Operations & Finance Manager
Sozan Savehilaghi
Pronouns: she/her/hers
How to pronounce Sozan's name:
— Sozan is an uninvited Kurdish settler on unceded and stolen lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. She serves as the Operations & Finance Manager at Pivot.
Sozan became attuned to systemic injustice at an early age through her experiences of war, family separation, forced displacement, gendered violence and poverty. She came to Turtle Island as a child seeking refuge with her parents. She was raised and nurtured by communities who engaged in political struggle; including migrant, refugee, and working class people. She credits her politicization to her family, the unbreakable spirit of the women in her life and the teachings of Black and Indigenous activists who give shape, breath, and momentum to all of our collective liberation.
Sozan joined Pivot in 2019 as the Communications & Digital Engagement Manger after having worked at legal non-profits for over a decade in roles ranging from administration, client relations, communications and fundraising. Starting in May 2022 she moved into the role of Operations & Finance Manager at Pivot bringing her passion for better systems that serve and not hinder the important work of Pivot. Sozan has experience developing and operationalizing logistics and communications strategies, and has served as a spokesperson to grassroots, public education and advocacy campaigns with a variety of anti-capitalist, anti-authoritarian, feminist and migrant justice organizations. She strives to use relational approaches to her work and her analysis is informed by feminist and anti-authoritarian teachings that are intersectional. She joined Pivot because her values align with Pivot's: the way towards justice is through the leadership of people with lived experience because people who bear the heaviest burden of oppressive systems are in the best position to inform all aspects of strategy and policy - their expertise and participation is invaluable to moving towards a world that is more just.
She is honoured to have the opportunity to put her knowledge and energy to work through Pivot’s campaigns and alongide the visionary and relentless staff, and community members Pivot works alongside.