Business Strategy

*From the [publisher's website](https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691268927/irans-grand-strategy):* Iran presents one of the most significant foreign policy challenges for America and the West, yet very little is known about what the country’s goals really are. Vali Nasr examines Iran’s political history in new ways to explain its actions and ambitions on the world stage, showing how, behind the veneer of theocracy and Islamic ideology, today’s Iran is pursuing a grand strategy aimed at securing the country internally and asserting its place in the region and the world. Drawing on memoirs, oral histories, and original in-depth interviews with Iranian decision makers, Nasr brings to light facts and events in Iran’s political history that have been overlooked until now. He traces the roots of Iran’s strategic outlook to its experiences over the past four decades of war with Iraq in the 1980s and the subsequent American containment of Iran, invasion of Iraq in 2003, and posture toward Iran thereafter. Nasr reveals how these experiences have shaped a geopolitical outlook driven by pervasive fear of America and its plans for the Middle East. Challenging the notion that Iran’s foreign policy simply reflects its revolutionary values or theocratic government, *Iran’s Grand Strategy* provides invaluable new insights into what Iran wants and why, explaining the country’s resistance to the United States, its nuclear ambitions, and its pursuit of influence and proxies across the Middle East. ***How to find us:*** We meet in the upstairs seating area at Zorba's in Dupont Circle. Look for a sign on a table with a picture of the book's cover on it. ***Links:*** **[Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/91030/9780691268927): By purchasing your book through this link, you help support local bookstores and defray the cost of DCIA's Meetup subscription.** [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Irans-Grand-Strategy-Political-History/dp/0691268924) [Princeton University Press](https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691268927/irans-grand-strategy) [WIkipedia page about Vali Nasr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vali_Nasr)

Click here to attend: [https://www.jgoot.com/livestreams](https://www.jgoot.com/livestreams) Some trips are fixed. Some trips are flexible. Some are mostly cash. Some are almost entirely points. The mistake is thinking those are different games. They’re not. In this special session, JGOOT Advisor Ajay breaks down two completely different trips booked back-to-back: • A fixed-date Hawaii family trip for five • A three-month Asia adventure starting in late February One required specific dates and limited flexibility. The other leaned heavily into optionality and points. One used a mix of cash and over 90,000 points. The other unlocked nearly $18,000 in travel for around $1,000 out of pocket. Different constraints. Different strategy. Same skillset. It’s time for: **Two Trips, Two Strategies: See What’s Possible When a JGOOTer Masters the Skillset.** Ajay will walk through how he thinks about flexibility, how he chooses when to use cash versus points, and why there’s no such thing as “a points trip” or “a cash trip” inside JGOOT. Inside this session, you’ll learn: • How to approach fixed-date travel without abandoning strategy • How flexibility dramatically increases leverage • How to decide when to deploy points and when to preserve them • How JGOOT becomes a skill you use on every trip, not a tactic you turn on and off This isn’t about showing off a big redemption. It’s not about extremes. It’s about understanding that once you master the skill, every trip becomes an opportunity. Whether you’re planning a family vacation with fixed dates or dreaming about a long-term adventure, you’ll walk away seeing exactly what’s possible when strategy compounds over time. Click here to attend: [https://www.jgoot.com/livestreams](https://www.jgoot.com/livestreams)

