Dr. Amatia Golbodaghi is the Director of Organizational Development at The Guitar Center Company and a transformative Armenian-American executive whose work blends deep industry expertise with a powerful personal mission: to unlock human potential, create belonging, and elevate women leaders across the music and entertainment landscape. As an immigrant raised in a culture that honors family, perseverance, and ambition, Amatia carries forward the values that shaped her resilience, grit, and an unwavering belief that people can rise when given the opportunity to grow.
With a doctorate in Organizational Development and experience spanning live entertainment, music, retail, consulting and experiential learning, Amatia brings a uniquely holistic lens to building high-performing organizations. At the Guitar Center Company, she has been a catalyst for enterprise-wide transformation across a 10,000+ employee organization. She launched the company’s first-ever enterprise high-potential program—personally pitched to the CEO and CHRO—creating a scalable leadership pipeline and strengthening internal mobility during a critical period of change.
Her impact extends across sales, people development, and operations, including building the Contact Center and retail training infrastructure. Programs she has designed have increased lesson sales by 150%, reduced turnover by 80%, and delivered double-digit growth across key product categories. Her work bridges corporate strategy with execution, reflecting her ability to connect HR to business strategy and deliver measurable ROI.
Beyond her accomplishments, she is a truth-teller with heart, someone who uplifts others, challenges with compassion, and creates psychological safety rooted in respect and authenticity. She brings out the best in people while simultaneously driving the business forward, and her influence extends beyond the Guitar Center Company through her service as an advisor to the University of San Francisco Women in Leadership Program, and guest speaking at universities where she helps develop and inspire the next generation of leaders.
Amatia is actively shaping the future of the music and entertainment industry and redefining what leadership looks like within it. She is unquestionably one to watch.
