Meet David Kianmahd | Director of Operations

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

Hi David, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Finding work/life balance is always a challenge. It’s tough to move away from the calculation that “hours in = money out”. Fighting the urge to refine or reevaluate constantly is in every entrepreneur. I’ve found that putting in hard boundaries with myself is a great way to find the balance. I’ll schedule something around the end of my day that is some sort of self-care; it might be a gym session, a dinner or drinks with a friend or colleague, or family time. This puts in a transition between my work day and my non-work time that keeps me sane and prevents burnout.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As the Director of Operations for Blue Plate Restaurant Group, the path was not clear. After graduating from UCLA with a BA in Anthropology, I thought I was headed in a very different path. I was cooking professionally, working nights, weekends and holidays in front of a blazing fire on my feet all day for minimal pay.

Something very true of hospitality is how hands-on and social our jobs are – we’re working on large teams, interacting with different personalities from above and below, all while maintaining grace in front of customers. While his is often stressful and sometime VERY stressful, I’ve learned how to be an effective, empathetic person under pressure and there is nothing more valuable to me as a leader.

Our brand reflects this path – our teams all work hard to provide a fun, unique experience to all our guests and customers while maintaining a sense of grace and hospitality.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Los Angeles is so eclectic and dynamic. I would start with a morning hike in Malibu overlooking the Ocean, perhaps the Mishe Mokwa trail or Temescal Canyon. From there, I’d go to Montana Ave and get some coffee at Cafe Luxxe and enjoy some of the shops along the street. For lunch, we’d head to Mizlala in West Adams and enjoy some Israeli food. Next, we’d hang at Poinsettia Park in West Hollywood and enjoy the afternoon sun, then head to K-town for some Korean BBQ at Parks BBQ or Quarters. Last, some drinks in Eagle Rock at Capri Club.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Like everyone, I’m the sum of my previous experiences! My parents are a huge inspiration – they’re immigrants from Iran and Israel and came to Los Angeles to build a better life for themselves and my siblings. They’ve both worked for as long as I can remember, and I’ve learned and absorned a lot of their drive to do things well and with integrity. My time spent with Hillstone Restaurant Group learning about people management and systems building was hugely formative to my career subsequently.

Website: www.divinevintage.com

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