I've worked in publishing, media and communications for more than three decades, and during that…read moretime I've met very few people with Ali Ghanbarian's combination of vision, creativity and entrepreneurial instinct.
Ali has an extraordinary ability to recognize cultural trends long before they become mainstream. After earning a master's degree in engineering from UC Berkeley and beginning his career at Bechtel, he chose a completely different path--building businesses, creating communities and investing in creative people when few others saw the opportunity.
For more than forty years, he has built SOMA Magazine into one of America's longest-running independent arts, culture and design publications. Along the way, he has helped discover, mentor and promote thousands of emerging photographers, designers, architects, filmmakers, musicians, writers, models and entrepreneurs who later went on to successful international careers.
What impresses me most is that Ali never thinks conventionally. Every conversation generates new ideas, new business opportunities and new ways of looking at a problem. He has an unusual talent for connecting people, recognizing overlooked opportunities and bringing together creativity with business strategy.
He's generous with his relationships, direct in his advice, and genuinely committed to helping talented people succeed. Those qualities are increasingly rare.
If you're looking for someone who combines entrepreneurial vision, cultural insight, strategic thinking and an exceptional network built over four decades, I recommend Ali without hesitation.
Simply put, if Ali Ghanbarian believes in an idea, it's worth paying attention....
