Atoussa was born in Iran, raised in Switzerland and Canada, and she eventually returned to Iran to set up her own legal practice. During this period she developed her passion for gender-equality rights, women’s education, and social philanthropy. Being exposed to various political, social, and cultural environments, shaped both her perspective and belief system.
Her mother was among the first and only group of female judges in Iran, remarkably maintaining her position even after the 1979 Revolution, and her father was a commercial pilot. Growing up in a household with industrious and highly revered parents, Atoussa developed an unwavering drive and work ethic, which has shaped her life and career.
The beginning of Atoussa’s social philanthropy dates to 2011, when she moved to Tehran and established her own legal practice. Being in the position of an employer and mentor, she saw an opportunity to help and began recruiting intelligent, capable women from marginalized communities living in shelters, wards, and community schools with little-to-no job prospects for her practice.
Besides creating job opportunities, she also became meaningfully involved in providing education on women’s rights. Even after moving to North America, Atoussa continues to help women in developing countries find jobs, raise money for school and grow in their personal and professional life, by challenging them to think ‘bigger’ while ensuring they feel supported.
With over 12 years of international legal experience, Atoussa has held various senior-level positions at top-tier international firms, including, most recently, Eversheds Sutherland LLP. She has worked on multiple complex projects and transactions, spanning across Europe, North America, Asia, Middle East, and Africa. Her contributions to the legal industry have led her to be recognized by major peer and client-reviewed publications: she was named “A Rising Star” in the Legal 500 and “an expert in her field” by Chambers and Partners for three consecutive years.
Atoussa joined WELL Health Technologies (WELL) in Sept 2020 at a time when the company had recently reached unicorn status with a valuation in excess of $1B. WELL was undergoing unprecedented growth in North America and beyond and was entirely reliant on external legal advisors. Over the next 12 months, Atoussa built out WELL’s own legal function advising on matters related to a wide array of matters including public company reporting obligations, corporate governance best practices, compliance & privacy matters and started to work closely with external advisors and WELL’s own executive management team to execute on a string of M&A and financing transactions worth several hundred million dollars. Atoussa’s skill and determination made her an instant key contributor to the growth and continued success of the company.
WELL Health is an advocate of women’s equality and encouraging female executives and their growth within the organization is a key part of the culture. As such, in five short months, Atoussa was promoted to Chief Legal Officer.
“We are proud to see this well-deserved recognition of Atoussa amongst a group of exemplary leaders. Atoussa is an important leader and contributor to our purpose driven mission and mandate to positively impact health outcomes by leveraging technology to empower healthcare practitioners.” – Hamed Shahbazi, Chairman and CEO of WELL Health.
Atoussa’s strength as a leader extends beyond her substantial legal capabilities. She is committed to supporting her team and mentors them for continued growth and development. Simply put, she embodies what it means to be a leader and has successfully established herself as a pivotal figure, aligning the legal team with all arms of the business to achieve cohesion while setting a new standard for in-house legal counsel.
Outside the crucial role Atoussa plays at WELL, she also upholds her responsibilities as a dedicated daughter to her parents, wife, and mother to her beautiful two-year-old daughter. Moreover, she is an advocate for women’s rights and a social entrepreneur.
“I’m so grateful for this honor and to be recognized alongside these powerful women who are influencing change and empowering others in their communities.” says Atoussa. “I’m a strong believer that when we empower women to find their voice, talent and self-worth, both, business and society flourish. Through my work and experience, I will continue to support women across the globe to hopefully inspire tomorrow’s leaders.”
An accomplished professional, fierce community leader and a champion for development, enhancement, and recognition for women across the world – Atoussa Mahmoudpour truly embodies power.
