Leading our Hawaii-based team of professionals to offer local businesses the best in HR services, technology, and expertise.

Performance Achievements
- FY 2025 SuperStarts qualifier
- Hit full 2025 fiscal year quota in 5 months
- FY 2025 President's Club Qualifier

Major Account Sales Leader

Sales Mastery Coaching - Helping salespeople get the coaching they deserve

Dale is a business growth consultant and certified change practitioner with over 15 years of experience working in professional business-to-business roles. Almost all of Dale's experience is in new business development with a focus on growth and new client/logo acquisition. His extensive background includes front-line sales in a highly saturated, high competition industry through successfully leading a multi-state sales operation for a Fortune 200 company. Throughout his career, Dale has earned distinguished awards and recognition for his efforts on both a local and national level.

Dale's diverse experience across many different businesses, combined with his first-hand knowledge of what it takes to deliver sales results, gives him the ability to analyze and understand sales systems in even the most complex industries. Dale has had the privilege of developing hundreds of sales reps in his career, including those that have gone on to be top in their field at a national level.

In addition to working directly with clients on a sales consultant or advisory basis, Dale is also a publisher of digital course content and other sales-related media geared toward helping sales professionals and leaders develop their attitude, skills, and knowledge to be successful.

Sales Coach & Owner

Hawaiian Cool Water

General Manager

Atlas Insurance Agency, Inc.

Spearheaded new business unit initiative for the largest insurance broker in the state of Hawaii.

Vice President

ProService Hawaii

Key Responsibilities:
- Led a team of up to 14 outside sales professionals across the state of Hawaii to close 100% new business opportunities
- Managed daily sales activities and development including training
- Management of KPIs and other key metrics
- Worked in collaboration with pricing team and approved final sales pricing for all proposals

Performance Achievements:
- 2019 President's Club
- Led initiatives that resulted in increased conversion rates during the sales process
- Developed new sales roles

Sales Manager

Key Responsibilities:
- 100% new client sales role. Responsible for full sales cycle from prospecting to implementation handoff.

Performance Achievements:
- 2017 Rookie of the Year
- Achieved full 2017 quota by August

Business Development Manager

Toshiba Business Solutions

Key Responsibilities:
- Leadership of sales team across three offices
- Recruit, train, and coach a team of outside sales professionals with diverse levels of experience
- Part of executive leadership team for TBS presence in MN, Western WI, and ND
- Coordinate efforts between sales, service, and operations to ensure a positive client experience
- Development of overall market strategy in conjunction with TBS MN region Vice President

Performance Achievements:
- President's Club FY 2015
- National New Business Sales Leader of the Year FY 2015
- New Business National Marketplace of the Year FY 2015
- New Business National Marketplace of the Quarter: Q2 & Q4 FY15 
- Coached/developed reps to win national awards for new business in Q2FY15 & Q4FY15
- Coached a rep who placed 2nd in Toshiba's National Sales Skill contest
- Budget attainment in FY16A (Apr. - Sept. 2016), FY15 (Apr. 2015-Mar. 2016) & FY 14B (Sept. 2014-Mar. 2015)
- Leadership Award, Toshiba Professional Sales Summit

Director of Sales

Coordinated Business Systems

Key Responsibilities:
- Perform day to day management and sales activities, marketing Coordinated Business System's valued products and services to business clients in the metropolitan area
- Responsible for recruiting, hiring, training, and developing a brand new team of outside sales professionals to increase Coordinated's market presence
- Grow customer base and recurring revenues in a 100% new customer only assignment

Key Achievements:
- Coached & developed reps to 91-154% of quota in 2013 in a 100% net new business assignment
- Developed a rep to qualify for "Rookie of the Year" in 2013
- Developed reps who won the "Young Gun" award in May 2014 & July 2014
- Assisted in the closing of one of the largest managed print services contracts for Coordinated
- Completed 3 sales management training conferences focused on a range of topics including recruitment, interviewing, training, development, management, and motivation (RIORDAN)

Marco, Inc.

Worked to achieve managed services goals and drive an increase in profitable recurring revenue streams for Marco. Supported a team of sales representatives across a large geography providing support in sales strategy and pricing. Participated in sales calls with reps to further discover, qualify, and close managed services opportunities.

