Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian
"Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian" is an unfiltered podcast that explores the foundational principles driving the success of creators, entrepreneurs, scientists, and public figures. Hosted by Larisa Hovannisian, each episode delves into the core values and habits that help high achievers build their careers and lives. The podcast aims to provide listeners with actionable insights and inspiration from a diverse range of guests.
Episodes
Episode #22: Manana Hakobyan's Foundations
My guest today is Manana Hakobyan. Manana is Chief of Staff for GenAI at Scale AI in San Francisco — which means she works inside one of the companies the frontier AI labs depend on to make their models good. Before Scale, she was a product manager on IBM's Data and AI team. She holds a master's in data science from Harvard and degrees in economics and data science from Berkeley. She has a
Episode #21: Armen Rostamian's Foundations
Welcome back to Foundations, with your host, Larisa Hovannisian.This is the first episode of season two, and I want to start by telling you what's changing.Season one was about builders and their stories — where they came from, what they decided to make, and what it cost them. Those conversations still hold up. But something kept happening while we were recording them: the ground moved faster
Episode #Episode20: Aren Deyirmenjian's Foundations: Diaspora, Leadership, and Transformation
Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. My guest today is Aren Deyirmenjian, Country Representative for AMMA (Armenian Missionary Association of America) and a seasoned professional in entrepreneurship, social impact, and community development. Aren has long been a thoughtful voice in shaping how return, belonging, and impact are approached in Armenia. In his current role at AMMA, he’
Episode #19: Marina Mkhitaryan' Foundations: Community, Identity, and Systems
Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. For this episode, I’m joined by Marina Mkhitaryan, a civic innovator and social entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience designing and leading initiatives that bridge civic tech, youth development, and cultural resilience.Her work is rooted in a belief that systems change begins with people, and that every young Armenian should have the opp
Episode #18: Ruben Malayan's Foundations: Design, Narrative, and Vision
Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. I’m joined today by Ruben Malayan — an artist, calligrapher, and cultural thinker whose work has reignited global interest in Armenian script and sacred aesthetics. Known for his intricate calligraphy and thought-provoking commentary on identity, Ruben’s art is more than visual — it’s a statement. His career bridges the personal and the politica
Episode #17: Maria Titizian's Foundations: Justice, Journalism, and Identity
Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. Today’s guest is Maria Titizian — journalist, editor-in-chief of EVN Report, and one of Armenia’s most trusted public voices. With a career spanning politics, media, and civic education, Maria has consistently used words to bring clarity to chaos. Whether writing about war, identity, or accountability, she brings moral courage and emotional hone
Episode #16: Samvel Martirosyan's Foundations: Information Security, Media, and Digital Resilience
Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. Today, I’m joined by Samvel Martirosyan — cybersecurity expert, media analyst, and one of Armenia’s most essential public educators on digital safety. Known for making complex threats understandable, Samvel has spent the last two decades protecting Armenia’s digital borders and fighting disinformation. Whether advising institutions or speaking t
Episode #15: Marie Lou and Pegor Papazian’s Foundations: Imagination, Autonomy, and Purpose
Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. Today, I’m joined by a remarkable duo: Marie Lou and Pegor Papazian — the visionaries behind TUMO, Armenia’s world-renowned creative tech center. Together, they’ve redefined what’s possible in education by centering self-learning, imagination, and access. Their work has touched tens of thousands of students in Armenia and beyond, and their partn
Episode #14: Suzanna Shamakhyan’s Foundations: Innovation, Systems Thinking, and Impact
Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. Today’s guest is Suzanna Shamakhyan, Executive Director of FAST (Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology) — a leading institution working to accelerate innovation, science, and talent in Armenia. With a background in education diplomacy, policy, and diaspora engagement, Suzanna brings systems thinking and emotional intelligence into every
Episode #13: Tigran Tsitoghdzyan’s Foundations: Art, Identity, and Reflection
Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. Today, I’m joined by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan — world-renowned painter, Armenian soul, and master of introspective realism. Known for his hauntingly layered “Mirror” series, Tigran’s work explores visibility, identity, and the blurred boundaries between self and world. Born in Yerevan and based in New York, he carries Armenia in his brushstrokes whil
Episode #12: Tatevik Revazian's Foundations: Strength, Integrity, and Challenging the Status Quo
Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. Today’s guest is Tatevik Revazyan — aviation executive, trailblazer, and one of the most fearless voices redefining leadership in Armenia and beyond. As the former Chair of Armenia’s Civil Aviation Committee and a founder of the country's first low-cost airline, Tatevik has broken barriers not only in a male-dominated industry but also in sy
Episode #11: Zhanna Andreasyan's Foundations: System Change, Education Reform, and Strategy
Բարի գալուստ «Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian» փոդքասթի հերթական դրվագ։ Այսօրվա իմ զրուցակիցը մարդ է, ով կրթությունը տեսնում է ոչ միայն որպես համակարգ, այլ որպես երկրի ապագայի հիմք: Պատիվ ունեմ մեր տաղավարում հյուրընկալելու Հայաստանի կրթության, գիտության, մշակույթի և սպորտի նախարար տիկին Ժաննա Անդրեասյանին: Տիկին Անդրեասյանն առաջին նախարարն էր, ով բարձրաձայնեց կրթության այն իրական պատկերը, որի
Episode #10: Armine: Haroyan: Volunteering, Education, and Youth Development
«Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian» տասներորդ դրվագի հյուրը Հայ կրթական հիմնարկության տնօրեն Արմինե Հարոյանն է: Հիմնարկությունն արդեն 75 տարի է, ինչ աջակցում է հայկական տարբեր կրթական կառույցներին և նախաձեռնություններին՝ թե՛ Հայաստանում և թե՛ սփյուռքում: Արմինեի նվիրվածությունն ու աշխատանքը մեծ ազդեցություն է թողել մեր կրթության ոլորտում և շատ հայ երիտասարդների կյանքում: Այս զրույցում մենք խոսու
Episode #9: Sheila Paylan: Truth, Justice, and Breaking the Cycle
Welcome back to Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian. Today, I’m so happy to be joined by Sheila Paylan, an international criminal lawyer and human rights expert with over 15 years of experience advising the United Nations. Sheila has played pivotal roles in prosecuting war crimes and advocating for justice at tribunals for Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia, and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. Her experti
Episode #8: Tigran Jrbashyan’s Foundations: Economy, Education, Identity
Today, I’m honored to be joined by Tigran Jrbashyan, one of Armenia’s most respected economists and strategists. As the Director of Management Advisory Services at Ameria Group, Tigran has played a key role in shaping economic policy, business strategy, and long-term development planning in Armenia. His expertise spans across urban development, innovation, and public policy—making him a vital voic
Episode #7: Esther Wojcicki’s Foundations: Education, Parenthood, and Empowerment
I’m thrilled to be joined today by Esther Wojcicki—trailblazing educator, best-selling author, and fierce advocate for autonomy in learning and life. She founded the renowned Media Arts Program at Palo Alto High, where students thrived in an environment built on trust, freedom, and responsibility—earning fans like Steve Jobs along the way. Her books—How to Raise Successful People and Moonshots in
Episode #6: Rev Lebaredian's Foundations: Culture, Leadership, and AI
For this episode, I’m sitting down with Rev Lebaredian, a guy who’s been shaping the future of tech before most people even realized where it was headed. He’s the VP of Omniverse and Simulation at NVIDIA, basically leading the charge in designing our virtual future. But before he was building the infrastructure for the metaverse, he was knee-deep in video games, visual effects, and real-time graph
Episode #5: Anna Vardapetyan's Foundations: Justice, Leadership, and Legacy
Այս տարվա մեր առաջին թողարկման հյուրը Հայաստանում առաջին կին Գլխավոր դատախազ, իրավաբան, իրավաբանական գիտությունների թեկնածու և դոցենտ Աննա Վարդապետյանն է։ Աննան տասը տարուց ավել է, ինչ իր աշխատանքով Հայասանում նպաստում է արդարության և իրավունքի ամրապնդմանը։
Episode #4: Gevorg Poghosyan: Uniting Armenians and Redefining Armenia’s Future
For the final episode of 2024, I’m joined by my friend Gevorg Poghosyan, a bold and courageous leader in Armenia’s technology, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy sectors. As the CEO of reArmenia and Co-Founder of IDram and The Crowdfunding Formula, Gevorg has played a pivotal role in connecting Armenians worldwide and empowering startups. From pioneering fintech solutions to leading impactful soci
Episode #3: Raffi Krikorian: Tech for Transformation – Driving Social Impact Through Innovation
For this episode of Foundations, I’m thrilled to welcome Raffi Krikorian. Raffi currently serves as the CTO of Emerson Collective, where he harnesses the power of technology and data to lead social impact initiatives. Prior to Emerson, Raffi held key leadership roles, including CTO of the Democratic National Committee, Head of Uber's Advanced Technologies Center, and VP of Platform Engineering at
Episode #2: Dr. Lorky Libaridian: Transforming Health Care and Developing Leadership in Armenia
For the second episode of #FoundationsPodcast, I had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Lorky Libaridian, a U.S. board-certified physician in internal medicine and pediatrics. We dive into her vast experience in health system reform and medical education in Armenia.
Episode #1: Sara Anjargolian: How to Build Resilience & Drive Social Impac
For the very first episode of Foundations with Larisa Hovannisian, I’m thrilled to be joined by my dear friend, Sara Anjargolian, a multidimensional force in law, entrepreneurship, and public service.
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