## Details Zoom Link : **[https://jesushousedc-org.zoom.us/j/3167877043](https://jesushousedc-org.zoom.us/j/3167877043)** Register for our guest list/book: [Forms for Invite](https://forms.gle/Qowi1t4aDbQaJhvG8) Come join your neighbors in developing your leadership and public speaking skills. We are a group of students, professionals and ambitious individuals interested in personal development. Daniel Leadership provides a fun environment for both working with groups, leading, and speaking in front of an audience. We meet every 2nd and 3rd Monday of the month, in downtown Silver Spring, convenient to the metro. Come join us to develop your professional skills, practice public speaking in front of a supportive group, or to just make friends. We hope to see you there! Come join your neighbors in developing your leadership and public speaking skills. We are a group of students, professionals and ambitious individuals interested in personal development. Daniel Leadership provides a fun environment for both working with groups, leading, and speaking in front of an audience. We meet every 2nd and 3rd Monday of the month, in downtown Silver Spring, convenient to the metro. Come join us to develop your professional skills, practice public speaking in front of a supportive group, or to just make friends. We hope to see you there! What to expect: • Come by and meet the members from 7:00-7:15 • Be wowed by 3-4 speakers practicing their craft • Practice your own public speaking with table topics • Learn about evaluating speeches to understand critical thinking • Make great friends with others interested in personal development Transportation/Parking: • We are 1/2 mile from Silver Spring metro • Located on the F4 bus line & 1 block from 4, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20 bus lines • Convenient street parking • 2 blocks from Fenton Village Garage 4 Parking Lot (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fenton+Street+Village+(Garage+4)/@38.9896363,-77.0262983,17z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1sSilver+Spring+parking!3m4!1s0x0:0xc69eb61284ac2daa!8m2!3d38.9909589!4d-77.025231)

No sign\-ups required \| All levels welcome \| 21\+ If you're looking for a casual game of chess in a fun atmosphere, this event is for you! Members range from beginner to master level, and games are played both with and without time controls. There are dozens of players each week, with only a fraction of the participants registering on meetup. This event is held at a bar, the Board Room, in Washington, DC, and is intended for 21+ players. We meet upstairs, on the mezzanine. Upon arrival, fill out a name tag and indicate your relative skill, to facilitate match-ups. Chess sets and boards are provided. We don't have club clocks, but most people use the Chess Clock app from Chess.com to play timed games.

This is a monthly class designed for guitar players of all levels to fine tune their technique while learning essential skills and concepts. Each class will cover different guitar skills on an accessible level, creating a good foundation for further exploration and practice. **Topics will include:** Right hand technique for strumming and picking Right hand technique for fingerpicking Essential open position scales Chord inversions Improvisation strategies The CAGED System Jazz Chords and More! Each class will start with some basic warmup exercises and move into specifics with a focus on healthy technique, practicing strategies, and producing the best possible sound. This is a live, in-person lesson where students will have opportunities to ask questions and receive feedback. PDFs will be provided. Classes are on the 2nd Monday of the month from 7:15 - 8:15 pm Register Here: [https://square.link/u/iayb0jXQ](https://square.link/u/iayb0jXQ?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExMXlZWXFLVkY1aktKMlFGdnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5xXexpM9-HmVBmj_F1XnvlykfPn3ukFQv7X8bgClcrPRs4MvrHtN9vmigMsA_aem_q5syCWKyuiDlhbMeFmiHug)

[Profs and Pints DC](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“What Digital Detectives Find,”** on the afterlife of your digital data and the methods of those who investigate it, with Jim Jones, associate professor at George Mason University and cyber security and digital forensics expert. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-digital-detectives](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/dc-digital-detectives) .] What happens when you delete digital data such as a picture, video, or email message? The truth is that “deleted” doesn't mean “gone,” and digital forensic investigators can extract and make sense of the residual fragments left over from data often assumed to be gone forever. Learn about the field of digital forensics—and the lessons it offers those who worry about sensitive data being exposed—with Jim Jones, who has been a cyber security and digital forensics practitioner, researcher, and educator for more than 30 years. You’ll learn how all investigations today, criminal and otherwise, to some degree involve digital forensics, an interdisciplinary field that draws from computer engineering, computer science, information technology, law, and ethics. Digital forensics doesn’t just respond to specific incidents, but also seeks out threats within organizations, analyzes malware, and buttresses cyber security. Much of the work of Dr. Jones, his colleagues, and students involves examining digital systems of all types to understand how data persists and decays and how it can be found and recovered. Dr. Jones will discuss how what happens to the digital data that you deleted depends on the type of device you are using, along with a host of other factors. You'll learn how digital data is stored on different devices and what does and doesn’t happen when you delete that data. You'll see examples of data extracted from different devices, demonstrations of what can be inferred from these remnants, and how investigators can tell if such remnants are genuine or not. Finally, you'll learn about strategies to mitigate the risk of exposing sensitive data. Dr. Jones will sort those that work from those that don’t. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: A digital forensics examiner works with evidence in the FBI’s New Jersey Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (FBI photo).