Key Responsibilities: 
- Subject matter expert (SME) supporting a team of 20 territory based technology advisors across Minnesota and surrounding 4 state area to help achieve their Managed Services quotas
- Conduct ongoing recurring business reviews (RBR) with existing clients to advise them on their current environment and make recommendations for improvement based on best practices
- Perform comprehensive assessments for current and prospective clients
- Present Marco's successful managed services program to prospective clients

Key Achievements
- Supported closing of MPS contracts exceeding $1 million in revenue over contracted terms

Managed Print Specialist

Canon Business Solutions

Overall responsibilities included prospecting new clients, assisting in transition of new clients to Canon technology, customer service for growing base of clients, and assisting sales team in large implementation schedules. Hawaii assignment was 100% competitive, with no starting base of clients.

Also assisted with ongoing training, development, and coaching of new reps. Performed sales rep candidate ride days during interview processes.

Key Achievements:
- Completed Canon's Intelligent Dealer Electronic Archival System (IDEAS) Certification course
- Helped to capture new key accounts with local name recognition to grow the Canon Business Solutions brand in the new Hawaii start up market
- Secured contract for CBS' first dual b/w & color imagePRESS production unit installation in 
  Hawaii market
- Personally designed, coded, and implemented custom print submission web interface for largest client in Hawaii market 
- Engaged and delivered first managed print contracts in Hawaii market
- Region Top Performer Q3 2010
- Region Top Performer Q3 2011

Senior Account Executive

Xerox

Engaged in daily revenue generating and retention activities including customer service, cold-calling, prospecting, and new client acquisition in a business-to-business sales model.  Primary function is to help business clients achieve greater productivity, reduce cost, and increase competitive advantage through the use of technology offered by Xerox.

Key Achievements:
- Kaʻiulani Club Award winner 2007 (Top 6 in sales)
- Team sales award Q4 2007
- 138% of quota in 2007 (President's Club level)
- 108% of quota in 2008 before transition to new position at Canon Business Solutions
- Team sales award Q1 2008

Document Solutions Executive

With over 15 years in B2B sales and change management, I bring passion and expertise to every project. I've led teams to exceptional growth, championed transformative initiatives, and crafted tailored solutions. As a Certified Change Practitioner and Sales Leader, I focus on driving results and fostering meaningful connections. Let's collaborate and unlock your business's full potential.

Dale Yasunaga

Forbes & Business Insider-Featured Community Builder | Personal Branding Strategist | Forbes Nonprofit Council | Podcast Host "Verso Talk with Aytakin" | Double Gold Award Winner I Top100 Women in Tech by KSV |

💔 I moved to Silicon Valley with only $300 left in my pocket—and found myself walking door to door in San Francisco, begging for low-income jobs at restaurants, daycares, and elder care homes.

The hardest part?
I had just graduated in Social Media Marketing in the U.S., yet I couldn’t access the career I dreamed of. No guidance. No network. No money for coaching. Just rejection after rejection.

But I refused to let that be the end of my story. I rebuilt my career and broke into Fortune 500 tech companies—Instagram, Meta, NVIDIA & HTC VIVE.

At the same time, I built the Femigrants Foundation into a 30,000+ global community of founders, entrepreneurs, and tech leaders. Over the years, I’ve:

- Produced 200+ events in San Francisco, New York, London & Paris (from private dinners to global forums with 300+ attendees).
- Partnered with 50+ organizations across tech, investment & entrepreneurship.
- Led 150+ team members to deliver inclusive, high-impact experiences.
- Been featured in Forbes (twice), Business Insider, Yahoo Finance (twice), AP News, London Daily, and more.
- Received Global Awards in the U.K. & U.S.A

Now, I dedicate my work to making sure no immigrant, founder, or expat has to feel as invisible as I once did.

1️⃣ Community Building & Event Management
Companies often struggle to design communities or host events that drive loyalty, influence, and meaningful connections. I offer:

- Elegant, high-impact events—from curated leadership dinners to global forums.
- Community growth strategies that build loyal, engaged ecosystems.
- End-to-end management—from strategy and promotion to flawless delivery.

