Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Aoudi.
Hi Dana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Born in Texas, raised in the United Arab Emirates, and having lived in Canada, the UK, and now California-where I’ve spent the past decade-my journey has always crossed borders, both literal and internal.
I moved to California alone while my family remained on another continent. I followed the traditional path: law school, the prestigious firm, and every box society says means “you’ve made it.” And while I was genuinely proud of what I’d built, something inside me felt… muted. Like I had to choose- between being respected or being fully expressed. Between being the powerhouse attorney or the woman with big dreams, big feelings, and an even bigger desire to make an impact beyond the courtroom.
So I did something that terrified and thrilled me: I left the comfort of a well-paying 9–5 to figure it out for myself. I launched my own law firm-and alongside it, Better Than Your Best Friend, my personal development brand and podcast. But that decision wasn’t just about business-it was about identity. It cracked me open. It gave me space to remember: I’m not either/or. I’m all of it. A dreamer. A lover. An achiever.
I became a lawyer at 23 years old, and not the kind who fits neatly into the mold.
I’m a Palestinian-American woman and a first-generation everything. I’ve always been destined to do things differently. My path began in law-advocating, protecting, fighting for others. But somewhere along the way, I realized that while I was helping others navigate the legal system, I was quietly craving something deeper: freedom. Not just legal freedom, but emotional, creative, and energetic sovereignty.
That longing became Better Than Your Best Friend-a brand and podcast rooted in truth-telling, soul-remembering, and radical permission to be fully, unapologetically yourself.
For years, I wore the badge of “successful attorney.” But I, like so many powerful women, grew tired of performing roles that didn’t honor my wholeness. We were chasing gold stars, people-pleasing, overworking, and shrinking ourselves to be palatable or “professional.” I knew in my bones: there had to be another way.
So I created one.
Better Than Your Best Friend isn’t just a brand-it’s a movement. It’s about reclaiming your power, your voice, and your joy. It’s about redefining success as self-alignment, not self-abandonment. It’s about reminding women that the most important relationship they’ll ever have is the one they have with themselves. Through my voice, coaching, and content, I teach from the lens of personal sovereignty-the belief that we each have the right and responsibility to live a life that’s true to us.
In liberating myself from outdated norms, expectations, and beliefs that no longer felt rooted in truth, I found freedom-and I know that in doing so, I help liberate others.
As a lawyer, I advocate. As a woman, I liberate. As a creator, I dream of and help build a world where women are safe to take up space, be soft and bold, and define success on their own terms.
The world I want to help co-create is one where we don’t betray ourselves to belong. Where success doesn’t come at the cost of our wellness. Where power is shared-not imposed. A world of sovereign individuals in deep community. A world of aligned action, playful expansion, and self-trust.
That’s why I do what I do. That’s why I speak. That’s why I share.
Because I believe that when one woman wakes up to her power, the ripple effect is infinite.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not even close.
The path to becoming who I am-personally and professionally-has been anything but linear. Behind every confident moment, every brave decision, every “you’re so strong” compliment… were seasons of heartbreak, self-doubt, and silent unraveling.
There were nights I questioned everything-my self, my voice, my worth, my sanity for choosing this path. I’ve walked away from relationships, careers, and identities that looked good on paper but felt hollow in my soul. Breakups that didn’t just end love stories-they collapsed parts of my foundation. I’ve clung to people and patterns that felt familiar even when they hurt, because letting go felt scarier than staying stuck.
And then there were the darker parts. The ones no one saw but me.
The over-partying. The numbing. The nights I disconnected from my own body just to escape the weight of expectation or the grief of a broken heart. Moments staring at my bank account, wondering how the woman with so much potential ended up here, again. I’ve spiraled in money fears. I’ve performed strength while falling apart behind the scenes. And I’ve sat in the ache of asking myself: wtf am I doing? Is this all a mistake? Am I too much? Am I enough?
But here’s the truth: those breakdowns became sacred.
They stripped away the noise and demanded something deeper from me. They taught me that real power isn’t about polish or performance-it’s about presence. It’s about choosing not to abandon yourself when it would be easier to disappear into someone else’s expectations.
That’s the version of me that built Better Than Your Best Friend-not the highlight reel, but the woman who stayed with herself in the mess. The woman who kept going, whispering, This gets to mean something. That whisper became the heartbeat of my work.
