Among his CEO friends, Jamsheed (Jim) Ameri, who commences his term as International Chair of the Board on 1 November 2024, is often referred to as “The Most Interesting Man in the World,” a playful reference to the famous Dos Equis beer campaign featuring Jonathan Goldsmith as the charismatic, bearded gentleman. But what makes Jim interesting is his unique mix of multi-culturalism, a deep appreciation for knowledge and wisdom, and a passion for adventure—fuelled by a sense of being nowhere in the world.

 

 

A Lost Homeland: The Revolution and its Aftermath

 

Jim’s father, a scholarly lawyer who served for a period on the Supreme Court of Iran, had sent him and his three brothers to the United States for college. “He believed that the United States was the leader of the free world and that’s where he wanted his sons to go.”

 

After earning a BS in civil engineering from California Polytechnic University, Pomona, Jim completed an MS in structural engineering from Stanford University in January 1979—the same month the last Shah left amid the tumultuous Iranian Revolution.

 

“All the time that I was growing up, my father was telling me that Iran was the kind of country that one morning you may get up and everything would be changed. And sure enough, in February of 1979, that’s exactly what happened,” recalls Jim. “Suddenly, I had a fancy degree from a top American college, but nowhere to go back to, no communication with parents for almost five years, no work visa, and only $6,600 in my bank account.”

 

After calling every engineering firm in the Yellow Pages, Jim found a job as a draftsman, paying US$8.00 an hour. Six months later, a company that needed his expertise in the seismic analysis of nuclear reactor cores offered him a position as an engineer and a chance to apply for a Green Card, allowing him to travel with a re-entry permit that said, ‘Nationality: Stateless.’”

 

As a proud young man from an old family with an ancestral home in Iran, the sudden loss of identity was like a gut punch.

 

“I didn’t realize at the time how traumatic this abrupt turn of events would turn out to be. You expect to graduate and go back to your home, where people know your name.” recalls Jim. “I was driven to have that again. That ignited the fire in my gut, fueling the drive to create something from nothing.”

 

 

Venturing into Entrepreneurialism

 

In 1982, after three years as an engineer, Jim switched to investment banking, taking with him that spirit of “never ever giving up and never ever quitting.”

 

The transition into the business world came naturally. “What I studied (in engineering) was rigorous. But there was no accounting, no finance, just pure physics and mathematics,” recalls Jim. “I was able to come to the business world through the door of investment analysis, where I found mathematics to be like high school level. I could do investment analysis in my head.”

 

In 1986, Jim formed his first company, buying apartment properties and adding value before selling them. Two years later, with the expertise of his brother who had a master's from Stanford in petroleum engineering, he formed Naftex Operating Company, buying oil and gas wells, reengineering them for enhanced production. His third successful company, Emerson Assisted Living, was formed in 1999 to build and acquire assisted living facilities. The entire portfolio and management company was sold in December 2021.

 

During this time, Jim started a family, marrying Goli Ameri—who would later become a highly influential American-Iranian diplomat, serving as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs under Condoleezza Rice—and together they had two sons, Darius and Sherwin. Through determination, ambition, and sleepless nights, Jim's entrepreneurial journey started to yield success. “If you have the background, and you’re smart, young, and honest—there is no better place to build a life and a successful business than in the US.”

 

In 1993, Jim moved to Oregon from the San Francisco Bay area, where Kinsel Ameri Properties, Inc., owns and manages its private portfolio of apartments in the Western United States. There he joined YPO. “I did not do it for the networking,” says Jim. “But it enriched my life.”

 

In 2005, he co-founded YPO Gold in Oregon with CEO member Don Spear and was honored to be invited to join CEO.

 

 

 

 

With his career thriving and his family growing, it took six years for Jim to engage with CEO. “In 2011, I actually went to the website to resign and while scrolling, I read about an event in Beirut. I signed up because it was my grandmother’s favourite city. I was there by myself, met wonderful and inspiring people, and discovered CEO is something else. It was never the same after that trip. Now I am one of the longest-serving CEO Board Members.”

 

As previous International Membership Chair (2019-2023), Jim was able to increase membership from 1721 to 1900 members. He also noticed a pattern: “We lose a lot of our members in the first three years, about six percent attrition every year, primarily by younger people who never engage. But, as in my case, after one CEO trip, they typically stay.”

 

And with new members came opportunities for new friendships. “There are about five or six hundred members who travel regularly with CEO and 70 to 80 who go on multiple trips, so you become best friends,” says Jim. “What YPO did is give me beautiful friendships in Oregon. CEO gave me beautiful friendships in the world.”

 

 

The Year Ahead: Adventures in Uncharted Territories

 

As Jim prepares for his year as International Chair of the Board, he is busy planning to attend at least 11 major events with his longtime partner Olga. “I wanted the year to be adventurous and global, as CEOers are very sophisticated people.” 

 

He adds, “We are a group of like-minded people who get educated by traveling together. Even in our board meetings, we have board seminars where we bring in resources, dedicating half a day to education.” 

 

With a calendar of event locations spanning from Mexico to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Madagascar, and Saudi Arabia, Jim is keen on expanding member understanding of geopolitics and sharing his passion for Near Eastern and European history. “Bringing members to places like Baku is important to me, not only because it reflects my heritage but also because it’s crucial to educate ourselves about these strategic countries and the geopolitics driving many of today’s global conflicts.” 

 

 

Finding Happiness and Meaning in the Journey