Shahrzad Rafati

Shahrzad Rafati
Born Tehran, Iran
Nationality Iranian, Canadian
Alma mater University of British Columbia (B.Sc. Computer Science)
Occupation Founder & CEO of BroadbandTV Corp.[1] Vancouver, British Columbia, Founder- Make Change, Co-Founder & Advisory Board Member, Chopra Yoga Center,[2] Vancouver, British Columbia

Shahrzad Rafati is the founder and CEO of BroadbandTV Corp, a leading digital media and technology company that operates the largest multi-platform network in the world.[3] Recognized by Fast Company as one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business, Shahrzad is accredited with pioneering both the technology and business model that made peace between big entertainment entities like the NBA and their fans who were uploading premium content to video sites like YouTube.[4]

Shahrzad propelled BroadbandTV to become a leading multi-channel network on YouTube connecting with media companies, telcos, professional sports leagues and Internet giants like Google. In 2013, Shahrzad also closed a strategic partnership and investment with RTL Group, a European largest media conglomerate, and a unit of Bertelsmann. The $36 million investment marks the largest private placement into an Internet media company in Canada since 2007.[5]

In addition to her work at BroadbandTV Shahrzad is the founder of VISO Give, an online channel that allows viewers to donate to charities by watching YouTube videos about them.[6] She is also the co-founder of Chopra Yoga in partnership with Dr. Deepak Chopra.[7]

Early life

Rafati was born 1980 in Tehran, Iran;[8] immigrating to Vancouver, Canada as a teenager, entertainment and media played a key role in her introduction to North American culture.[8] In 2005, she completed her BSc in computer science at the University of British Columbia, and she was inducted into the Golden Key International Honour Society and later served as one of its directors.[9] Rafati also studied French at Université Paris Sorbonne (Paris IV).[10]

Career

Rafati founded BroadbandTV in 2005 and has overseen its execution since inception. She has driven deals with TELUS,[11] NBA,[12] Warner Bros.,[13] Electronic Arts,[12] Vuze[14] and other leading video production and distribution companies.

Rafati also spearheads BroadbandTV’s R&D efforts which promise to better connect and monetize online consumers and the content they are seeking on various platforms.[7]

In 2012, Rafati and partners opened Chopra Yoga Center, with Deepak Chopra in Vancouver.[15] Rafati was selected to speak at the 2012 Sages & Scientists Symposium with Deepak Chopra. She has also spoken at TEDx Vancouver.

In 2012, Rafati's company BroadbandTV was named the Most Innovative Company in the province of British Columbia, Canada by BC Business.[16] Through Rafati's leadership, BroadbandTV was also recognized in 2011 on the Ready to Rocket list, known for identifying companies with outstanding achievements in revenue, profitability and growth. The annual list recognizes the companies who have created innovative products, practices and services that are capitalizing on significant IT trends.[17]

Accolades

- 2014 Digital Life Design (DLD), Munich, Germany, panelist: Digital Storytelling: Surfing the Video Explosion (January 2014)[18]

- 2013 Digi Awards, Executive of The Year (December 2013)[19]

- 2013 Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100™ Award Winner in the Sun Life Financial Arts & Communications category (December 2013)[20]

- Ernst & Young, Pacific Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year (October 2013)[21]

- Business In Vancouver, CEO of The Year (October 2013)[22]

- BC Tech Magazine's Top 10 Women in Tech (June 2013)

- YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Entrepreneurism (May 2013)[23]

- 40 Under 40 Business in Vancouver (December 2012)[24]

- Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business (2011)[25]

- TedX Speaker, Vancouver, Canada: You are what you watch (2011)[26]

- Chopra Yoga, Advisory Board Member & Co-Founder (Ongoing)

- Forum For Women Entrepreneurs, Board Member (Ongoing)[27]

References

  1. ↑ BroadbandTV Corp
  2. ↑ Chopra Yoga Studio
  3. ↑ Spangler, Todd."BroadbandTV Claims No. 1 MCN Spot, Topping Disney’s Maker Studios" Variety
  4. ↑ Shaw,Gillian. "BroadbandTV helps companies leverage YouTube branding potential" Vancouver Sun
  5. ↑ Parry, Jacob. "BroadbandTV Inks $36-Million Deal with RTL Group" BC Business
  6. ↑ Hui, Stephen. "Geek Speak: Shahrzad Rafati, CEO of BroadbandTV" The Georgia Straight
  7. 1 2 Korstrom, Glen. "Shahrzad Rafati: Tehran native connects with global online media community" Business in Vancouver
  8. 1 2 Blattberg, Eric. "From war zone to boardroom: The improbable rise of BroadbandTV's Shahrzad Rafati," Digiday
  9. ↑ "CS Alumna Turned Pirate into Profit | Computer Science at UBC". Cs.ubc.ca. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  10. ↑ Rickwood, Lee. "Man or Woman, Tech Offers Opportunity for All, Says Canada’s Top Digi CEO" Diversity Now
  11. ↑ "TELUS TV expands digital content with Broadbandtv deal". ITnewsLink. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  12. 1 2 "Those illegal videogame gameplay clips on YouTube? A Vancouver company turns them into gold. - Kill Screen". News.killscreendaily.com. 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  13. ↑ http://www.itnewsonline.com/showprnstory.php?storyid=140670/
  14. ↑ "Vuze and Broadbandtv team up". AfterDawn. 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  15. ↑ Barr, Catherine. "Chopra Yoga Centre Opens in Vancouver" BC Living
  16. ↑ Maclennan, Kate. "Congratulations to BroadbandTV Corp., 2012's most innovative company in B.C." BC Business
  17. ↑ Hansen, Geoffrey. "2011 Ready to Rocket ICT Presentation" Ready to Rocket
  18. ↑ Digital Life Design. "Digital Storytelling: Surfing the Video Explosion" DLD Conference
  19. ↑ Thomas, Knowlton. "BroadbandTV's Shahrzad Rafati Named Executive of the Year at 2013 Digi Awards" Tech Vibes
  20. ↑ Crawford, Emma. "B.C. home to 19 of country’s top 100 most powerful women" Business in Vancouver
  21. ↑ Techvibes NewsDesk. "EY Names 2013 Pacific Entrepreneur of the Year Winners" Tech Vibes
  22. ↑ "BIV unveils 2013 BC CEO of the Year winners" Business in Vancouver
  23. ↑ "2013 YWCA Women of Distinction recipients" YWCA Metro Vancouver
  24. ↑ "https://www.biv.com/article/2012/12/biv-announces-fresh-crop-of-forty-under-40-winners/" Business in Vancouver
  25. ↑ "MOST CREATIVE PEOPLE 2011 37. SHAHRZAD RAFATI" Fast Company
  26. ↑ "TEDxVancouver - Shahrzad Rafati - You are what you watch" TEDx
  27. ↑ "Board & Council" Forum For Women Entrepreneurs

External links

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