Because if I’ve felt it, I know someone else has too.
And because I’m not afraid to meet the mess or any parts of myself, I wanted to create a space where others can feel safe and witnessed in this process or any part of their journey, too.
So no, it hasn’t been smooth.
It’s been sacred. Brutal. Beautiful. Necessary.
And I wouldn’t trade a single detour or dark night-because every one of them brought me back to myself.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At the intersection of law and liberation-that’s where I do my work.
I’m the founder of Aoudi Law, a boutique firm in Southern California that specializes in trademarks and workers’ compensation. On one side, I protect people’s brands and bodies-their creative legacy and their physical livelihood. On the other, I help women reclaim their voices, rewrite their narratives, and lead from a place of sovereignty through my personal development brand and podcast, Better Than Your Best Friend.
So yes, I’m a lawyer-but I’m not just here to file paperwork or speak legalese. I’m here to protect what matters-your name, your story, your self-trust.
In my trademark work, I help entrepreneurs legally own the brands they’ve poured their souls into. I make legal protection feel empowering, not intimidating. In my coaching and podcast, I create spaces for bold truth-telling, identity reclamation, and emotional clarity-because I believe every woman deserves to feel safe, seen, and powerful in her own story.
What I’m most proud of? That my work reflects all of me. That I didn’t have to choose between being the sharp, strategic attorney and the soft, intuitive guide. I created a path where both exist. And now, I help others do the same-legally and emotionally.
What sets me apart is that I lead with truth. Whether you’re coming to me to protect your business or to reclaim your power, you’ll get clarity, depth, and zero fluff. I meet people where they are-but I won’t let them stay small. My work is clean, honest, and deeply rooted in the belief that we’re not here to play roles-we’re here to remember who we are.
Any big plans?
I’m in a season of intentional, aligned expansion-where growth is grounded in clarity, not chaos.
With Better Than Your Best Friend, I’m growing the podcast and stepping into bigger stages-literally and figuratively. Speaking engagements are a big part of what’s next for me. I want to be in rooms where truth is felt, where stories move people, where I can help others remember who they are. Not just inspire-but transform.
And I’m really excited about a project that’s been on my heart for a long time: I’m working on a breakup program that will live entirely in audio format like a podcast. Think of it as a medicine cabinet for the heart-something you can press play on when your world is crumbling and you need someone who’s been there, who gets it, who can help you hold yourself through the storm. I know how necessary this is, because I’ve needed it myself. And now I’m creating it for the next woman going through the ache. So keep an eye out for that-it’s tender, it’s powerful, and it’s coming soon.
On the legal side, I’m focused on building out the infrastructure of my trademark practice to be even more supported and sustainable. That means streamlining systems, hiring smart, and creating structure that supports both my clients and me. I want my business to hold me, not just demand from me. Why? Because I’m also carving out more space to be with the people I love most-my parents, my sisters, and my baby niece. I’m building a life that honors ambition and intimacy at the same time.
Big changes? Yes. But none of it is about rushing or chasing. It’s about honoring timing, truth, and capacity.
What I’m building now is rooted in sustainability, softness, and soul. More voice. More depth. More impact. And more space to live the life I used to only dream about.
Pricing:
- Trademark Protection – Comprehensive Package Starting at $2,800 Includes: Government filing fee (for one class) Comprehensive trademark search to identify potential risks Preparation and filing of your application Responses to any Office Actions that may arise Ideal for entrepreneurs ready to legally own and protect their brand with clarity, strategy, and care.
- Breakup Program (Coming Soon) Under $400 at time of launch – lifetime access Entirely audio-based: your medicine cabinet for the heart Designed for those moving through heartbreak, emotional detachment, or deep transition Includes all future updates and ongoing additions to the emotional support library This has been on my heart for a long time and a lot of the work I’ve guided client through-and it’s for the woman who needs something real to hold onto when everything feels like it’s falling apart
- 1:1 Private Coaching (3-Month Container) Starts at $5,000 High-touch, high-transformation support, focused on personal sovereignty, emotional clarity, mindset rewiring, and identity reclamation. This space is for the woman who’s ready to stop performing and start remembering who she is. Limited spots available by application only
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @betterthanyourbestfriend @obsessedwithlegal @dananotdayna
