NEDA SARMAST is a seasoned entertainment executive, music manager, and cultural diplomat whose work has consistently bridged East and West through the power of media, music, and storytelling. With over three decades of experience across major record labels, global TV networks, and high-impact cultural initiatives, she is a bold voice in using entertainment as a platform for dialogue, understanding, and transformation. Neda has managed international recording artists, advised television networks, produced an acclaimed documentary, and spoken on global stages. Her upcoming podcast and talk show, “Talk Talk with NEDA,” aims to bring people and cultures together through intimate, real conversations and cross-border entertainment4continuing her lifelong mission of creating unity through culture and entertainment.

HIGHLIGHTS & EXPERIENCE

Music Management & Cultural Diplomacy

• Manager to YAS, Iran’s most famous and influential hip-hop artist4 Featured in major international press and media, and chosen as MTV’s International Artist of the Week.
• Advisor to US State Department cultural exchange programs, coordinating cross-cultural musical and entertainment collaborations with the Middle East and the U.S.
• Founder and Director of <Nobody9s Enemy 3 The Youth Culture of Iran,= a documentary & university screening and tour, promoting and lecturing on the importance of entertainment towards cultural diplomacy.
• Co-creator of Documentary Voices (Dubai) 3 The first documentary film festival in Dubai, focused on Middle Eastern artists, writers, directors, and stories.
• Advisor to Voice of America (VOA) Persian TV for entertainment programming and international relations.
• Selected for Breaking the Ice, a groundbreaking cross-cultural expedition across the Sahara Desert for eight weeks to foster global peace. Each of the ten participants’ lives had been affected and experienced personal challenges due to the conflict in the Middle East. The expedition received major worldwide press and media attention, including a personal letter to NEDA from Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York, congratulating her on representing New York on the expedition.

FILM 3 MEDIA 3 SPEAKING

• Director/Producer of “Nobody’s Enemy 3 The Youth Culture of Iran” (Documentary – 2009) (co-produced with the award-winning production company Chat The Planet).
• Represented as a public speaker by Wolfman Productions, sharing stories of culture, identity, and reconciliation across U.S. campuses and conferences.
• Cultural advisory committee of Americans for Informed Democracy (AID), (an organization with a reach to over a thousand universities worldwide) for their ‘Hope Not Hate’ initiative. Cultural Strategy & Network Advising.
• Sponsored by Campus Progress for several university lecture tours promoting peace and understanding between Iran and USA as part of their documentary lecture series.
• Public speaking and lectures worldwide including:
• US-ISLAM World Forum (Doha, Qatar) 3 (Speaker – Cultural Diplomacy/Arts & Entertainment).
• Asia Society (NY, USA) 3 Speaker 3 Mightier Than The Sword: Arts & Culture in the US/Muslim World relationships.
• Panelist and speaker at various universities and conferences across the US, Europe and Middle East – including the Library of Congress, NYU Center for Dialogue, Yale University, Tufts University, Pace University, University of
• Maryland, Iowa State University, University of North Carolina, George Mason University, University of Chicago, Kalamazoo University, and many more.

CULTURAL STRATEGY & NETWORK ADVISING

• Entertainment strategy consultant to GEM Television on international programming, partnerships, and branding.
• Cultural and media advisor for RED HOT & RUMI, an artist collaboration initiative promoting international music and art diplomacy in honor of the world reknown poet, RUMI.

MANAGEMENT — PRODUCTION — CONSULTING EXPERIENCE

SARMAST ENTERTAINMENT

Founder and CEO of a personal management and entertainment consultancy offering services in:

• Trend forecasting & creative branding
• Artist development & talent partnerships
• Launching music/media events and business initiatives

AGGRESSIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Music management and talent development for artists such as Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi guitarist) solo project.

Managed Michael Moon (Columbia Records). Co-managed Coyote Shivers (Mutiny recording artist), Sabelle (The Work Group, Sony), and Giovanni Salah (Atlantic Records). Writers and producers, George Llanes and <Pretty= Will

Roberson in the genre of Dance, Electronica, Pop, Hip Hop, and R&B.

McGHEE ENTERTAINMENT

Artist Representative and management to multi-platinum award-winning recording artists Bon Jovi, Skid Row, Scorpions, and Motley Crue.

INTERNATIONAL TALENT GROUP (ITG)

Worked with company founders / President and CEO on all worldwide events and tours. “ITG” was the booking agency for stars such as Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Genesis, Sade, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Simply Red, The Cure and many more.

Responsible for AFM (American Federation of Musicians) contracts and acted as liaison between concert promoters, managers, and local unions on all worldwide music tours.

PAST PROJECTS

• Global Entertainment & Media Summit (GEMS) (NYC) 3 Produced a groundbreaking summit featuring Les Paul, legendary guitarist and creator of the Les Paul Guitar, acclaimed filmmaker John Waters (“Hairspray,” “Pecker,” “Serial Mom,” “Cry Baby”), legendary music producer Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, KISS, Peter Gabriel, Rod Stewart), Avid’s Mike Rockwell, MediaChannel’s Danny Schechter, recording artist Chuck D., music attorney Fred Davis (Busta Rhymes/Stained/Missy Elliott/3 Doors Down/Aaliyah/Capitol Records/Miramax), author and artist manager Lenedra Carroll (Jewel), John Scher (Metropolitan Talent), and Don Campbell (celebrated author of Mozart Effect), the producers of the Golden Globe Winner and Oscar Nominee “In The Bedroom,” actor Evan Seinfeld (HBO Original Series: OZ), Sundance Channel, Jeff Lipsky (President – Lot 47 Films) among many other luminaries.
• Independent Music Network Television (IMNTV) 3 Initiated the network’s relationship with major and independent record companies, conducted and oversaw contract negotiations with the talent and labels, as well as initiated negotiations with potential investors for the company’s second round of financing.
• Jill Siegel Communications, Advisor for boutique PR firm crafting campaigns for artists across genres.
• Strategic partnerships for music/tech startups like iDealmusic.com and Trivnet.
• Record label consulting for Invision Records, including Ray Charles launch event.

Previous Management & A&R (Artist & Repertoire) Roles:

• Artist representative & Management for Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora and other Sony/Atlantic artists.
• Co-manager to rising hip-hop, dance, and electronica talent signed to major record companies.
• Business consultant to Japanese singer, songwriter, music composer, and Rock superstar, Yoshiki Hayashi (XJapan),
• founder of One on One Studios and Extasy Records (Warner Bros).
• Key production role and management team for Moscow Music Peace Festival, the first two-night mega rock concert in post-Soviet Russia, with 250,000+ nightly audience.