2️⃣ Personal Branding for Founders & Leaders
Too many entrepreneurs, executives, and expats remain invisible—overlooked by investors, clients, and partners in a noisy digital world. 

I offer:
- A LinkedIn strategy that attracts investors, partners, and press.
- Thought leadership positioning that elevates your influence.
- Access to speaking, media, and leadership opportunities.

3️⃣ Relocation & Access to Silicon Valley
Global founders, expats, and tech leaders often feel lost—without networks, guidance, or access to the right opportunities. 

I offer:
- Relocation guidance with insider tools and proven resources.
- Curated introductions to investors, mentors, and peer networks.
- Direct access to career opportunities, business growth, and Silicon Valley capital.

 If you’re building or growing a company, or preparing for your next big move, you don’t have to do it invisibly or alone!

👉 DM me to book a free 15-minute intro call.

Aytakin Aliyeva🌛

We DID it!!! We successfully launched the Femigrants Chapter in San Francisco!

See the red-carpet photos from the Femigrants AI forum at Autodesk in San Francisco.

“It was the most well-organized AI event in the Bay Area. Every detail was well thought out”,  said one of the guests from Stanford University.

“Every time I come to Femigrants event, I say this is the best one. But you know how to surprise us with your creativity because we say “this is your best event” at every event”, said our loyal community member.

“I feel embarrassed that I didn't know about this organization. How could I miss events of such a powerful community before?!” said the guest.

Yes! At Femigrants, we don't just do trending topic events; we create unique and memorable experiences, we make an impact, we create opportunities for partnerships, collaboration, empowerment, and support.

I can't thank enough the sponsors, donors, champions, speakers, volunteers, and guests for making it happen!

Special thanks to Vikram Dutt and Katie at Autodesk, Consul Generals of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan - Vugar Gurbanov, Levan Kulijanishvili, Nazira Nurbayeva, donors - Dr. Ezgi Atay & Michelle Le Ma, Femigrants Champions - Elizabeth Premazzi, Katerina Abdrashitova, Alice Larisa Wilms, Peter Novak, for all your support!

Special thanks to our amazing MC, and Femigrants' most supportive community leader Tiffany Odutoye, PMP, M.Ed., for coming all the way from Baltimore to lead the forum.

Thank you to all the speakers, Anand Raghavan, Sanam (Amidi) Amidhozour, Dani Weinstein, MBA, Arek Zarowski, Nisarg Brahmbhatt, Peter Kovacs, Rashi Agrawal, ✨Madhavi Rajan.

I can’t thank enough, Femigrants Business Development Leader, Mansi Shah, FRM, who joined our team recently and worked shoulder to shoulder with me day and night to organize this event. I'm grateful for having you in the team, Mansi.

Thank you to our volunteers Hanieh Attari, Myra Nawabi, Aynura Fattayeva, and Aysel!  

Thank you, Mir Kanan Hasanzade, for your support, and to all guests and members for joining and supporting us.

Thank you, Dean Birinyi, for the collaboration and amazing photos!

More photos (speakers & networking) and videos of the forum are coming soon! 

Follow me for more content on growing a community of global female immigrants in tech, startups, and business. 

*Subscribe to the Femigrants Connect newsletter to be informed first about our events and programs and how you can get involved.

https://lnkd.in/gt2DY5rE

TRANSFORMING GLOBAL FOUNDERS & EXPAT LEADERS W/ VISIBILITY, AUTHORITY & SILICON VALLEY ACCESS | Personal Branding Strategist | Forbes-Featured & Award Winning Community Builder | Elegant Event Experiences for Immigrants

No alternative text description for this image

Photos from the Femigrants AI & Strategic Partnership event, generously sponsored by Autodesk in SF last Friday!

100 global immigrant leaders in the same room.
Rooms like this are rare.

- 🇦🇿🇬🇪🇰🇿 Consul Generals of three countries:
Azerbaijan, Georgia, & Kazakhstan 
- VPs from Autodesk, Cisco, Plug & Play, etc
- Founders, investors, and global executives
- Leaders from billion-dollar startups

The experience? 

