AIWA SF Apcar Gala Honors Armenian Women Trailblazers at Four Seasons Palo Alto
AIWA-SF will be hosting a gala honoring the remarkable legacy of Diana Apcar, her granddaughter Lucille Apcar.
PALO ALTO, CA — The Armenian International Women’s Association San Francisco Affiliate (AIWA-SF) will host the Apcar Gala on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley in East Palo Alto.
Program and Speakers
The Gala will feature leaders and changemakers from across industries who champion women and entrepreneurship:
Emma Arakelyan, management consulting executive, entrepreneur, coach;
Laura Dirtadian, Co-Founder and CEO of TigressAI, former President of AIWA-SF;
Tsovo Massena, CRE investment advisor, Founder of Massena Team, AIWA-SF Vice President;
Gasia Mikaelian, Emcee, Accomplished Journalist, KTVU FOX Anchor;
Christine Soussa, Global Sales Leader, Philanthropist, Advisor, and Investor, AIWA-SF Vice President;
Mariam Torosyan, Founder and CEO of Safe YOU, social entrepreneur, 2025 Cartier Impact Awardee;
Lilit Yenokyan, President of AIWA-SF, senior technology leader, Founder of Investra.
Honorees
The Gala will also recognize honorees whose achievements exemplify leadership and service:
Mimi Malakian, granddaughter of Diana Apcar and lifelong advocate for carrying forward her grandmother’s legacy of diplomacy, authorship, and humanitarian work;
Alice Petrossian, educator, civic leader, and human rights advocate, who has devoted decades of service to the Armenian community in California;
Magdalena Yesil, a pioneering Silicon Valley investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, widely recognized as the first investor in Salesforce and a champion of women in technology.
About Diana and Lucille Apcar
In 1920, Diana Agabeg Apcar was appointed Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Japan, becoming the first Armenian woman diplomat and one of the first women worldwide to hold a diplomatic post. She dedicated her life to supporting refugees, writing on international relations, and advocating for the Armenian nation. Her granddaughter Lucille Apcar extended that legacy through her philanthropy, leaving a transformational gift to AIWA-SF. This gift inspired the launch of FoundHer by AIWA, which will fuel the next generation of women entrepreneurs.
Ticketing and Sponsorship
Individual tickets are available at $450 for AIWA members, $500 for general admission, and a special student tier at $250 for enrolled students under 30, which includes a complimentary one-year AIWA NextGen membership. Tables and sponsorship packages are also available.
