CROSSING THE DESERT | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation

At the age of 16, he escaped persecution and made his way to America as a refugee. At 28, he secured a billion-dollar IPO. Today, he’s redefining what it means to be an entrepreneur by building a new model of capitalism.

In the summer of 1987, Payam Zamani fled Iran. As a member of the Baha’i Faith, he had already survived years of religious persecution at the hands of Islamic fundamentalists. Taking the only path available to him, he escaped to Pakistan through the Emptiness Desert: a harrowing five-day trek through one of the hottest, driest, and most hostile regions on the planet.

Twelve years later, he and his brother set records when the company they founded hit a $1.2 billion valuation on Wall Street. He was rich—on paper. But in the wake of yet another Wall Street meltdown, he learned the hard way that modern capitalism can be harmful to the human soul.

In 2015, Payam set the example he wanted to see by merging his business acumen with his spiritual beliefs and founding a new company—One Planet Group—this time without letting Wall Street or the venture capital world dictate the terms. Today, One Planet Group is proving that it’s not only possible but necessary to build strong businesses while taking care of our employees, customers, communities, and the planet.

CROSSING THE DESERT gives readers an intimate look at how the paths we choose, the values we embrace, and the systems we decide to participate in (or not) can make or break us, not only financially, but spiritually. Payam’s story is a timely reminder that enduring and embracing life’s most difficult journeys can lead us to a brighter future—not only for ourselves, but for the people around us, and even the world.

Payam Zamani is joining us on the Busboys stage to share more about his journey to success and strategies you can implement to be the change you want to see in the world. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and Zamani will be signing following the program.

This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of CROSSING THE DESERT will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person and will not be livestreamed. 

We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books

Payam Zamani is an entrepreneur, investor, and the founder of One Planet Group, a closely held private equity firm that owns a suite of online technology and media businesses. Infused with Zamani’s deeply held beliefs from the Baha’i Faith, One Planet’s mission is to support strong business ideas while building an ethos that helps improve society and gives back to communities.

Born in Iran, Zamani was forced to flee at the age of sixteen due to his religious beliefs as a Baha’i. He was offered asylum in the United States in 1988. Upon graduation from UC Davis, he and his brother founded AutoWeb, one of the first online car marketplaces, which they took public in 1999.

Over the years, Zamani has built and now owns multiple technology and media businesses, spanning ad tech, publishing, and media. Owned and operated businesses of One Planet Group include Buyerlink, AutoWeb, One Planet VC, One Planet Studios, and others. As part of its nonprofit arm, One Planet Group also operates One Planet One People and Bahai Teachings. In 2023, the company launched the One Planet Summit, an annual conference exploring how we can navigate capitalism with a spiritual compass and elevate business to serve humanity.

In 2020, One Planet Group was named a “Best Place to Work” and received the Better Business Bureau’s Torch for Ethics Award. Zamani has won numerous awards for diversity and inclusion and has received the Tahirih Justice Center’s “Hope Award” and the University of California at Davis Award of Distinction. Zamani and his wife, Gouya, have two daughters, Sophia and Ella.

Host or Publisher Busboys and Poets