Agenda - 09-02-2021; 4-a - Discussion and Appointment for the Vacant Position on the Orange County Board of Commissioners

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6 major stakeholders when arriving at decisions. I and the team that I built served as a central coordinating point to facilitate decision-making. In my corporate experience and my work as a county Party leader, the very first step in making decisions is always to gather perspectives of those with a stake in the outcome. I focus on seeking input from those who may be impacted but who may not be as vocal. I review relevant data, and if it is not available, assess what information is needed to support an objective process. I collaborate to identify common ground that enables forward progress with clear success measures. I ask how we will regularly assess these. Finally, I commit a plan for communicating all these elements as part of the decision. These experiences have equipped me to be a high-performing contributor in supporting the work of our current Board. 3. How would your appointment enhance the diversity of the BOCC? Diversity of life experience has shaped who I am, and I believe will help me be a better public servant. Living with significant hearing loss has instilled in me the tenacity to overcome challenges and elevated my empathy for those who live with a disability. In college, I met my husband, who is Kurdish-Iranian. He had emigrated to the U.S. to study engineering. It was during the Revolution, and the universities there shut down amidst social and political upheaval. When we married, I sought to learn his language. Together we cooked the foods of his homeland. We celebrated the holidays, including the Persian New Year on the first day of each Spring. I learned much about myself by learning about his culture. I learned the power of being a good role model for my children, who are proud of their dual heritage. I also learned, through the tribulations of many wonderful immigrants I have befriended, to place even higher value upon our precious right to vote and upon good government that serves with integrity. In my professional career, I worked in some of the best managed companies in the nation, and I learned much about leadership, how to build teams and how to develop people. However, in the 90's, when I worked as an engineer prior to going into management, only one in ten engineers were female. Even fewer served in positions of leadership. For years, I was in the professional minority. This experience instilled in me grit and positive determination. Finally, experience as the advocate of a family member who lives with mental illness provides me insight into the everyday concerns for the many members of our community who are touched by mental health challenges.