Garrett Boorojian and Founder, Vental Strategic Advisory Group / Senior Fellow, Inclusive Governance, Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy / Member, Meridian Global Leadership Council / (Commentator: CNN; MS NOW; NewsNation; CBS News), Rina Shah

Garrett Boorojian and Founder, Vental Strategic Advisory Group / Senior Fellow, Inclusive Governance, Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy / Member, Meridian Global Leadership Council / (Commentator: CNN; MS NOW; NewsNation; CBS News), Rina Shah

Author: Garrett Boorojian July 6, 2026 Duration: 54:31

Garrett Boorojian and Rina Shah discuss relationship building in a team environment.

Rina spoke about her:

  • Family Tree and Career Background
  • "Republican against Trump" stance, and her concerns regarding the future of the Republican Party post-2026 Midterms
  • Criticism about the War in Iran, which includes the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, with no foreseeable conclusion of the war
  • Loss for words over the innocent Iranian school girls and staff who were killed by an inadvertent U.S. missile strike, which the Trump Administration will not take on any responsibility

Garrett shared his:

  • Criticism about President Trump's domestic and foreign policy decisions, including the War in Iran, that don't serve the best interests of the American people
  • Anger about the problems and crimes that have happened so far during the second Trump Administration, such as in Minneapolis, Austin, and San Jose, that were the direct or indirect results of ICE (Minneapolis) and the War in Iran (Austin and San Jose)
  • Concerns about "a point of no return" due to the innocent Iranian school girls and staff who were killed by an inadvertent U.S. missile strike, which the Trump Administration will not take on any responsibility

Garrett and Rina agree that:

  • The relationship between American voters and President Trump is strained because of the War in Iran
  • Non-MAGA Republicans, like Rina, have a much easier time engaging in a civil discussion with Democrats
  • Republicans need to have the same unifying message leading up to the 2026 Midterm Elections in what will appear to be decisive Democratic victories across the board

".... I'm a Republican because I believe in freedom, opportunity and a strong defense, but not blind loyalty. I think the party that owns that kind of message, principle, forward-looking, not reactionary, they're going to connect with the independents and the weary voters who want leadership and not more division. - Rina Shah

Source: © 2025 Renew Democracy Initiative

"RINA SHAH

Advisor

https://rdi.org/team/rina-shah/

Rina Shah is a Washington, DC-based geopolitical risk advisor, political commentator, and award-winning social entrepreneur. She has served as a senior aide to two Republican U.S. House members, a top consultant to two presidential campaigns, and a sought-after counselor to elected officials, diplomats, and corporate leaders worldwide. A proud West Virginia native and daughter of immigrants from Uganda and India, Shah rose to national prominence in 2016 as the first RNC delegate to publicly oppose Donald Trump’s nomination, leading the #NeverTrump movement. This stance triggered her removal from the RNC—later reversed after a legal battle.

In 2020, she founded Republican Women for Biden; in 2024, she led the Republicans for Harris coalition. Shah currently serves as Senior Fellow for Inclusive Governance at the Rainey Center and sits on the boards of the Women’s Congressional Staff Foundation, League of Minority Voters, and VoteRunLead. She co-founded the Women’s Public Leadership Network. Named by Business Insider as one of “20 political strategists to watch ahead of 2022 and 2024,” she is represented by United Talent Agency and contributes frequently to BBC, CBS, MSNBC, and CNN. Most recently, she became a Senior Advisor to Our Republican Legacy, advocating for a GOP rooted in constitutional principles, fiscal responsibility, and inclusive leadership. Her pro-democracy work spans the globe, from Germany to the Maldives."


Garrett Boorojian hosts WaveCapital's Guest Speaker Series on Relationship Building in a Team Environment, a podcast that digs into the human dynamics behind high-stakes success. Each conversation moves beyond typical interviews to explore how trust, communication, and genuine connection are forged under pressure. The guest list is a testament to the universal application of these principles, featuring Hall of Fame athletes from football, basketball, and baseball, Olympic medalists, Emmy-winning media figures, and top coaches and executives. These are individuals for whom "team" is not a corporate buzzword but the fundamental mechanism of achievement. You'll hear firsthand accounts of navigating locker rooms, boardrooms, and creative collaborations. The discussions are grounded in real stories-from the tension before a championship game to the delicate negotiations of a major business deal-revealing the practical methods these professionals use to build cohesive units. This isn't abstract theory; it's lived experience dissected to uncover what actually works. Whether you're leading a sports team, a business department, or any collaborative project, this podcast offers a rare look at the relational craftsmanship required to excel. Garrett guides these explorations with a focus on actionable insight, making each episode a masterclass in the subtle art of working with others.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

