, let’s learn more about Ahva and her journey so far - professional and personal!
- How did you come up with Symba and what drives you to continue building Symba?
I began working on Symba as part of a human rights action project with late Congressman John Lewis, in Atlanta. Previously, I completed my graduate studies at the London School of Economics and worked at the State Department in Washington, DC. While in undergrad at the University of Arizona, I was a remote intern for the US Department of State and discovered the power of remote work to create access to work opportunities without the same financial or geographic barriers. With Symba, I sought to scale remote internship opportunities to students everywhere, to ensure everyone had access to experiential learning and internships which is one of the most important factors to landing a job after college.
Today, remote work and remote internships have never been more relevant. In so many ways, we were ahead of the curve and I’m thrilled to continue the work we are doing to improve workforce experiences for both employers and job seekers. In addition to our impact, I am grateful for our team, investors and community of supporters!
- How would you describe Symba’s work culture?
Symbiotic in that we support each other to grow and excel in our roles and careers. One of our greatest strengths is our ability to collaborate with each other and foster meaningful alignment. We are also open to innovation and encourage bold and creative ideas. Here’s a list of our key values below:
- What does a day in the life of Ahva look like?
I wake up every morning around 6 AM and hit the gym for a HIIT or pilates workout. My morning workout is one of the most consistent parts of my routine as a startup founder. Once I get back home, I map out my day using the Panda Planner, writing down things I’m grateful for and what I want to accomplish that day. As the CEO, every day is very different from the previous and very dynamic. I typically have 10-12 meetings each day with customers, investors and team members to work on strategy. Towards the end of the day, I have a calendar block to take time to review wins, wrap up emails and organize myself for the next day. Lately, I have been journaling, reading, and meditating before bed.
- Proudest moment at Symba?
Winning the grand prize at the ASU + GSV Summit with my entire team was one of the best moments at Symba so far. To top it off, Mindy Kaling awarded us the prize! All of our friends and family were streaming in for the event and also participated in the voting process. We were able to use the $250K prize to grow our team and continue our work to #OpenUpTheWorkforce.
- How’s it like to be a ‘remote worker’ at Symba?
I am a big proponent of remote work and it is key to our founding mission at Symba. In my role, it means I get to meet with many people from around the world in a day and have flexibility. At Symba, we each get a stipend to set up our home office and create an environment for success. For me, that includes things like a standing desk and a plant. I moved into a two bedroom apartment recently so that I could have a separate office space to work on balance. I call the second room “Symba HQ” and feel like I am going to work when I step inside.
We also promote things like Symba Socials on a monthly basis to get together as a group to do activities like wine tasting, cooking classes, and candle making. We also host Wednesday Wellness sessions to promote mental health and host activities like yoga, meditation, and laughter therapy.
- What’s your personal mantra and why is it important?
“Get in good trouble” - Congressman John Lewis. This mantra means that we have a moral obligation to stand up and drive meaningful change. I will not allow myself to get complacent or comfortable with the status quo, and work to continually progress in my personal and professional life. I am proud to be a John Lewis Fellow and continue my quest for “good trouble” by using tech for good.
- Any advice for future Symbians?
- Reflect on your own career goals and leverage Symba as your vehicle to learn new things, meet future mentors, and excel in your profession. Take ownership of your role, get creative and have fun!
- Take time to think about how you want to contribute and show up on the team. You’ll have the opportunity to make a profound impact working at a fast growing startup from strategy to culture.
Now for more fun stuff!
- Favorite book: Oh The Places You Will Go by Dr. Seuss
- Favorite TV show: Succession
- Favorite cuisine: Japanese, Sushi is my favorite!
- Favorite vacation spot: Hawaii
- Favorite cause: Economic empowerment
