Shazi Visram '04

Shazi Visram is an entrepreneur who has built mission-driven platform brands that champion maternal and infant health as a foundation for improving society. She is the Founder of Happy Family Organics, which she started in 2003 during her time at Columbia Business School with her first business plan and recipes made in her kitchen leading it to become the #1 organic baby food company in the US and sold to Groupe Danone in 2013 and departed in 2017. As Shazi transformed the landscape of children’s nutrition by democratizing access to organic healthy food parents can trust, her own son was diagnosed with a severe neurological disorder. Her second venture, HealthyBaby is now taking flight to protect and enrich the full potential of every child through a platform of products and impactful proactive knowledge for today’s parents when we can impact health at the inception of life — a vision that connects business, health, environment, policy, and advocacy.

Shazi’s journey began as an immigrant who grew up in a motel in Alabama, where she cultivated her passion for innovation and entrepreneurship and a sense of humor, eventually earning her BA from Columbia University in Visual Arts and History and her MBA at Columbia Business School where she honed her business exposure at an early age for broader impact.

Shazi’s work has garnered numerous accolades, including the Columbia Medal of Excellence “for her gifts as a leader, her optimistic spirit, and determination,” and recognition from the President Obama, who called her "a rockstar of the new economy, an outstanding businesswoman, and a leader we can all emulate”.

As an alumna, she continues to bridge the gap between her alma mater and the business world, collaborating, investing and advising businesses that inspire innovation and social change. She serves on the boards of the Environmental Working Group, Columbia College, Columbia Business School, Recycle Track Systems, and Handsome Brook Farm. Shazi credits her education as the enabler of transformative change. She resides in CT with her ever-supportive husband, Joe, two differently-abled children, and two furry masterpieces.