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 1996 NCAA Division I Runner–Up / NBA First Round Draft Pick, former Consensus Second–Team All–American, former McDonald's All–American, Executive Board Member of the 501(c)(3) Heavenly Productions Foundation, John Wallace [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:46
Garrett Boorojian and John Wallace discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://www.legendsofbasketball.com/alumni/john-wallace/https://www.legends-mag.com/for-john-wallace-hard-work-mental-healthGarrett a…
Garrett Boorojian and 4x Emmy Award winner, National Sports Media Association (NSMA) Hall of Famer, National Jewish Sports Hall of Famer, International Jewish Sports Hall of Famer, ESPN SportsCenter Anchor of 33 years, Linda Cohn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:16
Garrett Boorojian and Linda Cohn discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/cohn_linda/"Linda CohnSportsCenter AnchorHall of Fame sportscaster Linda Cohn has served as a SportsC…
Garrett Boorojian and former Chief of Staff to Second Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden, former Chief of Staff to Vice President Kamala Harris (Harris for President) / former Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Education, Sheila Nix [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:19
Garrett Boorojian and Sheila Nix discuss relationship building in a team environment.Sheila has one of the most complete and accomplished professional careers in local, state, and national politics, from the campaign tra…
Garrett Boorojian and National Political Reporter and former White House Reporter at The Wall Street Journal, former Reporter at the Associated Press, Georgetown University and Columbia Journalism School Alumnus, Ken Thomas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:17
Garrett Boorojian and Ken Thomas discuss relationship building in a team environment.https://www.wsj.com/news/author/ken-thomas"Ken ThomasNational Political Reporter, The Wall Street JournalKen Thomas is a national polit…