A Moment That Changed Everything
If you’ve ever heard Anahita Crawford speak, you know she doesn’t just talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion. She embodies it. Her presence is confident, yet calm. Her words are direct, but deeply human. She doesn’t enter a room to command attention. She enters to create space.
One moment, in particular, captured the essence of her work. After leading a DEI workshop, an employee approached her quietly and said, “For the first time, I feel seen here.” It wasn’t a headline or an award that moved Anahita most. It was that quiet voice. That single sentence. It reminded her why she does what she does. For Anahita, inclusion isn’t an initiative. It’s a way of life.
— Anahita Crawford
Building the Foundation
Anahita’s journey began far from the stages and advisory boards where she is now often seen. Raised in a culturally rich environment and fluent in both English and Persian, she was naturally attuned to the power of identity and the pain of invisibility. From an early age, she paid close attention to who was being heard and who was being left out.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Portland State University and later, an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Her career began in supply chain management and logistics. It was in those early roles that she developed a sharp eye for systems, patterns, and inefficiencies. But even more importantly, she began asking questions others didn’t. Questions about fairness, access, and voice.
From Strategy to Purpose
Her early career at Daimler Trucks North America was marked by technical excellence and strong leadership. Over nearly two decades, Anahita held roles that spanned logistics, operations, and continuous improvement. But while she excelled in Lean practices and organizational systems, it was her commitment to people that stood out.
She eventually transitioned into leading diversity and inclusion strategy at Daimler. There, she expanded employee resource groups, launched inclusive benefits programs, and developed initiatives that gave real power to employee voices. She wasn’t implementing trends. She was changing culture.
Anahita went on to bring her vision to Nike, where she guided DEI strategy for more than 75,000 employees. At Jennifer Brown Consulting, she became a trusted advisor to executives seeking to build inclusive and resilient organizations. Her influence continued to grow, not just because of her insight, but because of her authenticity.
Leadership at the Global Level
Today, Anahita serves as the Global Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Arm. In this role, she leads the company’s DEI strategy across regions, embedding equity into the organization’s people practices, operations, and leadership culture.
Her team at Arm was honored with the “Impact Team of the Year” award by the World 50 Group. This recognition wasn’t just for performance. It was for the heart, courage, and collaboration behind the work.
Her efforts extend beyond strategy sessions and policy meetings. She leads global workshops, builds partnerships with employee resource groups, and advises senior leaders on inclusive decision-making. She’s shaping how DEI lives within a company’s DNA — not as a department, but as a mindset.
A Voice on the World Stage
Anahita is not only a corporate leader. She is a global presence. At the Thrive and Transform Summit, she delivered a keynote aimed at first-generation leaders navigating career transitions. Her talk, “Navigating Change with Strength and Serenity,” was praised for being both practical and deeply inspiring.
She also joined the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, contributing to international dialogue on leadership, innovation, and the future of work.
At GITEX Africa 2024, she returned to Morocco after nearly two decades to engage with young developers and tech leaders. Through her support of Arm’s developer education efforts, she brought learning opportunities to over 2,000 participants. She visited the 1337 Coding School and saw firsthand how access and investment can shape the next generation of tech innovators.
The Power of Presence
Anahita’s leadership style has left a lasting impression on those who’ve worked with her. Lori Heino-Royer called her a strong ambassador of ideas and people. Dan Hunter spoke of her enthusiasm and the inspiration she brings to every room. Erick Nelson described her as a facilitator who builds high-performing teams. And Frank Dr. Hetz reflected on her rare mix of empathy and decisiveness — someone who knows when to lead with compassion and when to push for change.
She is someone who listens before she speaks, includes before she assumes, and always makes others feel that they matter.
A Vision That Keeps Growing
Anahita’s work is far from finished. Her vision for the future includes scaling equity across global industries, mentoring the next generation of inclusive leaders, and ensuring that belonging isn’t the exception, but the expectation.
She believes real leadership is not about titles or corner offices. It’s about showing up, creating trust, and making room for others to rise. Her mantra is simple but powerful: “It’s not just what I do. It’s who I am.”
Anahita Crawford is a strategist, a speaker, a cultural architect, and above all, a builder of belonging. She is helping reshape the future of leadership, one bold, human step at a time.
5 leadership lessons
- Lead with Presence, Not Position
Influence doesn’t come from title alone. True leaders create space for others to thrive. - Embed Equity into Every Action
Inclusion isn’t a separate initiative. It should shape how we hire, lead, and build culture every day. - Turn Strategy into Humanity
Great leadership balances systems thinking with empathy. People must feel seen before they can contribute fully. - Grow Beyond the Office Walls
Leadership extends into communities, schools, and global conversations. Use your platform to amplify impact. - Stay Grounded in Your Why
When leadership is rooted in purpose, the work becomes not just what you do, but who you are.
Editorial Note
Anahita Crawford’s story is a powerful reminder that leadership is not measured by how far we rise, but by how deeply we reach. Through her unwavering commitment to equity, empathy, and excellence, she has redefined what it means to lead in today’s world. Her journey challenges us to look beyond systems and titles, and to focus on impact, integrity, and inclusion. At Executives Diary Magazine, we are honored to spotlight leaders like Anahita — individuals who don’t just shape organizations, but elevate humanity in the process.
Connect with Anahita Crawford on LinkedIn to follow her work, insights, and global impact: linkedin.com/in/anahitacrawford
