Today we’d like to introduce you to Nooshin Yazhari.
Nooshin, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in Iran in the middle of the 1979 revolution chaos and lived in many cities and countries, as a child, to disappear the war. I loved art growing up but ended up getting accepted into an engineering major in a technical college, and graduated with a B.S. in Software Engineering in 2002.
Right after college I started an IT/Web Startup company with some college friends and successfully grew and sold the company in 2005. That was when I decided to migrate to the US to continue my education and started graduate school, at SMU Dallas, and got my Master’s in Software Engineering. After working for some large consulting companies for a few years, I founded my 2nd IT Startup, Optimum, in 2014 and in Houston, with focus on Software and Digital Solutions. The initial equity to found this business was $25 with the goal to reach $1M in revenue in 3 years, which seems like an impossible mission! Even though the Houston’s Oil & Gas market and overall economy was hurting during the initial years of the company, Optimum still managed to grow stronger and larger every year and met it’s initial revenue and annual goals. Today, Optimum servers many Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and companies of all sizes.
As you can see in my journey, I have a passion for founding businesses that support technology, innovation, and digital transformation to help advance our local and national communities. I believe the world is a better place with more humanity + technology!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Establishing myself and my business as a female immigrant in the US’s society and market, especially in a male-dominated industry.
Going through personal life challenges and helping my family overcome those while navigating the waters of launching and growing a tech company in Houston with no external capital funding.
Please tell us about Optimum.
OPTIMUM is a premier Software and Digital Solutions Consulting firm, transforming businesses through the power of People, Innovative Technology, and Automated Processes.
Optimum helps organizations gain a competitive advantage, increase efficiency, reduce operational cost, and drive digital transformation by employing strategic planning, innovative software solutions, and streamlined business processes.
We offer a full suite of software services and solutions, including Strategic IT Consulting, Software Application Development, Commercial-Off-The-Shelf and SaaS Software Products, Project Management Consulting, and Business Process Management & Automation solutions.
Optimum has delivered innovative software solutions and services to several organizations, nationwide, including governmental agencies, healthcare and educational entities, Fortune 500 oil & gas companies, and privately-owned organizations of all sizes.
Our team is composed of highly qualified and experienced certified consultants with a wealth of contextual experience in various technologies and platforms. We are committed to providing high levels of product quality and customer satisfaction.
We are proud of our core values, people, clients and our industry and believe in and advocate for “Responsible and Innovative Technology” for all!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Nothing! I’d have chosen the same hard (and unique) paths again to get to my life destinations; would have constantly put myself outside of my comfort zone again; would have loved the same people in my life and chosen the same friends and acquaints, and would have founded the same companies!
The only thing I would do differently would be to pursue my inner artist and mix and bring more Art into Technology!
Contact Info:
- Address: 5100 Westheimer Rd.
Suite 200
Houston, TX 77056 - Website: www.optimumcs.com
- Phone: 713-505-0300
- Email: info@optimumcs.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Optimumcs/
- Twitter: optimumcsllc
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
