The Unexpected CEO: My Journey from Gas Station Cashier to Billion-Dollar CEO

She started behind bulletproof glass at a gas station. She ended up leading a billion-dollar company.

Shirin Behzadi was arrested multiple times under an oppressive regime in Iran before she had even reached adulthood. Fleeing her homeland alone as a teenager, she carried nothing with her but a suitcase--and a bold dream. In Istanbul, and later at a Los Angeles gas station, she quietly declared to anyone who would listen: One day, I will lead a large company.

While navigating poverty, the loss of home and belonging, motherhood, and a near-terminal illness that left her unable to stand--let alone lead--Shirin raised millions in private equity and built a billion-dollar company. At every setback, she unearthed something essential: The resilience she had honed in dark times could also light the way forward in business, in leadership, and in life.

The Unexpected CEO tells a compelling and powerful story of lessons carved from challenges and a life constructed despite dire circumstances. In these pages, Shirin shares not only her extraordinary journey, but also the wisdom earned at every turn. Both a memoir and a guide, this book offers a blueprint for turning life’s deepest trials into stepping stones toward purpose and possibility.

Readers will discover:

Tools for turning adversity into fuel for growth Hard-won insights on resilience, reinvention, and rising stronger Real-world strategies for leading with empathy--and why it works Candid lessons on raising capital and navigating private equity A framework for building not just a thriving business, but a meaningful life as well True stories that illuminate the power of vision, grit, and unwavering belief

This is not a tale of overnight success, but of steady strength, rebuilding from the ground up, and what becomes possible when adversity is met with unwavering intent. Because success isn’t just what you build--it’s who you become along the way.

Shirin Behzadi was born and raised in Iran. As a young teenager, Shirin witnessed the chaotic and violent changes as a result of the regime change and the ensuing war in Iran. After being arrested twice, her parents decided to send her out of the country. At 17, Shirin immigrated and was left alone in Turkey with little money and no friends. Through self-reliance and tenacity, she found her way to the United States where she began her life working at a gas station. Following a vision to run a big company, Shirin worked full time and earned her bachelor’s degree. She rose quickly through the ranks as a CPA and CFO and left it all to pursue entrepreneurship. After years of trial and tribulations and lessons learned, Shirin was able to navigate the growth of the company and recruited private equity. Her years of hard work built on principles she had learned through her years of adversity helped her grow the company to a billion dollars. Today, Shirin dedicates her life to helping others grow and realize their visions through speaking and board and advisory work. Shirin lives in Southern California with her husband and is close to her two children and their families.