OUR PROFILE OF EUROCIRCLE’S BEST PROFILE WINNER 2006 – LAYLA SABOURIAN

By Diane Saarinen, a New York-based journalist and EuroCircle member

EuroCircle members had a lot to say about the nominees for Best Profile 2006.  For example: Jean-Paul Saliou had the “best blue eyes of all and is a great party-goer!” as well as being a “truly nice French guy!”  Some voted for Jasmine Arakel, “cause she’s fabulous!” Toby Steinhauser garnered plenty of votes – “he was voted Chicago’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ in 2005.  Who can resist that?”  Massimo Toschi’s deep commitment to the human rights and especially children rights worldwide made a lasting impression on many voters.

But in the end, it was San Francisco’s Layla Sabourian, who received the most votes, along with this comment:  “After reading her profile, I feel like I would like to marry her…just kidding about the wedding thing.  But it is still a good profile!”  And we don’t think L’Oreal would mind that an EuroCircle member proudly proclaimed, “because Layla is worth it!”

So who is Layla Sabourian?  EuroCircle interviewed the Iranian-born beauty and now presents the profile behind the winning profile…

Layla was born in Tehran, Iran.  She moved to the United States for the first time in 1990.  She has also lived in Mexico, France, Canada and Russia. 

She has a varied work history: “For many years, I worked in the fashion industry, and though I loved all the perks I got, I felt like I had to find a job that was more rewarding socially and spiritually.  So, I joined a nonprofit organization dedicated to women’s causes.”  Layla has since moved on from that nonprofit, and “right now, during the day I work for a software company in Silicon Valley in Business Development and I simply love it.” How about at night and in her spare time? “I have also launched my own matchmaking/dating service!  This idea emerged when I was living in Paris.  I would organize dinners for various people and introduce them to others whom they would normally never come in contact with.  Also, every time a new person would move to Paris, everyone would provide him or her with my contacts and say ‘Don’t worry, if you need an apartment, job or friends, just go to dinner ‘Chez Layla.’ She’ll put you in the right direction!’”  In fact, now the matchmaking service she has founded is called “Dinners Chez Layla” (www. dinnerschezlayla.com).

What was Layla’s most memorable matchmaking success?  “One of the marriages I formed was between the daughter of the Moroccan ambassador to Paris, and a very intelligent INSEAD graduate – a son of the personal doctors to the King of Saudi Arabia.”

Layla joined EuroCircle in April 2005, when EuroCircle member Azita Mousavi told her about an upcoming event.  “When I was working for the nonprofit organization I mentioned, one of my duties was to form partnerships with international organizations across the world, and find young women artists to whom I could spread the word to.  Sure enough, that night I made many connections, and many helped our organization get new art work for a book they were preparing to publish.” 

And Layla plans to continue with her involvement in EuroCircle.  “I will definitely stay involved, and I want to participate particularly in the South Bay area of San Francisco and do socially-conscious events.  For instance, I have ideas to help host international movie nights, and would love to bring certain issues to light.”  She is also looking to EuroCircle founder Kaisa Kokkonen for tips:  “I have been in touch with Kaisa in relation to organizing some events and have really learned a great deal from her in regards to event planning networking.  She is also serving as my mentor in building up my matchmaking business!  I think her idea to create EuroCircle was simply brilliant and so far everyone I have met in this network has been very professional, friendly and helpful.”

Now on to the prize – the winning trip to Hungary.  Did Layla think she would win?  “To be honest, I thought I had a good chance of becoming a finalist but I did not seriously think I would win.  Plus who could ever compete with Cristiane’s photo from last year?”  She adds, “I thought Christina Xu would win this year, because she is so exotic and beautiful, so kind, and already located in New York, so it might make it easier for her to win as last years’ winner also came from San Francisco.”  She also received a generous offer – “I met Jasmine Arakel in person and she told me if she won, she would take me with her to Hungary.  I thought that was so cute of her, but I told her I could not personally promise the same thing because my boyfriend (Antoine Tarwe) would be deeply hurt.” 

Layla also expresses how “thankful and touched I am by all the private messages I am getting people all over the world congratulating me,” including kudos from her fellow nominees in this contest. 

Lucky Layla already has plans for her trip.  “I expect to have an amazing time!  I will visit Budapest and take a walk on the banks of the Danube, climb up to the castle district and enjoy the unique panorama from the ‘Fisherman’s Bastion’.   I hear Hungary is filled with rolling hills and cooling springs.  If the weather permits, I will take a swim in Lake Balaton, and make sure I allow time to see the ‘Hortobagy’ National Park. I have a good friend named Monika Belinszki (also an EuroCircle member) who has promised to introduce me to the insider culture of Budapest and invite me over to her parent’s house for a home cooked Chicken Paprika.    I would absolutely love to see ‘Holloko’ a charming village in the north of Hungary (declared an UNESCO world heritage site)…I definitely want to take advantage of the many spas Hungary is known for.  And of course – being a total fashion victim – I must also take some time to go shopping!”  And all this will be done “while taking sips of rich flavorful rich flavorful Tokaji Hungarian wine.”  Anyone jealous yet?

This ambitious young woman has plans well beyond her Hungarian vacation, too – when asked what she expects to be doing in the next five years, she already has a wish list.  Included is writing a book about the story of her interesting life, growing her matchmaking business, embracing motherhood, traveling to Argentina, and mastering Italian and Arabic.  We wish you all the best, Layla – and have a wonderful time in Hungary

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