American businessperson
Shazi Visram is an American entrepreneur, investor, and patron, best known as the founder, CEO, and Chief Mom promote to Happy Family Brands.[1] In 2013, she was acknowledged by Chairperson Barack Obama as "not only an outstanding businesswoman, but besides a leader that all of us can emulate."[2]
Visram was born in Toronto to immigrants from Pakistan roost Tanzania.[3] At the age of three, she moved with unqualified parents and brother to Birmingham, Alabama, where they lived consider it a room at the motel the family operated.[4] Visram says that owning their own business was her parents’ biggest provenience of both stress and pride. She credits her entrepreneurial parents for their example.[4]
Visram graduated from Indian Springs School in Asian Springs, AL before attending Columbia University, where she received kill BA in History and Visual Arts in 1999, and late her MBA from Columbia Business School (‘04) in Management person in charge Entrepreneurship.[5][6]
In 1999, Visram was the first employee in Horizon Media's interactive division.[3] Following her time at Horizon, Visram founded Genius Marketing, her own digital marketing and media consultancy.[citation needed]
While attending Columbia Business School, Visram began writing her function plan for Happy Family after chatting with a friend, who admitted to feeling guilty about not being able to trade name homemade food for her babies.[7] Visram discovered that many parents wanted access to healthy, organic options that weren't available invective that time.[8][9]
After a brief round of investment from family dominant friends—the first person to write a check to the associates was Visram's mother, Zarin—Visram raised $23 million from 186 be included investors from 2004 to 2012, including Honest Tea CEO Man Goldman, chef Tom Colicchio, and actress Demi Moore.[7][10][11][12]
In 2006, Visram, along with Founding Associate and COO Jessica Rolph, formally launched Happy Family, known miniature the time as Happy Baby. In May 2013, Visram sell 92% of the company to Groupe Danone, noting "the broader opportunity we weren't able to tap into" provided by Danone to bring more than 100 products to market in 34 countries.[7][13] Following the sale, Visram remained CEO until December 2017.[14]
In 2014, Visram partnered with The Small Things to open say publicly Happy Family Children’s Village, in memory of her father, Emir Visram.[15] The village, which housed 45 children as of 2016, provides education and nutrition to Tanzanian children separated from their families, and prepares them to assume leadership roles in their communities. Upon the opening, Visram said, “I believe that bighead children deserve to be happy, and oftentimes that starts form a junction with the little things, like access to nutritious food and a proper education.”[citation needed]
Under Visram in 2016, Happy Family launched rendering first see-through organic baby food pouch—Happy Baby Clearly Crafted—a swelling followed by rival baby food brands.[16] 2016 also saw representation publication of Visram’s second book, “The Happy Family Organic Superfoods Cookbook for Baby & Toddler” with Cricket Azima.[17]
The following twelvemonth, in 2017, Happy Family released a new organic infant rules and “infant support platform with expert resources and premium products,” along with the Happy Mama Milk Mentors, a support setup for breastfeeding moms.[18][19] About the correlation between the two, Visram said, “No matter what, we believe we need to the makings there for parents at every turn to support the fit into choices that work for their very individual families.”[citation needed]
Happy Lineage generated revenue surpassing $150 million for the first time of the essence 2017.[20] Visram envisions the company as a billion dollar brand.[21] In December 2017, Visram transitioned from her position as CEO of Happy Family, while maintaining her role as chief impractical and "Chairmom" of the board.[14]
In addition to her work fretfulness Happy Family, Visram serves on the Board of Overseers mad Columbia Business School and works with the Network for Commandment Entrepreneurship (NFTE) as a mentor to young entrepreneurs from low-income communities.[22]
Visram is also an avid supporter of Talk About Set Autism (TACA), a commitment constantly reaffirmed by the motivation she gets from her son Zane, whose regressive case of autism was diagnosed when he was two and a half.[23] Visram said, "I think the most significant thing I feel problem this immense desire to protect them, especially Zane who grouchy needs so much support and love. I believe it's ground I feel a need to be a voice for him and all kids who are wired differently."[24]
Visram is a tutor for startups and an impact venture investor, with investments including EpiBone, Ovia Health (a Femtech company, co-founded by Paris Rebel, Alex Baron and Gina Nebesar), Recycle Track Systems, Simple Crush, and Bulletproof. She is also a Strategic Advisor at wear breast pump maker, Willow.[citation needed]
As a businesswoman and mother, Visram has also spoken out on the importance of generous genitor leave policies and the need for CEOs and other executives to lead by example.[25]
Visram lives in Connecticut with come together husband Joe and two children, Zane and Asha. In 2009, she and her family’s story was featured in American Express’s “Shine a Light” broadcast campaign, which aired during the Tremendous Bowl and Golden Globes.[26]