With the next national election a little over a year away, voting and civic engagement move into sharp focus. Mandana Dayani knows all about this. Dayani founded the I am a voter. movement whose mission is “to make voter identity mainstream, aspirational, and an integral component of personal identity.”
Dayani got her career start as a corporate attorney, then worked as a talent agent, and eventually joining CFDA member Rachel Zoe to help launch the Rachel Zoe Collection and lead her company’s initiatives in business development, digital media, strategic investments, licensing, publishing, endorsements, and television production. After Rachel Zoe, she joined EBTH as Chief Brand Officer and founded the The Learning Series event series for women leaders.
We caught up with Dayani to discuss the importance of voting, her inspirations and what keeps her up at night.
What gave you the impetus to found I am a voter?
I am a voter. was founded by some of the most brilliant and talented women I have ever known. As an immigrant, I have always felt really privileged to be able to be an American. Seeing our country so divided the last few years, I was very heartbroken and knew there was an opportunity for a voting brand that really spoke to our generation; one that was positive, empowering, and which focused more on that which unites us. And I knew if I could get these incredibly talented and inspiring women together in a room, we could build a message that would have real impact. After doing lots of research, I learned that identity was an important predictor of voter turnout, which is where the name came from. It is such an empowering statement that doesn’t get into the divisive details of party affiliation or issues. And once we partnered with CAA, they were able to provide us with the tools, infrastructure and support we needed to really get this off the ground.
What have been IAAV’s major achievements since you founded the organization?
Our mission is to make voter identity mainstream, aspirational, and an integral component of personal identity. We have worked with over 100 partners in fashion, tech, media, and entertainment and with influencers spanning every industry to make voter identity mainstream and to build a new vision for voting: one that is inclusive and really cool Some of our fashion partnerships have included: Urban Outfitters, Jonathan Simkhai, Hanes xKarla, Prabal Gurung. Good American, Jeremy Scott, Carbon 38, The Great, Rebecca Minkoff, The Last Line, Keds, The Giving Keys, Rosetta Getty, Chloe Gosselin, Grayson, Zero + Maria Cornejo, Hudson Jeans, Fred Segal, Toms etc.
What are some common misconceptions about voting that you can debunk?
The most common misconception when studying millennial nonvoters is this belief that their vote doesn’t matter. All major progress and movements in our country have taken time. And they have depended on people continuing to show up for our country, even if they didn’t get the outcome they wanted immediately. I have had the incredible fortune of living the American dream and I know very well the opportunity it provides for so many people. And we need to continue protecting it for our collective future.
What do you hope to achieve before the 2020 election?
I hope that we can inspire turnout. With the support of partners like you and many others, I think we can show the incredible power, importance and even glamour of showing up!
How are you making voting aspirational?
We are leaving all the divisive details and political noise out of the conversation, and focusing on the parts that unite us: we are all integral to the success of our democracy and we all have equal power in our vote. We need to change the way part of this generation thinks about voting. And we do that by making it cool and going to voters where they are. My theory was that if we want to normalize the behavior, it has to be commonplace and part of the everyday lives of the audiences we are targeting. And if we can bring together our most beloved brands and influencers to deliver this message, we can ultimately shift this perception. For us, fashion is a big part of this equation and so integral in shaping culture. And many of the founding members have had careers rooted in fashion, including our co-founder Tiffany Bensley (Violet Grey, The Row), Alle Fister (Bollare), April Uchitel (Violet Grey, Spring, DVF), Heather Leeds (Element Brand Group), Jessica Kantor (LALA Magazine, Vogue, Glamour), Raina Penchansky (Digital Brand Architects), Sahar Sanjar (LaChambre), Sara Riff (Jimmy Choo), amd Sunny Jenkins (HL Group, BWR).
Besides the primary election in November 2020, what other elections can people vote in that will make a difference?
ALL ELECTIONS are very important!! So many of the issues you care most about are decided at a local level, and very often, state and local governments will lead the way for change when the federal government isn’t reflecting what people want. Women’s suffrage, environmental protection, minimum wage, and marriage equality all began at the local or state level.
What does voting mean to you?
Being an active participant in my future and showing up for all the values I believe in. Voting is the most effective way to create meaningful change for whatever it is that you care about most. And you need to vote for your future, for your neighbors, your family, your friends, your children. We vote for everyone.
What keeps you up at night?
The possibility that my children will inherit a planet plagued by apathy. With all the power of social media and community, I pray we show more compassion to each other: the environment, migrants, minorities, animals, women, veterans and our elderly.
What/who inspires you to tackle every day?
Our team inspires me every day. Having the privilege of working with these incredibly brilliant women on something so meaningful has profoundly changed me. There is so much opportunity to create meaningful impact. On a personal level, Shannon Watts is my hero and mentor. She is the ultimate activist and has shown what vision, persistence, and community can actually accomplish.
