January 18, 2023
Spotlight: Akhtar Badshah鈥檚 passion for social impact
A chance encounter nearly 20 years ago sparked what has become Akhtar Badshah鈥檚 passion for the topics of social impact, social innovation and social entrepreneurship.
Now a lecturer at the 91探花鈥檚 Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, Badshah鈥檚 first passion was architecture. He spent his formative professional years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), first to earn his Master of Science in Architecture Studies and Ph.D. in Environmental Studies, and then as an instructor of architecture.
Badshah鈥檚 interest in social impact was first piqued when he moved to Seattle in 1998 with his wife, who had taken a job at Microsoft. He had already been viewing with concern the growing digital divide as technological advancements were escalating at a quick pace. A chance encounter with Craig Smith, who founded Digital Partners Foundation to focus on uplifting, funding and supporting entrepreneurs across the world who were using technology to empower people in an entrepreneurial way, led Badshah to pivot the direction of his career by joining and eventually running the Foundation.
In 2004, Badshah moved to Microsoft where he spent 10 years as the senior director of citizenship and public affairs. In this role, he led Microsoft’s philanthropic efforts by managing the company’s community investments and employee giving program. He was instrumental in launching both Unlimited Potential and Youth Spark, the company鈥檚 focus to bring digital technology to underserved communities and youth all over the world.
Badshah recently published a book, , which tells the story of how Microsoft launched, nurtured and continues to foster a corporate culture of giving amongst its employees.
鈥淢y goal [in writing this book] is to get every single person in the world to move beyond a growth mindset to crafting a purpose statement for themselves,” he said. 鈥淧urpose is the why. The why you want to exist, and how you can channel it to make a positive impact on society.鈥�
In 2015, Badshah received an offer to teach at the 91探花, a role in which he continues today. He is currently a distinguished practitioner and lecturer at the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, and also adjunct faculty at the 91探花Bothell School of Business and a faculty advisor at the START Center in the Department of Global Health.
鈥淚’m kind of this free flower who teaches whatever I want to teach,鈥� he shared 鈥淚t’s become space where I thrive.”
Badshah has been a partner to the Population Health Initiative since 2018. He first got connected to the initiative through a colleague who asked to collaborate on building the initiative鈥檚 Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship program. The summer fellowship is open to current 91探花graduate students interested in learning how best to deploy social enterprise models for innovations developed by 91探花 researchers.
Badshah also has received research funding from the initiative through a COVID-19 economic recovery grant for his project, 鈥�Restart Washington Safely.鈥� The goal of the project was to design and implement effective, science-based statewide strategies to safely restart Washington state鈥檚 economy.
鈥淭here is an opportunity for students at the university, through the Population Health Initiative, to think of a holistic picture of humankind and the planet that we serve,鈥� he said. 鈥淗ow do we shift the narrative from 鈥榩rofit鈥� to 鈥榩lanet, people, profit鈥�?”
Beyond teaching and research, Badshah also maintains an active consulting practice outside of the UW. He is the Chief Catalyst at , where he advises organizations and individuals to catalyze their strategy focused on social and philanthropic investments.
When asked to reflect on some of his most impactful moments at the UW, Badshah said teaching Honors students has been a highlight.
鈥淚t’s astounding to see how purposeful students are, and my interactions with these young minds have been dynamic and gives me hope,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 just take whatever I tell them at face value they question; they challenge, and it鈥檚 nice to see that 91探花has a student body that is constantly challenging the status quo.”