Meet Amira Ansari | Communications Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amira Ansari and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amira, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Taking risks is an integral part of growing as a person. There are small risks, calculated risks, and risky risks. I try to stay in the “calculated risk” area when it comes to both my life and my career. If I can justify doing something out of my comfort zone that thrills and excites me and I believe I can succeed at it, I will always go for it! But also, I believe most people know in their hearts when a risk is calling to them.

I’ve been married (unsuccessfully), completely relocated myself, geographically (half successful), and completely switched career paths to get to where I am today.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I work with the USBG (United States Bartenders’ Guild) as Communications Manager. In 2010, I went back to school to get my degree in journalism and vear out of fashion. I had a clothing line for 10+ years that I loved, but I wanted to explore my passion for writing and storytelling. Going back to school at 32 was not easy, but in a lot of ways it was much more meaningful this time around than it was in my early 20’s. It’s never too late to switch career paths to pursue something you love!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite restaurant is in lower Greenville – Cafe Izmir! The restaurant is run by a very caring family that always makes me feel like I am part of that family as well. The food is always top notch, and the service is impeccable!

Reunion Tower is a very cool place as well – as long as you aren’t afraid of heights!

Grapevine has some awesome wine tours and tasting rooms.

Night clubs high on the list are Panoptikon, The Church, & Station 4.

Favorite speakeasys are Atwater Alley and Bourbon & Banter.

For culture enrichment, the Dallas Museum of Art is always educational.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give a shout out to all of my friends that have stood by me through life challenges that have been thrown at me. I have a lot of very solid friendships that have survived hypothetical “hurricanes.” At the same time, I’ve lost a few friends that jumped in the lifeboat and left without me… and then I’ve gained new friends that fit in my life like a puzzle!

My mom has been a rock for me – she has always supported me and in a lot of ways, she is my best friend today – which, if you had told teenage “Amira” any of this, she never would have believed it!!

Website: usbg.org

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amiraansari/

Facebook: facebook.com/gothicabyamira

Image Credits
photography by Jennifer Anderson