*TOPIC:* **Why Profitable Businesses Fail (and How a Cash Flow System Saves Them)** Is your business a "Cash-Eating Monster"? Even a profitable business on paper can fail if the cash isn't flowing correctly. Join us at Entrepreneur Collective this April as we welcome **Kim Chevez**, Your Wealth BFF, for a deep dive into the Profit First Cash Flow Management System. You’ll learn why traditional accounting often fails entrepreneurs and how to flip the formula to ensure your business stays healthy, your taxes are covered, and—most importantly—you actually get paid. Whether you’re looking to scale or trying to save a struggling venture, this session will give you the "Small Plates" framework to gain instant clarity over your bank balance and build a bulletproof financial future. Learn more about Kim here, [https://www.yourwealthbff.com/](https://www.yourwealthbff.com/) 🚀 **Welcome to the Entrepreneur Collective!** Ignite your business. Empower your journey. Entrepreneur Collective is a high-energy community for founders, creators, and business owners across all industries who are ready to scale, connect, and lead. We bring together the brightest minds to move past the "solopreneur" struggle and tap into the collective power of a room full of experts. Our mission? Connect. Learn. Grow. We believe big things happen when passionate people sit at the same table. So come grab a seat, swap stories, share wins (and fails), and leave each meetup a little more fired up than when you came in. Join us if you’re looking to: ✅ Meet like-minded small business owners ✅ Get real-world advice & fresh ideas ✅ Build meaningful partnerships ✅ End your day with purpose and inspiration No suits, no sales pitches—just good people, great conversations, and the fuel to finish your week strong.

This event is designed for professionals, business owners, and aspiring investors who want to better understand how wealth is built through ownership—whether through businesses, real estate, or alternative investments. For our first session, we’ll host a live, moderated conversation with a local business owner or investor who will share real-world insights on building, growing, and investing in businesses. The focus will be on practical lessons, mistakes, and opportunities—not theory. This is a small, curated event intended to bring together individuals who are serious about growth, long-term thinking, and meaningful connections. What to expect: * A live conversation with a featured guest * Open Q&A with attendees * Intentional networking with professionals and business-minded individuals This is not a sales event or investment solicitation. The goal is to create a space for learning, insight, and connection with others building in similar directions. Space is limited to maintain a high-quality experience.

Small business Owners who do business through referrals and community. Come visit our chapter to see how help each other expand our business and maximize our time. Our group has over 30 members from different backgrounds! We meet every Wednesday morning, network, and share great ideas! We are looking for a few more like-minded business professionals to grow our group! Come visit our chapter and see if we are fit! Breakfast and drinks are provided at $30. Location: Seva Spaces Tysons 1604 Spring Hill Rd 2nd floor, Vienna, VA 22182

**PLEASE BUY TICKETS THROUGH EVENTBRITE. RSVP THROUGH MEETUP IS NOT A TICKET PURCHASE CONFIRMATION.** Strive welcomes you to 'General Business Networking', DC's hottest networking event! We are set in the perfect central location for all to join. Are you interested in business? Want to elevate your career? Meet Consultants, Analysts of all types, Bankers, Software Engineers, Entrepreneurs, and more who are active in the space or are eager to get started. **\*\*This will be a multi-vertical event\*\*** **There will be professionals with backgrounds in the arts, finance, tech, real estate, healthcare, and more. Come with an open mind, and leave with connections that wouldn't be possible otherwise!** Pack some business cards and come with an open mind! Meet your future business partners, employers, coworkers, investors, and friends. You don't want to miss this opportunity to expand your network and create a brighter future. We will have a space for our event to check-in. The event will go from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (feel free to come at any point in this timeframe). Name tags will be provided. Business casual dress code. Job fair attire. **Remember, it's not who you know, it's who you meet tomorrow!** We look forward to meeting you at the event! Sincerely, Strive Networking Team *Refund requests are permitted up to 24 hours after purchase, so long as we are not within 48 hours before the event start time. Refunds will be made in full and repaid to your method of payment. Note that we are unable to reimburse PayPal fees.* *Disclaimer: By attending Strive Networking events you agree to photos/videos taken during the event being used to promote future events.*

How about a weekend Happy Hour over unbeatable prices. Instead of silently doing research on your own, it is well known that when you are regularly connected with people of your own investment interest, you are likely to be more motivated, better informed and less likely to miss out on opportunities. Meet and discuss face-to-face.