Thoughtful and elegant:
- from a shared lunch
- to a dessert and coffee break
- to an evening cocktail reception
- to a red-carpet moment to feel seen

If there’s one thing I hope people take away from this:

When people come together with intention,
the impossible becomes possible.
 
When a community believes in each other,
doors open that none of us could open alone.

To everyone who joined us, THANK YOU!

Your presence made the room what it was.
You turned it into something unforgettable.

Special thanks to Vikram Dutt & Katie Harrell at Autodesk, 
Consul Generals of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan - Vugar Gurbanov, Levan Kulijanishvili, Nazira Nurbayeva, donors - Dr. Ezgi Atay & Michelle Le Ma, Femigrants Champions - Elizabeth Premazzi, Katerina Abdrashitova, Alice Larisa Wilms, Peter Novak, Mir Kanan Hasanzade.

Special thanks to our speakers Tiffany Odutoye, PMP, M.Ed., Anand Raghavan, Sanam (Amidi) Amidhozour, Dani Weinstein, MBA, Arek Zarowski, Nisarg Brahmbhatt, Peter Kovacs, Rashi Agrawal, ✨Madhavi Rajan

Thank you to our team, Mansi Shah, FRM - who worked hard together with me, Hanieh Attari, Myra Nawabi, Aynura Fattayeva, Aysel, Azar Aghasiyev & Dean Birinyi (red-carpet photographer).

And of course, thank you to my family - Ibrahim Aliyev and kids for their continuous support to take Femigrants Foundation this far!

P.S. To stay up to date on the Femigrants events and programs, subscribe to
Femigrants Connect Newsletter -https://lnkd.in/gddapH9U

Last week, I joined the Founder Fuel Gala Dinner at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco — a beautiful evening curated by one of the intentional community builders I know, Mohammad Hasham, CPA, CA, CMA.

He’s one of the very few event organizers whose invitations I don’t question :).

If I see his name, I only need to check the date and venue.

Because I already know the room will be full of the right people and the energy will be genuine.

Having this event during the holiday season made it even more special.

Seeing friends after a long time — all dressed up, glowing, hugging, catching up…

Meeting new founders and leaders with such inspiring energy…
It added another layer of joy to the night.

The program opened with sponsors and partners sharing their mission, and it all closed with live music and dancing — the kind of moment where you feel collective happiness in the room.

Nights like this remind me why I do what I do.
 
Community building is not about events. 

- It’s about creating rooms where people feel seen, supported, elevated, and inspired to grow. 
- It’s about bringing immigrants, founders, innovators, and leaders together so none of us have to walk this journey alone.

I’m grateful to Mohammad Hasham, CPA, CA, CMA, and his incredible team for creating a space that reflects this vision so beautifully.

And huge appreciation to all the sponsors and partners who made this gathering possible.

Photos are taken by my fav photographer, Ken Hamel Photo! 📸

More rooms like this.
More connections.
More community.

(1) Post | Feed | LinkedIn

JSESSIONID

li_at

Partner, West Region Leader, Technical Accounting | Forbes Finance Council | IPO Services | M&A | SPACs | Venture Capital | Private Equity | Global Capital Markets | Founder | Keynote Speaker | Investor

Founder | Professional Event Photographer - I help companies document live events. Kenhamelphoto@gmail.com

I’ve always believed that how we dress is more than fashion.

It’s messaging.

Yes… I take dressing up very seriously.

Because elegance is confidence.
And confidence is influenced.

This time, the outfit meant even more.

The dress I wore at the Femigrants AI Forum Reception at Autodesk is designed by our community member, Anya.

Anya Belova is an immigrant founder who started her company Alova… while pregnant.

Imagine that.

Starting a business.
Carrying a child.

It is like taking care of twins.

Her vision:

Design clothes that make WOMEN feel POWERFUL, ELEGANT, & SEEN.

That’s the kind of story I prefer to wear on my body.

When I stepped onto the stage in her dress,
it wasn’t just beautiful.

It was symbolic.

It was a reminder that when immigrant women build, they build with heart, resilience, and a level of determination that you can feel in every stitch.

I’m proud to wear Alova.

