Azadeh Hardiman is a seasoned leader and organization builder focused on diversification and innovation strategies that sit at the intersection of people and technology. In her career, she has launched several new businesses and products for start-ups, Fortune 100 companies, and nonprofits across a range of industries including insurance, financial services, media, telecommunications, and digital technology.
A believer of customer centricity, before it became popular and the importance of developing and growing people through experiencing the full product lifecycle from ideation through operations and growth, Azadeh has had the unique opportunity to directly work in and across several functional areas over her 25+ year career. She prides herself in finding great talent and connecting people with opportunities to challenge themselves to accelerate their personal and professional growth.
Azadeh currently leads Level20, Progressive’s new business incubator. She is responsible for establishing and growing the organization to launch and operate new products and business lines that meet the broad needs of Progressive’s customers beyond insurance.
Prior to joining Progressive, Azadeh was a founding team member of mPortal, a start-up technology company that focused on a single idea – people will use their phones for more than phone calls (seven years BEFORE the iPhone was introduced). Azadeh helped grow mPortal into a profitable company in less than three years and helped develop several new-to-market digital consumer products over the course of her tenure. mPortal was acquired by BroadSoft and subsequently by Cisco.
Azadeh has served in leadership roles on several nonprofit boards and is currently on the Board of The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio and President of the UVA Alumni Club for Northeast Ohio.
Azadeh is a speaker on innovation and business building topics and has a degree in Economics from the University of Virginia.
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Cal LaRoche, a brilliant and dedicated advisor and champion of the Ron Brown Scholar Program, who left us on Wednesday, April 9th, 2025.
Born in New York in January 1946, Cal graduated from Central State University in Ohio, where he joined the Eta Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. His career spanned decades of leadership and innovation, beginning at the National Security Agency and continuing through key roles at IBM, SkyTel Communications, and The Orkand Corporation.
A visionary entrepreneur, Cal later co-founded DC Ventures and Associates.
His commitment to service was unwavering. Cal chaired the Boards of Trustees at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda and Norwood School and served with distinction for 15 years on the Advisory Board of the Ron Brown Scholar Program. His leadership extended to the Beta Mu, Boulé Foundation Board, where he served as Chair, and to Patients For Affordable Drugs, where he was a founding board member and Treasurer.
An avid golfer and advocate for equity in the sport, Cal co-founded the Pro-Duffer/Carter Foundation Scholarship to promote diversity in golf. A long-time member of TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, he was as passionate about creating opportunity as he was about the game itself.
Cal’s legacy is carried on by his beloved family: his mother, Lucille “Gloria” David; his wife, Esperanza, and their sons, CJ and Ethan; his former wife, Cheryl LaRoche; their daughters, Gina LaRoche, Renee LaRoche-Morris, and Danielle LaRoche; six grandchildren; and his siblings. His wisdom, warmth, and unwavering belief in the potential of young people will remain an enduring part of the Ron Brown Scholar community.
We are forever grateful for Cal’s enduring support, leadership, and love. He leaves behind a legacy of excellence, generosity, and deep humanity. He will be deeply missed.
