Skills - Shala Shirazi

Skills

A toolkit shaped by experience — from engineering to strategy, from solo builds to system-wide collaboration.

🧠 Technical Skills

Programming Languages

PHP, JavaScript, SQL, HTML, CSS, Python, Java, C++, Perl

Database

SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle (PDO, triggers, joins, stored procedures)

AI Tools

ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, GitHub Copilot, Gemini, LLaMA

Platforms

Azure DevOps, Visual Studio Code, GitHub, SharePoint, PowerBI, Tableau

Other Tools

Salesforce, QuickBooks, Vagrant, Docker, PuTTY, Slack, Google Analytics

🎓 Certifications

AI and Career Empowerment | July 2025 | UMD

Explores the intersection of generative AI, upskilling, and purpose-led career development

Technology Leadership & Governance | Nov 2024 | UMD

Equips leaders to align tech strategy with organizational goals, ethics, and innovation

Jira (Credential ID 358569378) | Feb 2025 | Atlassian

Proficient in agile project tracking, sprint planning, and workflow optimization

Certificate in Project Management | Feb 2015 | UMBC

Training in PMBOK-based project planning, execution, and stakeholder alignment

🤝 Collaboration & Leadership

Cross-functional Teamwork

Connector across engineering, data, design, and policy teams

Hiring & Mentoring

Committee service, mentoring interns, and growing talent

Stakeholder Engagement

Facilitating workshops, demos, and buy-in across institutions

Communication

Technical documentation, storytelling, empathy-first collaboration

🌱 Strengths in Action

0 → 1 Product Development

Built platforms from scratch used by 12+ institutions and state-level offices

Human-Centered Design

Designed systems with feedback loops and accessibility at the core

Empathy in Tech

Bridging users and engineers with consideration, care, and clarity

Purpose-Driven Impact

Aligning systems with strategic goals and user values

Languages

English (Native), Spanish (Conversational), Farsi (Beginner), Italian (Beginner), Gen-Z Slang (No Cap, Straight Fax), Gen-Alpha ("Skibidi Toilet" is all I got)

How I Solve Problems

🧠 Mindset & Values

Empathy, curiosity, ethics, and a commitment to building tech that genuinely improves lives—not just scales fast.

🤝 Collaboration Style

Observe deeply, build trust one-on-one, foster inclusion, and drive co-created solutions across teams.

🎯 Leadership Philosophy

Lead by listening first. Recognize and amplify the unseen strengths within teams to unlock higher impact and growth.

🔎 Problem Solving Approach

Surface the real root cause. Map patterns. Solve with clarity, creativity, and transferable frameworks whenever possible.

🧠 Systems Thinking + Empathy

Both a technical and human endeavor, keep the big picture in mind while navigating the smallest details. Think about how each decision impacts users. Think technical to understand how systems are built, have empathy to never forget who you're building them for.

🔍 Curiosity-Driven Collaboration

Really think about the questions, quality questions lead to quality answers. Observe first, listen deeply, and invite others into the problem-solving process. Build trust through understanding and intentional follow-up.

⚖️ Solution-Oriented Conflict

There's rarely one right way to solve a problem. What matters is clarity around the outcome to navigate cross-functional decisions with curiosity, not defensiveness, and advocate for outcomes over egos.

🧩 Adaptable Leadership

Whether mentoring an intern or facilitating executive strategy sessions, adapt the approach to meet the moment. Strive to create psychologically safe spaces where ideas can flourish—especially for quiet contributors.

✨ Building Culture through Care

Create a work environments where people feel seen, encouraged, and excited to contribute. Advocate for open dialogue, call out hidden strengths, and guide people toward unlocking their full potential. It's ok to laugh, experiment, and take breaks—because joy sustains creativity!

📱 My Favorite Apps/Sites

Google Maps

Google Calendar

Google Home

YouTube

Tik-Tok

Spotify

Speechify

Notability

ChatGPT

AnyList

Microsoft Loop

Microsoft Teams

WhatsApp

Zoom

IFTTT