Shahrzad Rafati

Founder & CEO of BBTV

Shahrzad Rafati is a prominent entrepreneur and technology leader who founded BroadbandTV (BBTV) in 2005.1 As the Founder and CEO of BBTV, she has built a global media and technology company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.3

Career Highlights

Rafati founded BBTV right after completing her education, at a time when the online video space was still in its infancy.1 Under her leadership, BBTV has grown to become:

The world's largest multi-channel network
The third largest video property globally in terms of unique viewers, following only Google and Facebook
A company that generates 28.7 billion monthly impressions across its owned and operated library, brands, and network of content creators1

Innovations and Achievements

Rafati is credited with pioneering both the technology and business model that reconciled large entertainment entities with their fans who were uploading copyrighted content online.2 Her company provides solutions to help content creators become more successful while also assisting major clients like the NBA in managing fan-uploaded content and generating advertising revenue.1 3

Recognition and Awards

Shahrzad Rafati has received numerous accolades for her contributions to the tech industry and entrepreneurship, including:

Named one of Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business
Ernst and Young Pacific Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the technology category (2018)
Canada's Top 40 under 40
Person of the Year by the British Columbia Technology Association
Included in The Hollywood Reporter's Most Powerful Women in Global Television list2 3

Leadership and Social Impact

Beyond her business achievements, Rafati is known for:

Building a quadruple bottom line business that measures success on financial, employee, cultural, social, community, and environmental KPIs
Advocating for gender equality, with BBTV maintaining a 0% pay gap between male and female employees
Championing job creation, education, and advancing opportunities for women, girls, and refugees
Serving on the G20 Business Women Leader's task force, appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 20182

Shahrzad Rafati's journey from arriving in Vancouver as a teenager with basic English to becoming a leading figure in the global tech industry is a testament to her innovation, perseverance, and vision in the digital media landscape.1 2

Experience

Founder & CEO at BBTV (2005 - Present)

Board Member at BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group (2016 - Present), Co-Chair at G20 Empower (April 2020 - Present)

Education

B.Sc. in Computer Science from The University of British Columbia; Transformational Leadership Module at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford; French language at Université Paris-Sorbonne (2001)