Hourvash Pourkian was born in Tehran and has lived in Hamburg since 1975.

After studying business administration in Hamburg, Boston and London she worked as a self-employed entrepreneur.

In 1998 she published "Power Makes Tired Women Happy" with her father and has since given lectures on women and migrants in politics, business and society.

She was a member of the Integration Advisory Board of the Hamburg Senate until 2011, is also the founder and chairwoman of the Bridge of Culture Hamburg (registered association) and initiated the multiple award-winning Switch projects.

As chairwoman of the association Bridge of Culture Hamburg.

Hourvash Pourkian initiated several projects dedicated to intercultural exchange and the promotion of dialogue between people of different origins.

With the International Women in Power initiative, she also advocates international women's rights, equal rights and equal professional opportunities for women and men.