Styled after a 'pitch competition', this event is for entrepreneurs, and the entrepreneurial-curious. Learn about on-going initiatives from local area founders, and there will be ample time for networking. This event will bring together start-up founders and enthusiasts in the DMV area for an exciting opportunity to hear about a fellow founder, and give feedback on their pitch and product, and get to network around founders from the area. At this event we are partnering with Startup Shell, a part of the University of Maryland, College Park ecosystem. Location: Startup Shell, 4462 Stadium Dr room 1101, College Park, MD 20740, USA Parking: For our campus partners - Parking Lot CC1 is available for free after 4pm so guests can park there. https://transportation.umd.edu/sites/default/files/2026-02/Campus-parking-map.pdf **Our Agenda:** 1\. Basic introductions 2\. First "Pitch" Presentation \(\~10 minutes\) 3\. Community Q&A 4\. Second "Pitch" Presentation \(\~10 minutes\) 5\. Community Q&A 6\. Third "Pitch" Presentation \(\~10 minutes\) 7\. Community Q&A 8\. 60 second fire\-pitches \(limited slots\, and first\-come\-first\-served\) 9\. Break out sessions & general networking More information will be provided as we get closer to the meetup. **Speakers** Yuan He will present on N0S.AI - a decision intelligence platform built for professional investors and fund managers. It leverages four core AI agents, each delivering a key feature to improve investor’s circle of competency during the qualitative investment decision process. Two other speakers will be announced shortly, check back soon! Check back shortly, speakers will be announced soon! Pitch Labs is a member of the [DMV Petri Dish Network](https://www.dmvpetridish.com/ "https://www.dmvpetridish.com/"). During the event, our volunteer team will be capturing photos and video footage for use in promotional materials and on social media. If you prefer not to appear in any photographs or recordings, please let us know in advance, and we will be happy to accommodate your request.

The BNI Capital Business Alliance is a business and professional networking organization for all industry leaders. We are one of the top BNI groups in the region, focused on building business relationships and friendships that lead to growing each others business. We meet every Wednesday morning to build relationships, showcase our services, and meet new people! We welcome all visitors who are looking to expand their referral networks and grow their business. There is no fee for visiting our lite fare breakfast meeting and if your business category is open in our chapter you can learn more about how to become a member and join us every week! We are very active outside of our Wednesday morning meetings as well! We host member-only events regularly and are always out and about networking at other events. Due to COVID-19 circumstances our meetings are currently being held virtually through a Virtual Zoom Meeting from 7:30 - 9:00 am. A link to the meeting will be sent to you once you register as Attending on Meetup. We can't wait to meet you! Be prepared to tell us all about your business!

## AI E-Commerce REVOLUTION: Automate, Accelerate, Dominate Imagine: AI-powered product sourcing, ads that write themselves, and a store that practically runs itself. Stop imagining. Start building. **🔑 ACTION REQUIRED: RSVP is not enough. You MUST complete registration at the link below.** ### [⚡ UNLOCK AI E-COMMERCE ⚡](https://remoteready.io/product/AIEcommerce?city=Columbus&groupurlname=connect-with-elite-ai-business-innovators&startgmtdatetime=2026-04-17T22:00:00Z) --- Discover the precise AI tools and workflows used by top e-commerce sellers to identify hot products, generate compelling copy, and scale their stores with minimal manual effort. **Who Should Attend?** * Dropshippers seeking to automate and optimize their stores. * Anyone keen to apply AI to the world of business. * Marketers eager to ramp up ad creation and campaign automation. **What's on the Agenda?** * AI for customer support & boosting retention. * Crafting killer ads with AI. * AI-driven niche selection & validation. * Automatic winning product discovery. * Scaling strategies: from zero to consistent revenue. * Automating supply chain & inventory management. **Listen to this:** ⭐ *"This masterclass supercharged my business. The AI automation strategies paid dividends instantly."* – Verified Dropshipper 🌠 Level up your e-commerce game. One masterclass. AI-powered profits await.✨

