“Leadership isn’t loud, it’s legacy,” says Shay Safarzadeh. “It’s what we leave behind in the lives we lift.” This statement is a powerful declaration, with its quiet defiance of the norm. Shay and her twin sister, Shabnam, better known as the Safar Twins, have built a philosophy around this belief.
As Iranian-American entrepreneurs and philanthropists in healthcare technology, global education access, and purpose-driven fashion, they’ve created a path that marries innovation with identity, elegance with action, and purpose with profound change. They envision leadership grounded in service, empathy, and long-term impact, not visibility or volume. With empathy, clarity, and a global perspective shaped by their Persian heritage and American experience, the Safar Twins are building a legacy defined by the doors they open for others, especially girls and women in underserved communities.
Shaped by their early move from Iran to the United States and inspired by a lineage of fiercely determined women, Shabnam and Shay Safarzadeh carry a legacy defined by courage, education, and resilience. They are the proud descendants of women who defied barriers to claim both knowledge and independence—an inheritance that now fuels their mission to uplift others.
Their surname, Safar—meaning “journey” in Persian—is more than a name. It is a philosophy that echoes through every part of their work. It represents the bridges they have built across cultures, disciplines, and opportunities. As Iranian-American women, they grew up learning to blend the richness of their heritage with the forward momentum of innovation. That duality—of honouring tradition while embracing transformation—has become the foundation of their leadership.
Instead of seeking prestige alone, the twins launched education and digital health platforms that strategically deploy technology to dismantle barriers to access. For them, tech isn’t a status symbol but a lever for equity. Their work in this space has reached numerous people, demonstrating that innovation is most impactful when it serves those historically excluded from its benefits.
The twins’ growing impact in the tech sector didn’t shift their focus from their mission to help shape a world where access to education is no longer dictated by birthplace or economic circumstance. Technology was never the destination for Shay and Shabnam. It was the bridge to ensuring every girl, regardless of where she begins, has the chance to learn, lead, and realise her full potential. After all, the Safar Twins believe that girls have the power to become leaders, visionaries, and changemakers in their communities. They only need the tools to begin.
Shay and Shabnam’s success in education and technology became the foundation for the creation of the Safar Global Foundation (SGF). This philanthropic platform aims to ensure every girl has access to quality education regardless of geography or circumstance. “Education changed our lives,” Shabnam reflects. “We believe it should never be a privilege tied to birthright. It should be a human right.”
SGF’s mission is global. It works with community leaders and grassroots partners across the Middle East and Africa, tailoring its programs to meet specific regional needs while maintaining a scalable, strategic approach. In Jordan, the foundation supports initiatives that broaden educational pathways for girls. In Northern Nigeria, it funds full-tuition scholarships and offers hands-on vocational training to young women, giving them knowledge and economic independence.
In Tanzania, SGF collaborates with the Flaviana Matata Foundation to build WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) infrastructure in schools. Access to water is vital. However, it’s usually an overlooked barrier to consistent female attendance.
These programs do more than educate. They transform futures. Shay says, “Legacy is about how many lives you’ve lifted. If innovation doesn’t reach those who need it most, it isn’t innovation. It’s insulation.”
Strategy and innovation define much of the Safar Twins’ success. Yet, it’s their sense of elegance and cultural grace that gives them a lasting impact. They’re known for embodying an elegance that isn’t performative but always intentional and rooted in purpose.
At the launch of SGF, the twins collaborated with a luxury fashion house to release a capsule collection. Each piece was infused with cultural meaning and designed to support scholarships. Fashion, in the Safar Twins’ hands, became both a narrative and a vehicle for change.
This blend of fashion, culture, and community forms the aesthetic backbone of the twins’ philosophy. “Fashion draws people in,” says Shabnam. “Culture gives it meaning. Community makes it last.” The Safar Twins understand that elegance can be a form of advocacy. Clothing becomes language, nonverbal yet powerfully expressive of purpose. Ultimately, the twins’ visual presence is never about vanity but about visibility for the causes they champion.
As tech founders, philanthropists, global advocates, and style leaders, the Safar Twins challenge the idea that women must choose one path. If the world demands women to pick one identity to perfect, they insist on living all of theirs fully. They prove that one doesn’t have to sacrifice tradition for innovation or grace for ambition.
As Shay and Shabnam Safarzadeh continue their journey rooted in heritage, directed by purpose, and elevated by elegance, they build a legacy and catalyze a movement. They affirm that true influence is not measured in noise but in the number of lives transformed: one thoughtful decision, one educated girl, and one purpose-driven idea at a time.
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