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Conversations with the Inspiring Silva Harapetian

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Silva Harapetian.

Silva, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a Christian-Armenian and was born in Iran. My family and I witnessed the Iranian revolution, lived through a devastating war and barely escaped terrifying political and religious persecution by immigrating to the United States when I was 16 years old.

As a teenager, I found myself struggling to find ways to fit-in in two worlds; I often felt confused, conflicted and alone. I didn’t speak or understand English.

In struggling to find my way, I found comfort in telling other people’s stories of struggle, breakthrough, and change. I found hope in being a conduit for other people’s voice and discovered I had the power to make an impact through my gift as a storyteller.

I feel fortunate to be living in this country where I have the freedom of expression and opportunity something as a woman in Iran, I would have never had! I’ve been blessed to receive an education. I’ve tried to explain what this second chance means for a little girl – a refugee who never thought she would ever become somebody.

After graduating from the University of Southern California, I pursued my dream to become a television journalist, an unlikely career for a person whose English is her 4th language. Many said a career in TV journalism for me was impossible. For years, I worked behind the scenes as a writer and producer while I applied for television jobs. I received thousands of rejection letters saying I didn’t fit the part of a TV journalist — that I looked too harsh, my features were too strong, my hair was too dark, my presentation style was foreign and my accent was distracting. It took more than five years before I had my first break in front of the camera as a TV journalist in Lawton, Oklahoma. Since then, I’ve worked in Austin, Texas; Detroit, Michigan; and Miami, Florida. I’ve been on the front lines reporting on some of the historic events of our generation, presidential elections, natural disasters, catastrophes, and daily tragedies and triumphs.

Perhaps it was my own life journey that drew me to a career of storytelling. I have always felt it my responsibility to use my voice to speak the truth when others couldn’t, to promote education when others didn’t and shine a spotlight on injustice when others wouldn’t.

Thanks to some awesome mentors and an amazingly supportive family, I was able to pave the path to stardom as one of the very first Armenian-Iranian_Americans in the broadcast news industry. 20-years later, I am privileged to say that I am an award-winning broadcast journalist, an Amazon best selling author, and entrepreneur.

I’ve been living a dream. I’ve worked for CBS, ABC, and NBC; as a television journalist and personality and media expert who was featured in online and print magazines as well as television and radio shows, internationally and nationally including NBC’s “The Today Show” with Kathie Lee & Hoda and syndicated talk show, “The Nate Berkus Show.”

I believe that nothing is impossible. There is no one way to achieve a goal. If you focus on following your passion and living out your purpose, the process of getting to your goal will always reveal itself.

Has it been a smooth road?
In 2018, I took drastic measures to change the course of my life. I had already concurred my dream my dream of becoming a journalist but behind the lens, I was drowning in sorrow and stress. Something needed to change, and it did. I turned news camera lights off, and took a journey many are afraid to begin. With only a vision, and a plan written on her iPhone I quit my TV job and launched SilvaHarapetian.com AND SILVA MEDIA GROUP to help others tell their story, take control of their destiny and life purpose driven lives.

A lot of people find themselves at a point of transition — wanting to leave a 9 to 5 job or simply making a life change. It is a scary move to make and as I worked through these difficult times in my heart and in my mind, I captured those pivotal moments on camera, hoping it would inspire others to share their struggles.

Each month the country welcomes 550,000 new entrepreneurs. My audience gets a rare behind-the-scenes look at people who take the leap and how to jump. Newly released episodes of my web-series on YouTube and Amazon.com, “Becoming An Entrepreneur,” chronicle the highs and lows as I am building and growing my consulting, speaking and video production business.

This path is a process that takes you into the deepest darkest part of your soul because you have to grieve the end of one identity and begin molding into another one that is a badass bolder YOU.

My life has been filled with twists and turns. But at a young age, I learned how to survive in chaos and how to thrive in times of change. I’m not sure what will come of this journey but creating my path and sharing the experience publicly is empowering. I hope it inspires anyone who feels trapped, isolated or hopeless to break out and design the life they want.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Silva Media Group story. Tell us more about it.
I am committed to helping entrepreneurs amplify their impact in the world. I teach people how to use their voice to create more meaningful connections, live purposeful lives and become the “go-to expert” in their industry by telling their most powerful stories.

I do this by speaking to audiences across the country as well as offering live workshops, one-on-one training, and online courses through my E.P.I.C. Storytelling Academy where I teaching entrepreneurs how to find their stories and creates compelling content. In my Media Mastery Academy, entrepreneurs learn how to take the content they have created and leverage it in the media to become industry leaders.

My clients see incredible success in their business and life as I teach them my unique methods of communication. The imperfections in my life have given me the gift to see other people’s stories from a unique perspective; their E.P.I.C. failures and breakthroughs. MY GOAL AS AN EXPERT is to help people craft a message that creates a long-term memorable brand that is relevant and brings value to the people who want what entrepreneurs have.

A lot of people may think they are facing challenges and that they are not ready to share their story with the world yet. But, I’m living proof that our obstacles and failures do not define us. Facing adversity and rising above it, are the stories of legends. It is up to us to share with the world how our unique journeys have made us who we are and at times even contribute to our success.

Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Be you. Don’t ever let anyone talk you out of your uniqueness.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Shawn Brooks Photography

Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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