Shamim Jawad

Shamim Jawad carries a rich background of working in the private and public sectors to her real estate career. She has over 20 years of experience as a seasoned financial consultant, an accomplished fundraiser, a diligent human rights activist, and a construction and interior design specialist. She started her career with TIAA-CREF in New York City. Eventually, she moved to the San Francisco office, where she worked as a Financial Consultant serving prominent academic institutions and high net value individuals. She has proven ability in sales and services, formulating marketing strategies, and building and maintaining networks of loyal clients. She moved to Washington, DC, in 2003 with her husband as Ambassador to the United States. During her 15 years of diplomatic exposure and extensive experience, she established a very high profile in the social circles of Washington. She built a solid network of influential local and international friends by leveraging interpersonal skills. As an experienced showroom and interior design specialist in luxury home design and construction, Shamim worked as Head of Showroom Development for the Sofa & Chair company in London, United Kingdom. She led continuous improvement to the 50,000-square foot showroom comprising of 100+ room sets to create optimal customer satisfaction. Shamim's clients benefit from her experience managing project design and planning and capturing her client's vision. She has proven track record to lead all project phases, from conceptualization to purchasing, color selections, and final arrangement. She offers expertise and resources to deliver a creative and elegant finished product. Shamim is the Founder and President of Ayenda Foundation, a non-profit that provides educational programs for Afghan children. She is a diligent advocate for access to quality education for children and economic empowerment for women. Shamim's national and international board membership and affiliations include prestigious women's organizations in Washington, DC, such as the International Women's Forum (IWF), International Neighbor's Club, Capital Speaker's Club; as well as the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council. More globally, she serves on the Board of Trustees of the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF). She is a Fellow at the International Women's Forum Leadership Foundation. Shamim has a bachelor's degree in Human Relations from Golden Gate University. She completed a one-year joint Fellowship Program on Leadership at Harvard University and Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. Shamim enjoys cycling, running, and yoga.