Shiza Shahid

Founder of the Malala Fund, Shiza Shahid is a social activist, entrepreneur and investor who is well-known as one of the world’s most influential social reformers.

Shahid was born and grew up in Pakistan, and had an interest in activism from a young age. She started volunteering and working at a women’s prison, as well as at a camp in the aftermath of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. This inspirational figure then received a scholarship to study at Stanford in America, and joined the Dubai office of management consultancy McKinsey and Company. She went on to fight against the Taliban’s ban on women’s education in her native Pakistan, and has founded multiple successful business. These include funding body NOW Ventures and the Malala Fund, where Shahid collaborated with Malala Yousafzai on their campaign to educate all girls. The pair worked together after Shahid reached out to the young activist, becoming her mentor and later co-founding the Malala Fund which now works across the world to bring safe access to education to young women. As well as bringing vital education to thousands of girls, Shahid’s work has been recognised by major publications such as Forbes and Time magazine, as they have both named her in their 30 Under 30 lists.

Having dedicated her life to bringing about social change, Shahid is a key figure in securing a better future for young people, particularly women, around the world. She continues to lead the way in terms of social innovation and equal opportunities.