I’m even more proud to support an immigrant founder who embodies everything we stand for at Femigrants.

If you’d like to support her vision, check out her website and explore her designs.

Every purchase supports a woman-owned immigrant business with a powerful story.

Visit Alova and show some love to her business.
🔗 The link is in the comments.

Founder, Alova Studio | Product Manager

We spend 365 days running… and almost zero days remembering why.

Thanksgiving is the one moment that forces me to pause.
To breathe.
To reflect.

Every year, I invite 5–7 families to my home.
We share food.
We laugh.
And we answer two simple questions:

1. What am I grateful for this year?
2. What do I wish for next year?

Then we always end up teasing each other about what we said last year.
(I truly believe collective prayers work.)

This time, I want to publicly express my gratitude.

I’m grateful to God — for every opportunity, every lesson, every challenge, and every person He brought into my life.

I’m grateful to my family — for standing with me in both good days and hard days.

And I’m grateful to YOU ALL — my LinkedIn community, Femigrants community, board, sponsors, donors, volunteers, speakers, partners, and supporters.

If I tagged everyone, it would be thousands of people.

So let me say this loudly to all of you:

Thank you.
Thank you.
And thank you — for being part of my journey.

P.S. Yesterday, our community member Anya Belova, founder of ALOVA, sent me these beautiful flowers to express her gratitude.

Moments like this remind me how special it is to have kind, attentive, appreciative people in your circle.
People who notice.
People who give back.
People who truly care.

I wish you to be surrounded with people who notice and truly cares.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones. 
🧡

P.S. What are you grateful for this year?

Aytakin (Ika) Aliyeva 
Founder, Femigrants Foundation

Femigrants Foundation

Honored to share that I’ll speak at the “Show Her The Money” Film Screening & Women in Tech Panel on December 11 in Palo Alto.

This topic matters to me because I work with immigrant women founders every day — brilliant women building real companies. 

But still overlooked in a system where women receive less than 2% of VC funding. 

That number is a barrier I see up close.

It’s also a proud moment to share the stage with Femigrants community members Hila Lauterbach and Lital Cohen.

I’ll be joining an incredible lineup of leaders including:
- Cathy Shachaf – Founder & Co-CEO, Orlucent | Director, INTRO Life Sciences
- Alana Karen – Award-Winning Leader & Best-Selling Author
- Irina Berkon – CFO, Metallicus | Investor, Global Seeds
- Margarette Ell-Kesselman – Executive Director, Russian Speaking Women in Tech
- Dr. Lisa Dolev – Founder & CEO, Qylur Intelligent Systems and CATS2

Moderated by Lital Cohen – Founder of CORE & Communications Coach, Stanford. 

Hosted by Meytar Sorek-Hamer – Founder & CEO, ENVIDAH and Hila Lauterbach – Co-Founder, 10XGTM

We’re not gathering to repeat the 2% problem.
We’ll talk about how we move that number forward.

If you care about founders, funding, and real change, this is a conversation worth joining. 

DM me for the link to register.

A promise turned into something unbelievable…

Last year, I promised myself to create a room of
successful and powerful immigrant leaders that I didn't have access to 15 years ago.

That promise took me to successfully launch the Femigrants’ biggest Annual Forum 2025 of 250+ global leaders hosted by Microsoft.

Guests called it “the most well-organized, detail-oriented, and successful event of Silicon Valley”. 

This year, I am more intentional. More ambitious.

Today, I’m proud to share a preview.

At the Femigrants Annual Forum 2026, “AI, Capital, and Partnership” we will be joined by:

- Diplomats representing 5 countries
- VC firms investing in immigrant founders
- CFOs shaping the future of financial leadership
- The founder of a billion-dollar robotics company
- 300+ global immigrant and expat leaders in startups, SMBs, and tech

If your company wants to stand beside the most influential global leaders in Silicon Valley…

Your team needs to be part of the Femigrants Annual Forum.

Partnership & sponsorship opportunities are now open.

