Lyla is an Afghan refugee, U.S. Navy veteran (Surface Warfare & Intelligence), entrepreneur, organizational enhancer, and innovation igniter.  

With three Afghanistan deployments alongside U.S./NATO Special Operations Forces (SOF) and tours in the Pentagon, she has enjoyed a distinguished career contributing to counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, and all-source intelligence operations. 

Lyla is also a lauded corporate educator, having designed and facilitated hundreds of interactive/experiential programs on cultural intelligence, organizational performance, innovation, and inclusive leadership. She is a sought-after speaker and moderator, has been featured in various media, and contributed to numerous podcasts. She also co-founded two nationwide nonprofits, PROMOTE Leadership and Honor the Promise. 

Lyla was a Scholar at the George W. Bush Presidential Center and a nonresident Senior Fellow at The Atlantic Council. She is currently a Senior Fellow with The Soufan Center, an Ambassador for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, a member of the Global SOF Foundation’s Advisory Council, and on the Board of Directors for The Honor Foundation and Corioli Institute. 

Lyla earned a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership and Innovation from Arizona State University. She is a Star Trek and Star Wars aficionada, international traveler, and devoted aunt to her niece and nephews.