Bring your business cards and network in person with other business professionals! Gold Star Referral Clubs is one of the most established professional networking organizations in the country, with multiple groups in central Ohio. Join us!

At Evolve Synergy Sessions, you'll be part of a supportive mastermind where we share challenges, brainstorm solutions, and inspire one another to take bold steps in our businesses. Grow your network, gain fresh perspectives, and build meaningful relationships with like-minded women who are committed to success. Whether you’re looking to move the needle in your business or simply need a space to connect and recharge, this is the perfect place to fuel your entrepreneurial journey. [Add Event to Calendar](https://evolvecolumbus.eventcalendarapp.com/) \*\* Please note, we will be arriving around 8:15a for open networking! Get there early and get connected! Contact Alexis Morley at [alexis.morley@edwardjones.com](mailto:alexis.morley@edwardjones.com) or Terri Lawson at [terri.lawson@e-merge.com](mailto:terri.lawson@e-merge.com) for more information.

**Connected Westerville Night of Networking** *April Edition: The Introduction Economy* You've been to the networking events. You've done the small talk. Collected the cards. Forgotten the names. And walked out feeling like you just wasted two hours of your life. The problem isn't you. It's the format. Most networking events put you in a room and tell you to figure it out. So everyone defaults to elevator pitches and business talk, and nothing real gets built. Here's the truth about networking that most people miss: Your network isn't just who you know. It's who thinks of you when they're talking to someone else. *That's* The Introduction Economy. And it only works when relationships are real. There's a reason people who come once keep coming back. It starts with seven minutes that feel nothing like networking. Then we open it up. Free networking. More conversations. More momentum. This is a room full of corporate professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners, creatives, and career builders in the Westerville and Columbus area. The mix is the magic. You might never do business with everyone you meet tonight. But someone in this room will think of *you.* **By name**. So, the next time someone needs exactly what you do, you get the recommendation. **April 14th. RSVP now.** **When:** Tuesday\, April 14th \| 6:15 PM \-\- 8:00 PM **Where:** Vineyard Community Center \| 6000 Cooper Rd\, Westerville\, OH 43081

A WiA Collective Wisdom Exchange At the start of this year, we gathered to look back, set intentions, and imagine the next chapter. This is the follow-up. Not a check-in. Not a progress report. A small, facilitated circle to reconnect with what you said mattered — and honestly explore what’s actually happening now. Together, we’ll explore: • What you intended at the start of this year - and what that looks like three months in • What’s surprised you, supported you, or shifted • What the next chapter needs now that you know what you know If you were at our January gathering, bring whatever you made or wrote — your word, your artifact, your intention. We’ll look at it with fresh eyes. If this is your first time, you belong here too. You’ll start where we all started: with what’s true right now. Optional art materials will be available for anyone who wants to reflect creatively alongside conversation. If you brought something home from January, you’re warmly invited to bring it back. The intention is the same as always: everyone leaves feeling more clear, more connected, and a little lighter. Space is intentionally limited to keep the experience intimate. What to Expect • A small, welcoming circle (not a large meetup) • Structured conversation so everyone has space to speak • Reflection, listening, and lived experience — not advice-giving • Optional creative reflection alongside conversation • A calm, supportive environment Who This Is For Women and underrepresented folks working in or around agile, product, technology, leadership, or organizational change — especially those looking for honest conversation and community beyond frameworks and buzzwords. Good to Know • No preparation required • If you attended in January, we invite you to bring anything you created or wrote (or something that represents your intention at the start of the year) - it’s optional but invited • Participation is invitational; listening is always welcome • Creative activities are optional