DM me to put your brand in front of 300+ global diplomats, C-level executives, and leaders in startups, SMBs, and tech.

cc: Femigrants Foundation

I never planned to become an event creator.
Silicon Valley events pushed me into it. 😅

I kept attending events where:
- 🍕 the pizza was cold
- 🥗 there were salads but no forks
- 🪑 zero seats so everyone stood for 2 hours
 - 🎤 the same “fake VCs” repeated the same stories every month (yes… it happens!)

After continuous disappointments, I finally said:
 “ I can do better than this.”

So I created the first Femigrants event.
Then another.
Then fifty more.

And the Femigrants brand slowly became known for:
- great food
- elegant setups
- curated guest list
- selective speakers
- welcoming, warm atmosphere
- actual networking (not just standing around)
- and yes… and yes MOST of the time, a red carpet

People now tell me:
 “When I see Femigrants, I already know it will be beautiful, organized, and worth showing up for.”

And this November, I tested myself even more.
I organized 3 events in one month:
- 2 Femigrants Chapter Launches
- 1 Startup Friends & Family Event

I survived. They thrived. And every single one was elegant. 

So if your startup or company wants an event that doesn’t involve cold pizza, missing forks, or awkward “VCs”… I’ve got you.

I handle:
 - 🍷 drinks + bar
 - 🍽️ food + caterers
 - 📸 photo & video
 - 🎨 decor, art & aesthetic
 - 🤝 vendor coordination (aka “saving you from chaos”)

If you want an event people remember — for the right reasons — message me.

I, Aytakin Aliyeva🌛, built a community of global female immigrant leaders, Femigrants Foundation, and host elegant and memorable event experiences in Silicon Valley.

Excited to share that I’ll be joining the One Way Summit in San Francisco.
A gathering fully dedicated to immigrant founders, investors, and operators.

And you already know… anything that brings immigrant leaders together speaks directly to my heart.

It aligns with my mission and the work we’ve been building at the Femigrants Foundation for years.

A huge thank you to Anna Yuan for the special invitation. 🙏

I truly appreciate being included in a space that celebrates the grit, resilience, and brilliance of immigrant entrepreneurs. 

I can’t wait to connect with so many of you at the summit.

This room will bring together 450+ immigrant and global founders, GPs, LPs, and operators — plus leaders from companies like Slack, Lyft, Branch, Mercury, and top firms including TECH WEEK by a16z, Khosla Ventures, DCVC, and more.

It’s exactly the kind of ecosystem I care about building — where immigrant voices aren’t sidelined… they’re center stage.

📅 December 10, 2025
📍 The Commonwealth Club, San Francisco
🌍 Organized by One Way Ventures

DM me for the code. 
 👉 https://lnkd.in/gRzA74cA

Note: *This is NOT an official partnership of the Femigrants Foundation with the One Way Summit. 

Can’t wait to meet many of you in person and celebrate the global talent shaping the future.

3x Founder | ScaleAgentic, Building Lovable for GTM

Slack

Lyft

Branch

Mercury

TECH WEEK by a16z

Khosla Ventures

DCVC

One Way Ventures

People see the photos.
They don’t see the battlefield behind them.

In less than 4 weeks, I pulled off 3 high-stakes events:

- Femigrants chapter launch in a brand-new market
- Another launch in a completely different market
- A paid partner’s 200+ guest startup event — scheduled one day before our Autodesk event


What happens behind the scenes:
• rebuilding vendor lists overnight
• replacing speakers in hours, not weeks
• negotiating with venues while answering 50 DMs
• solving problems people never even knew existed
• keeping everyone calm while your mind is juggling 10 fires at once
• delivering an elegant experience no matter what happens backstage

And through it all, my brain kept whispering:
“Maybe this is the month you fail…”

But every morning I gave myself ONE command:
“All three events will succeed.
You will handle everything.
Keep going.”

And they did.

Not because everything came easy,
but because I refused to let fear take the mic.

Lesson learned:
Your brain quits before you do.
Tell it a BETTER story.
BELIEVE in your ability first, and watch
how fast others start believing in you, too.

Now, I celebrate all three successful events not only in public,
but also internally in my brain.

—
P.S. If your startup or business needs someone who can design, manage, and execute high-pressure dinners, brunches, private events, or launch experiences 

I’m the person founders call when the room has to look elegant, run smoothly, and leave a lasting impression.

