DEBRA MESSING is an actor, philanthropist and global icon. MANDANA DAYANI is an entrepreneur, attorney and the creator/co-founder of I am a voter. And they are the biggest nerds you’ve never met.
Join them each week as they speak to one of their heroes. Each of these 20 Dissenters just made the decision one day to dissent: to challenge the status quo, stand up to an injustice or make a tremendous difference in their communities. Learn how a stay at home mom took on the NRA and built the largest grassroots movement in our country, and how a college student went on to pass over 30 laws to protect sexual assault survivors (and even got nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize). These Dissenters will give you the courage and hope to find your purpose and chase your passion.
There are heroes everywhere. Discover them. Become one.
DEBRA MESSING is best known for her Emmy Award winning role as “Grace Adler” on NBC’s Emmy-winning and Golden Globe-nominated comedy series “Will & Grace.” She has also starred in “The Mysteries of Laura,” and “SMASH,” both on NBC. Film credits include the award winning “Searching,” “Along Came Polly,” and “The Wedding Date.” Messing will return to Broadway this fall starring in Noah Haidle’s new play, “Birthday Candles.”
Messing is the Global Health Ambassador for PSI focusing on HIV/AIDS. She has traveled extensively in Africa in this role and testified before the House Foreign Affairs sub-committee on Africa and Global Health and spoke at the International AIDS conference. Messing supports HRC (Human Rights Campaign), Everytown for Gun Safety, Time’s Up, among many other organizations. Messing has been honored by the HRC for being one of the world’s greatest supporters to the LGBTQ+ community both on screen and off screen, and by The Trevor Project with The Trevor Life Award for her contributions to the LGBTQ+ community. Messing is also a founding member of I am a voter.
MANDANA DAYANI is the Creator and Co-founder of I am a voter., a nonpartisan movement that aims to create a cultural shift around voting and civic engagement. Its mission is to inspire and excite this generation by making voter identity mainstream, aspirational, inclusive and an integral component of personal identity.
Mandana began her career as a corporate attorney at top international law firm, Paul Hastings. She then worked as a talent agent where she developed licensing and endorsement opportunities for the world’s most esteemed celebrities. before going in-house to work with stylist and entrepreneur, Rachel Zoe, to launch the Rachel Zoe Collection and the company’s initiatives in business development, digital media, strategic investments, licensing, publishing, endorsements, and television production. After 6 years, Mandana joined EBTH as Chief Brand Officer where she served as part of the leadership team which raised $84.5 million in venture capital, built its strategy and teams across all its consumer-facing functions, and sold and produced its eponymous TV show to HGTV. She is also the founder of The Learning Series, an event series for women leaders.
Mandana earned her JD from the USC Gould School of Law and her BA from the University of Southern California. She is an immigrant from Iran and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Peter Traugott, and their two daughters.