Meet Mandana Dayani, ex-boss of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell: the Iranian-American entrepreneur helped them get Netflix and Spotify deals, and runs a podcast with actress Debra Messing
Reports of the couple no longer getting invited to the hottest parties and gatherings in Hollywood sparked controversy over their popularity – public support for the two seems to have dwindled in America.
One person who has parted ways with the couple is Iranian-American businesswoman and lawyer Mandana Dayani, 42, who was the president of Archewell, a company founded by Harry and Markle. She left her post in 2023 to engage in other opportunities.
Dayani is no newbie to the Hollywood scene. She’s dabbled in various fashion and entertainment ventures and was a producer on The Rachel Zoe Project, a show that centres on the celebrity stylist. Dayani and Zoe’s relationship dates back to well over a decade ago when the lawyer made the pivot from law to become a talent agent. After representing Zoe, Dayani joined the stylist’s company, Rachel Zoe Inc., as head of the operation.
After parting ways with Rachel Zoe, Dayani turned her focus to the tech sector, assuming a management role at Everything But the House, an online platform for estate sales. That ultimately led her to produce a show based on the online marketplace for HGTV.
As the president of Archewell, she played an instrumental role in forging deals with Netflix and Spotify for Harry and Markle.
She became an anti-Semitism activist and turned to her experience as a religious refugee from Iran to bring to light issues surrounding racism and religious prosecutions.
Her activism led her to enter the spotlight, turning her from a Hollywood insider to a public personality. With Will and Grace actress and friend Debra Messing, Dayani launched a podcast titled The Dissenters, which focuses on various social issues, and interviews activists and advocates. Guests who appeared in the series include Hillary Clinton, outspoken women’s rights advocate Jane Fonda, Eva Longoria and Sophia Bush.
While Dayani may not have particular political aspirations, she’s nevertheless a passionate voter. She co-founded I Am a Voter in 2018 to encourage voter turnout. The non-partisan organisation advocated for voter awareness by partnering with celebrities to promote registration and turnout.
On a personal level, multitalented Dayani lives a busy life. She is married to TV producer Peter Traugott, with whom she shares two children.
- No stranger to Hollywood, the lawyer-turned-businesswoman has dabbled in fashion and entertainment ventures, and was a producer on The Rachel Zoe Project
- Dayani and actress Debra Messing’s The Dissenters podcast, focusing on social issues, has featured celebrities like Hillary Clinton, Jane Fonda and Sophia Bush