Ardy Sobhani
ARDY SOBHANI is an entrepreneur and business strategist, energized by ideation, iteration, and systems design. After earning an MBA in Design Strategy from California College of the Arts in 2012, Ardy helped launched Oru Kayak via Kickstarter with his two co-founders. The response to the project was incredible, with over 700 backers supporting the folding kayak company. In three years since, Oru Kayak has grown quickly, from a weekend hobby to young and scrappy startup to international brand. all under the guidance of Sobhani, Oru Kayak's CEO.
Today the company markets and sells through a wide variety of channels, has a robust and efficient manufacturing and fulfillment process in Southern California, and has developed key partnerships with , and many other major distributors. Looking forward, the company--which has doubled in growth each year since its founding--is poised for rapid expansion, riding a wave of good fortune and a dedication to the aggressive strategies put forth by Ardy and the rest of the executive team. Oru Kayak's dream of changing the way people experience the outdoors is closer than many believe.
As a leader, Ardy is motivated by a desire to use human-centered design to make the outdoors more accessible for all. He believes that clever, forward-thinking solutions will soon create game-changing products and services in the outdoor industry, and that Oru Kayak is position well to be a catalyst for this change. Ardy uses design thinking frameworks to inspire innovative thinking, merging design and business to create and deliver value to the customer and faster growth for the company.
3 words to describe Nature?
Freedom
Fresh
Recharge
3 things Nature taught you?
Ecosystem - Everything has a purpose and nothing is wasted.
Flow - the easiest path forward. Nature always finds it.
All the answers we are looking for are in nature, but they are hard to find.
3 most treasured Nature spots?
The waters that surround the cities. We need to utilize these natural water parks!
The Beautiful North of Iran " Shomal"
My favourite tree in the neighbourhood
When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel...?
Calm and at the same time strong. Always there to take care of you and never let go.
When you see a forest, it makes you feel...?
Respect. Our elders with much wisdom
When you see a volcano, it makes you feel...?
Never seen a volcano in person but it is very powerful. It's time for the earth to breathe.
When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel...?
Another day about to start or end :) Future or the Past. Both are very powerful.
When you hear thunder, it makes you feel...?
Love it! Louder, please!
When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel...?
Something is about to go down! We need to listen closely to what the wind is telling us.
Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person?
I grow up in Tehran, Iran mountains city but lived in California for the most of my life. I love the desert for it vastness and its honesty. I love the ocean as it takes care of us. Mountains for their powerful stand and they are fun to play in. Forest for the oxygen the make. How about mountain forest next to ocean or lake.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
10. I need more of it.
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
Camping in the forest of Iran. I LOVED it!