Send me a message. 
Let’s build something unforgettable.

The city where I was walking door to door asking for low-income jobs 15 years ago.

This is the city where you can meet a millionaire at the coffee shop and see a homeless person at the door.

This is the city that gives hope and requires perseverance.

This is the city that helps me stay humble as it reminds me of how I started to be where I am now.

San Francisco! 

Energetic. Open-minded. Cruel.

The city that can change your life. 

For good. And for bad…

Especially if you are an immigrant or expat.

My one piece of advice today:

Make connections before you migrate. 

P.S. If you moved to Silicon Valley, tell me how this place changed your life? 

P.S. S. Do you plan to move to Silicon Valley? 
DM me and see how I can make your transition smooth. 

You don't have to start from the hard way as I did because I didn't have access to the right network.


#MovingToSiliconValley #MovingtoSanFrancisco 
#SanFrancisco

Yesterday, I had a productive meeting with Consul General of Georgia, Mr. Levan Kulijanishvili and his team.

We discussed building long-term collaboration by connecting founders, talent, diaspora, investors, and institutions to create cross-border impact.

I’m truly grateful for their warm hospitality and the thoughtful New Year gift — small gestures that reflect strong values and genuine partnership.

These conversations are part of the work that happens quietly, long before an event takes shape.

As part of this ongoing effort, we are preparing Femigrants Annual Forum 2026, a full-day event.

In late February, we will bring together 300+ global immigrant founders, investors, and tech leaders in one room - C-level executives.

We plan to invite Consul Generals from 5+ countries across Europe, South America, Eurasia, and beyond.

If you’d like us to invite diplomats from your country, feel free to DM me and share which country you’d like represented.

The forum will also include curated startup pitch opportunities for founders to present directly to investors.

If you’re a founder interested in pitching,
comment “pitch” and I’ll DM you the next steps.

Consul General of Georgia in San Francisco

If you think VC rejection hurts, 
try rebuilding your entire life from zero,
in a new country...

Immigrant founders know this feeling well.

We’ve heard “no” from landlords, employers, 
banks… and sometimes entire systems.

So when a VC rejects us, 
yes - it stings!

But it doesn’t break us.
Because we’ve survived far worse.

Starting over in a new country teaches you
a different kind of resilience.

A different kind of hunger.
A different kind of courage.

That’s why immigrants have the highest
resilience ROI in the ecosystem.

When the door closes,
we don’t just knock again.

We build a new building.
A better door.
And a stronger story.

This is why so many immigrant-led companies
grow into billion-dollar success stories.

Not because we had privilege.
But because zero is where we learned how to win.

And after hosting 200+ events and
meeting thousands of global founders, 
I’ve learned something important:

When immigrants tell their story powerfully,
the world finally sees their brilliance.

Visibility changes everything.
Opportunities grow.
Rooms open.

That’s why I support immigrants in two ways:
- Creating powerful rooms through Femigrants events
- Building personal brands that make your story impossible to ignore

If you’re an immigrant working hard but still feeling unseen,
and you know your story deserves more visibility —
DM me.

I will help you build the strongest story of your next chapter.

P.S. What was the toughest “no” you heard — and how did you rise after it?

💔 I didn’t build Femigrants Foundation  because I had a plan.

I built it because I had a story.

When I moved to America, I had no network, no community, no roadmap, and no one who looked like me in the rooms I dreamed of entering.

Like thousands of immigrants, I carried two suitcases:
- one with my clothes…
- and one with my dreams.

But dreams alone don’t help you find your first job.

They don’t help you understand a new system.
They don’t help you rebuild your confidence after you’ve left everything behind.

What helped?

People. Community. Someone believing in me before I believed in myself.

That’s why I created Femigrants — a place where immigrant women don’t have to knock on closed doors… because we build our own doors.

A place where no one feels “foreign”… because we all finally feel home.

Today is Giving Tuesday, and I’m asking for something I rarely ask for:

YOUR SUPPORT

Femigrants has grown from one immigrant woman with a vision…
to a global community of thousands who have:
- restarted careers
- built companies
- raised millions
- rebuilt confidence
- found mentors, partners, investors, and lifelong friends

But here is the truth most people don’t see:

Every event, every forum, every resource, every opportunity we create…
takes hundreds of hours, volunteers, and financial resources we don’t always have.

