Keshishian was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to Cecile Keshishian (née Simonian), and Kevork Keshishian, a pediatrician and radiologist from Aleppo, Syria. Both Cecile and Kevork were born to and raised by survivors of the Armenian Genocide.[17] Cecile and Kevork immigrated to the United States in 1968, living for a brief period in Brookline, Massachusetts, before settling in Manchester, New Hampshire, where they raised Aleen and her older brother, Alek, who is a film director.[18] Growing up, both children were taught to read, write, and speak fluently in Armenian.[2] Keshishian grew up acting at the Manchester children's theater alongside Adam Sandler.[11][18]
Keshishian got her start in entertainment as a casting assistant to Juliet Taylor.[3][20] In 1993, after three years in casting, Keshishian was hired as a talent agent at ICM in New York City by Sam Cohn.[18] She spent six years under his tutelage and cites him as a mentor.[1][21] Keshishian's first client as an agent was 12-year old Natalie Portman, who was signed by Keshishian before she starred in Luc Besson's The Professional.[21] Keshishian managed Portman for 21 years.[21] During this time, Keshishian orchestrated the collaboration between her former Harvard classmate Darren Aronofsky and Portman on the 2010 film Black Swan, which earned Portman an Academy Award for Best Actress.[3][22]
AMG and Brillstein Entertainment Partners
In 1999, after six years at ICM, Keshishian moved to Los Angeles to become a talent manager and co-run the motion picture talent department at Artists Management Group (AMG).[20] In 2005, Keshishian left AMG to join Brillstein Entertainment Partners as a partner.[23][24][25] At Brillstein, Keshishian began working with Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow, who has referred to Keshishian as "a very special and unique force in the talent management world."[18]
Lighthouse Management + Media
In 2016, she left Brillstein and founded Lighthouse Management + Media, a full service talent management, production, and media company based in Los Angeles.[10][26] Keshishian is both the owner and CEO of the company.[4]
In 2014, Keshishian expanded her management portfolio into music, signing Selena Gomez in all areas of her career to assist her transition from child actress.[2][7][30] Keshishian has guided Gomez's career as an actor, musician, entrepreneur, and social media presence.[3][7][31] Keshishian has also worked with Gomez to create and develop the cosmetics company Rare Beauty.[5][7][32][33][34]
In 2022, Keshishian signed singer-songwriterOlivia Rodrigo.[1][35] In 2024, Keshishian signed singer-songwriter H.E.R.[29][36] Later that year, Keshishian produced the Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour concert special with Netflix.[37] She also produced the Max Original music documentary Louder: The Soundtrack of Change alongside Selena Gomez and Stacey Abrams.[38] The documentary tells the story of female music icons whose songs and activism have inspired the fight for gender equality.[37][39]
Philanthropy
Alongside Selena Gomez, Keshishian helped establish the Rare Impact Fund, an initiative led by mental health experts committed to raising funds for mental health treatments in underserved communities.[3][40] To date, the Rare Impact Fund has raised $13 million dollars.[34] Keshishian and her clients have raised money for other charities including UNICEF, Make-A-Wish, St. Jude's, the Children's Hospital of LA, Global Citizen, the Lupus Alliance, and The Solutions Project.[6][7]
