Dr. Banafsheh Azizi
Dr. Banafsheh Azizi is the founder of TuBee, a global community leadership platform born from
her passion to serve and her commitment to share leadership knowledge through life-long
learning, reflection, and empowerment. Banafsheh is also an independent consultant providing
consulting services in leadership learning, organizational development, and psychosocial
program development for nonprofit organizations, healthcare organizations, and small
businesses throughout the world, and in particular, the Middle East.
Prior to venturing into independent consulting, Banafsheh served as the Chief Operating Officer
of the Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital and Bayt Abdullah Children's
Hospice. She was responsible for leading and directing the organization's operations and psychosocial pillars to fulfill its mission of providing pediatric palliative and psychosocial care for children and their families at home, at hospice, and at hospital. Banafsheh also taught an introduction to leadership and management course as an adjunct instructor at the Kuwait College of Science and Technology.
Banafsheh's career in nonprofit management, higher education, and healthcare began in 2012
when she made a personal decision to return to the Middle East from the United States. From
2012 to 2015, she served as the Communications Manager for an emerging research university
founded by the Qatar Foundation to advance higher education and research initiatives in Qatar
and the broader Middle East.
Prior to returning to the Middle East, Banafsheh served as a consultant in strategy, policy, and
strategic communications for Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington DC. Her clients included the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the Department of Commerce
and the U.S. Global Change Research Program. Her professional career started in broadcast
journalism at CBS News, CNN International, and CBS 46 News.
Banafsheh holds a doctorate degree in Leadership and Learning from Vanderbilt University and
bachelor's and master’s degrees in International Affairs from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Banafsheh is very passionate about advancing the welfare of women and children, especially in
healthcare and education in the Middle East. Banafsheh is equally passionate about non-profit
management, women and leadership, and actively seeks to become a thought leader in global
leadership. Recently she was recognized as 40 Under 40 by the Georgia Institute of Technology for
her professional career and contributions to date.
