Leaders and legacy

"Women in Business,” a session organized by the Houston chapter of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce at the city’s Madras Pavilion on November 12, 2014 saw three accomplished members of the community — Sonia Rash, Tenaz Sunavala and Nasreen Khosravian — share their experiences, achievements and unique circumstances. "Based on the favorable feedback we have received, we have decided to continue the same format that promotes networking and discussion in an informal setting where we showcase different talent within our midst,” noted a report from Homi Davier.
Attorney at law, Rash quit her corporate job, safety in salary and perquisites to become her own boss when she started the Behrana Law Firm. Despite adequate preparation and homework, she realized that she would now need to do many things for herself like setting up the office, phone system and buying paper but outweighing all the inconveniences was the advantage of a flexible schedule and more time with the family. She soon learnt "There will now be no one to micro manage you… You must be disciplined and self motivated to get the work done.”

From being a home maker and raising two college going kids, Sunavala chose to start Pegasus Visas International Consulting. A full service travel visa company, from next year she will offer passport renewals and receive accreditation from the Board of Immigration Appeals to work with immigrants and corporations. Sunavala faced setbacks and challenges along the way but "my motivation, faith and a positive attitude allowed me to keep the momentum going… Once determined to succeed, it is not that difficult for women to enter mainstream USA’s business world and carve out a niche for oneself,” she believes.
"The first step in anything you take is hard; the second and third get easier,” remarked Khosravian who with her husband owns two schools and is building their third under the banner of Kids R Kids Schools in Sugar Land, Houston. Convinced that she could not work for someone else all her life, and secure in the knowledge that her husband’s steady job would tide them through the initial uncertainty, they started their first school in 1999 when their kids were quite young, leaving them sufficient time to devote to the family. She is reassured that they have "made a great difference in many children’s lives by providing them a good education.”
The Congress 2000 Legacy award [emerging from the successful Seventh World Zoroastrian Congress (WZC) in Houston in 2000] was conferred on Natalya Haveliwala on October 2, 2014. The award instituted by the Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH) recognizes college going youth who excel in the academic arena and additionally contribute to the ZAH center through community service, both within the ZAH community and mainstream America. Farzad Sunavala was presented the Cyrus Rohinton Desai award instituted by the Desai family in memory of their young son who lost his battle against cancer. Since Cyrus’ ardent wish to go to college even for a day remained unfulfilled, his family initiated this award for a brilliant youngster going to college for the first time in recognition of his excellence in academics, extracurricular activities and community contribution. The awards were presented by Dr Parvin Behroozi Bagherpour who is the associate vice chancellor of International Student Services and Study Abroad at Houston Community College.
Bagherpour presented a special recognition certificate to Aban Rustomji for her "long-standing dedication and contribution to our congress2000legacy project.” The Legacy team had in the previous month organized a seminar addressing the queries of college-bound students. Dr Farrokh Mistree who flew down from Oklahoma to conduct the session lasting over three hours guided them on vital issues like "Which college do I pick?... How do I pay for college?... What scholarships are available?... What kind of boarding facilities?” There were an equal number of youngsters and adults in the audience who were offered insights into college life, recommended dos and don’ts and exposed to the new mystery that awaited them.