And yet, we never stop — because immigrants never stop.

If Femigrants has ever inspired you,
if you believe in the power of immigrant women,
if you want to be part of someone’s success story…

👉 Today is the day to stand with us.

No amount is small.
Every dollar helps someone rise.
Every donation becomes part of a chain reaction you might never even see — but someone will never forget.

Donate here: https://lnkd.in/eHms2kVN

Your kindness today will impact immigrant leaders for years to come.

Thank you for believing in us.
Thank you for believing in them.
Thank you for believing in what we’re building — together.

— Aytakin
Founder, Femigrants Foundation

#GivingTuesday #DonationMatch

“Thank you. I don’t deserve this.”

An immigrant woman said to a male speaker on a panel.

I appreciated her humility.
But I also felt a pause.

We immigrant women are too humble.

We come from cultures where talking about our achievements feels uncomfortable.

Where accepting praise sounds like bragging.

Where a compliment feels bigger than what we “should” accept.

But here’s the truth:
Accepting a compliment is not arrogance.
It’s acknowledgment.

A powerful response could be:
“Thank you. I worked hard on XYZ to achieve this.”

You accept the recognition.
And you own the work behind it.

That’s not bragging.
That’s leadership.

Agree? 
How do you usually accept a compliment?

👉 I help immigrants better adapt to Silicon Valley culture, increase public visibility, and tell their stories strategically to build meaningful relationships.

DM me to learn more.

Too many brilliant leaders — especially immigrants and expats — stay invisible.

Not because they lack talent.
But because they lack access, visibility, and the right rooms.

And I want to change it.

So this December, I’m slowing down.
Not to rest.
But to serve differently.

- No Femigrants events.
- No productions.
- No noise.

Just focused, high-impact 1:1 work with founders, executives, business owners, and partners who want clear strategy on:

• SPEAKING opportunities
• personal BRANDING & online VISIBILITY
• COMMUNITY building & high-trust growth
• EVENT management (internal/external, private or corporate)
• PARTNERSHIPS & collaborations
• ACCESS to SILICON VALLEY investors & networks
• RELOCATION for global founders & expat leaders

January will be a storm:
- Annual Forum preparations.
- Partner event productions.
- Corporate collaborations.
- Long-term clients.

So if you want support, clarity, or access—
December is the only month where I have space.

Here’s how we can meet:

📍 San Francisco — 3 paid consultation slots
📍 South Bay — 4–6 paid consultation slots
📍 East Bay — flexible (coffee, lunch meetup or full strategy session, as I live here)

If you refuse to stay invisible in 2026 —
DM me “December” and I’ll share my available times.

P.S. 
What’s the #1 area you want to strengthen in 2026 — your brand, your network, your community, or your events?

Today is the day! I will be speaking at the “Show Her The Money” event organized by two amazing ladies Hila Lauterbach & Meytar Sorek-Hamer.

The panel will be moderated by incredible Lital Cohen.

One of the speakers, raised $50M without any VC money. I will keep her name for now to connect you at the event 🤩

Both Lital & Hila are Femigrants’ community members and I know how much they are involved in supporting women.

Come join us to connect with successful women and enjoy the film screening! 

The link to the event is in the comments.


#ShowHerTheMoney #SpeakingEngagement

The 10X Go-To-Marketer | Chief Fixer Officer helping founder-led startups accelerate GTM from vision to repeatable revenue -​> Strategy, Execution, Traction | 3X Founder | $O to $400M+ ARR | Keynote Speaker | 3X Top PMM

Founder & CEO | Environmental Health Innovator | ex-NASA Scientist | Satellite Data Expert | PCT Thru-Hiker

M.A. Public Speaker at CORE | Stanford Communication Coach @ GSB Elevating Professionals in Public Speaking, Effective Communication, Leadership Presence & Career Development

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Aytakin Aliyeva🌛

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The Battle

Dale Yasunaga

Aytakin Aliyeva🌛

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Aytakin Aliyeva🌛's LinkedIn Performance

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