WaveCapital's Guest Speaker Series on Relationship Building in a Team Environment
Podcast Episodes
Garrett Boorojian and FOX 5 DC Anchor / Reporter, former Washington Commanders Game Day Host, former NBC Sports Washington Host / Anchor, former News Desk Anchor for NBC Olympics, Miss Florida USA 2001, University of Florida graduate, Julie Donaldson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:35
Garrett Boorojian and Julie Donaldson discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://www.juliedonaldson.com/"ABOUT JULIEJulie has been a pioneering figure in sports broadcasting, breaking gender barriers in…
Garrett Boorojian and NYT Bestselling Author, JFK Jr.'s friend, former The History Channel Scholar–in–Residence, University of Oklahoma Emeritus Professor, former University of Oxford Lecturer, former Yale University Associate Professor, Steve Gillon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:56
https://www.stevenmgillon.com/"STEVEN M. GILLONHistorian | Author | Producer | Professor | Speaker"History is not about memorizing facts. It’s about using facts to build an argument for interpreting the past." - Steven M…
Garrett Boorojian and Fenway Senior Speechwriter, former Speechwriter – Governor & First Lady Walz, former Communications Director & Chief Speechwriter – Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, former Director of Speechwriting – Speaker Pelosi, Aaron Bennett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:46
Garrett Boorojian and Aaron Bennett discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://fenwaystrategies.com/team/aaron-bennett/"Aaron BennettSenior SpeechwriterAaron’s parents suspected that he might have a futu…
Garrett Boorojian and CNN Senior Legal Analyst, former Assistant U.S. Attorney – Southern District of New York, former Assistant Attorney General – New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, Senior Counsel at Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Elie Honig [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:59
Garrett Boorojian and Elie Honig discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B093HZ7WZL/about"Elie HonigAbout the authorElie Honig is CNN's Senior Legal Analyst. He previously…
Garrett Boorojian and DrPH, MA, RDN, 2022 Nutrition Entrepreneur of the Year, 2024 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Distinguished Lecture Award winner, Recurring Nutrition Expert / Guest on ABC's "LIVE with Kelly and Mark," Wendy Bazilian [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:59
Garrett Boorojian and Wendy Bazilian discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://www.wendybazilian.com/about"Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, MA, RDN is a writer, educator, food enthusiast and award-winning journali…
Garrett Boorojian and Principal of JOEY JACKSON LAW, PLLC, CNN Legal Analyst, honored with the Joey Jackson ICC, Assistant District Attorney at the New York County District Attorney's Office, former Adjunct Professor at Monroe College, Joey Jackson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:08
Garrett Boorojian and Joey Jackson discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://www.joeyjacksonlaw.com/"PREMIER LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR NEW YORKNationally recognized for expertise in criminal law, union m…
Garrett Boorojian and the 62nd U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, 34th Chief of Protocol of the U.S., former Finance Chair for 2024's Biden for President and Harris for President, former DNC National Finance Director, Brown University alumnus, Rufus Gifford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:50
Garrett Boorojian and Rufus Gifford discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://www.elrodgifford.com/https://www.elrodgifford.com/#services"Rufus GiffordREAD FULL BIORufus Gifford is a former U.S. Ambassa…
Garrett Boorojian and the 31st Chief of Protocol of the U.S., former Executive Vice President & Global Head of Government and Public Affairs at SAP, formerly served in Presidents Clinton, Obama, and Biden Administrations, Peter Selfridge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:02
Garrett Boorojian and Peter Selfridge discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://www.usasean.org/https://www.usasean.org/people/peter-selfridge"Peter SelfridgeNominations and Governance Committee ChairPe…
Garrett Boorojian and Chief Legal Analyst at CNN, Emmy Award winner, former Staff Writer at The New Yorker, Contributing Opinion Writer at The New York Times, former Assistant U.S. Attorney (Brooklyn), Best–Selling Book Author, Jeffrey Toobin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:04
In his conversation with Garrett, Jeffrey speaks about:- His mentor Tina Brown, former Editor of The New Yorker, who gave Jeffrey a chance by hiring him in 1993.- Covering Mark Fuhrman's role in the O.J. Simpson trial.-…
Garrett Boorojian and Brig. Gen. USAF (Ret.), former F–15E Combat Pilot, former Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force (International Affairs), Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University alumnus, John "Dragon" Teichert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:26
Garrett Boorojian and Brigadier General (Retired) John Teichert discuss relationship building in a team environment.John spoke with me about how Tom Cruise’s “Top Gun” movie inspired him to join the United States Air For…