18 Facts About Mandana Dayani

Mandana Rivka Dayani was born on 1982 and is an Iranian-American attorney, businesswoman, brand expert, and media executive.

Since the Gaza war started in October 2023, Dayani has made frequent media appearances to speak on antisemitism and started The Calanet Foundation to support Jewish communities and students, with projects including Our Campus United and One Mitzvah a Day.

Mandana Dayani is a regular contributor on Morning Joe on MSNBC and an investor.

Mandana Dayani was born into a Persian Jewish family who had attempted to leave Iran since the 1979 Iranian revolution.

Mandana Dayani attended the University of Southern California, where she received her bachelor's degree and went on to earn her Juris Doctor from the USC Gould School of Law.

Mandana Dayani began her career as a corporate attorney at Paul Hastings.

Mandana Dayani then became a talent agent representing celebrities and fashion designers, including fashion stylist Rachel Zoe.

Mandana Dayani was chief brand officer of an online marketplace for estate sales named Everything But The House and the executive producer of its show on HGTV.

Mandana Dayani stepped down from the position in December 2022, shortly before the release of Archewell's Netflix documentary.

Mandana Dayani founded The Calanet Foundation to support initiatives aimed at combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish community engagement.

Mandana Dayani and Messing were dubbed "Jewish Champions" on the cover of the Jewish Journal in June 2023; the publication praised them for their "Unabashed Jewish Pride and Fearless Activism".

Since the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2023, Mandana Dayani has made media appearances to speak on antisemitism.

Mandana Dayani has regularly appeared on MSNBC to comment on the impact of antisemitism on Jews in the diaspora.

Mandana Dayani was named as one of the "Top 100 Influential Jews" for the Hebrew year of 5782 by the Tel Aviv Institute.

Mandana Dayani spoke on the attack as part of Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations, later that year.

In 2025, Mandana Dayani was appointed by President Biden to serve on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council Board of Trustees.

Mandana Dayani married Peter Traugott, a media executive and producer, in 2010.

Mandana Dayani signed to the Creative Artists Agency in 2023.