Laya Khadjavi

Laya Khadjavi, a seasoned finance executive, was most recently Head of Strategic Partnerships and Client Relations and a member of the Executive Team at Menai Financial Group, a digital asset investment management firm. Laya is Founder-President of LKH Consulting LLC, providing advisory services, including strategic planning, business development and capital markets solutions, to a variety of institutions, including fintech and blockchain technology companies and investment management firms. She is a non-executive board member of GoldenTree ABS Management LLC since 2017. From 2012 to 2016, Laya was COO, Head of Strategy and Business Development at ICE Canyon, a global investment management firm specializing in Emerging Markets. Prior to ICE Canyon, Laya was Managing Director at Morgan Stanley where, during her 23-year tenure, she held a succession of senior management positions, including: Global Head of Markets Group in Global Wealth Management, Global Head of Collateralized Debt Obligations, Co-Head of North America Finance Group, and Co-Head of North America Structured Transactions Group in Institutional Securities Group. Laya began her career as a financial analyst at Salomon Brothers.

Laya holds a BS in Applied Mathematics-Economics from Brown University, where she also completed the requirements for a BA in French Literature. She received her MBA from Columbia University. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies.

Laya was Co-Chair of Brown’s Women’s Leadership Council from 2017 to 2021, where she served as a member for over a decade. She is also a member of Brown’s President Leadership Council and the University’s Center for Middle East Studies’ Advisory Council. In addition, she serves on the Board of Trustees of the Institute of International Education (IIE), where she chaired the Special Events & Advancement Committee and was a member of the Executive Committee. Laya also serves on the Iranian American Women Foundation’s Board of Advisors and is a member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Ancient Near East Art Department’s Visiting Committee. In 2008, Laya received The Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award.