Straight Talk with Mark Bouris #223 Cooking Up Change: Shiza Shahid on Non-Toxic Cooking, Malala & Girls’ Education
Jan 7, 2026
Shiza Shahid, an entrepreneur and social activist, co-founded the Malala Fund to champion girls' education alongside Malala Yousafzai. In this conversation, Shiza shares her journey from activism in Pakistan to founding Our Place, a non-toxic kitchenware brand dedicated to fostering community. She discusses the importance of ethical entrepreneurship and designing multifunctional products. Shiza also highlights the environmental impact of cookware materials and her commitment to educating consumers about health risks, illustrating her drive to blend purpose with business.
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Early Activism And Privileged Opportunity
- Shiza Shahid grew up in Islamabad in a self-made family that prioritized education and opportunity.
- She volunteered early, joined social movements, and identified as an activist from adolescence.
Begin Small, Then Scale
- Start small instead of waiting to solve everything at once.
- Obsess over one problem and take incremental steps; big outcomes follow small beginnings.
Design Drives Cooking Frequency
- Our Place designs multifunctional cookware to reduce clutter and inspire daily cooking.
- Beauty and function together increase the chance people leave cookware out and actually cook.