ABOUT US
The Mother-Son team Shakira & Imran Niazi
Founder
Committed to doing good.
I’m Shakira Niazi, founder of Zen Basil, originally a refugee from Afghanistan. I’ve survived a war torn country to be educated in US and now: a mother of 2 boys, empowered, and an entrepreneur. Escaping the carnage and devastation of one war has given me the courage to battle another. The battle to elevate the broken food system in America by introducing edible organic basil seeds, as a 1st to market idea!
Giving is Receiving
My mission is to share my family’s recipe, basil seeds, a superfood ingredient from the Far East with my Western families. A much needed product loaded with natural plant-based fiber, calcium magnesium, potassium, iron, omega’s and antioxidants. At the same token, I’m committed to integrating this powerful health promoting superfood with giving back to those in dire need.
I believe the world is connected by humanity and that we must be mindful of our human family. When we share our health promoting ingredients, we are indeed helping to heal one another.
Life starts with water. Zen Basil’s additional secret ingredient is our intention, we believe in being mindful of our human family and committed in eradicating the lack of safe water crisis.
I believe access to safe water is the most basic human right!
Perfecting body, mind, and spirit in Zen Basil is only fully achieved when our whole world is in the state of peace, health, and Zen.
Nearly ten years ago, I started a charitable brand of bottled water that sold next to big brands at WFM, Safeway, hotel’s/café’s. More importantly, the brand completed 55 clean water projects in 10 different countries giving access to safe water to over 58k ppl for the next 20 years. Management rights of each project are given to the local women of the village.
Early in my career, my drive to achieve the American Dream lead me to obtain my MBA and I pursued a career in finance. I spent several years in corporate banking and eventually founded a private Real Estate company.
Having grown up with very little, I was convinced that ‘more’ would give me the happiness and fulfillment I longed for. As I reached my goals, I realized that my inner soul – the part of me with childhood memories growing up in a third world country – didn’t have much respect for this person who simply lived a comfortable life.
This was the beginning of my re-evaluation of my career and search for another purpose. My search awoke me to the prevalence of dirty drinking water and its dramatic impact on the lives of so many people, especially women and children around the world. That’s when I realized I had found my life’s mission.
Zen Basil is bringing you a conscience superfood product that is
Good for you
Good for humanity.
This is our recipe for Zen. Zen for life.