Growing up between Persian traditions and German culture, Shima learned to think about and navigate her environment creatively from an early age. Raised in a hands‑on household where her father taught her everything from electrical repairs to changing the oil in the family car, she developed an independence and confidence that continue to guide her work today. This cross‑cultural upbringing also shaped her ability to adapt, solve problems, and see design through multiple lenses.

Shima explored painting and graffiti before finding her path into architecture. Surrounded by construction drawings and jobsite paperwork thanks to her father and uncles, she naturally gravitated toward a profession grounded in design but connected to real‑world building.

Shima’s academic work reflects a deep appreciation for her Persian heritage and was demonstrated in her thesis on passive cooling systems. This work earned first prize in a national junior architecture competition in Germany, along with a scholarship to pursue a second master’s degree in the UK. Her project model, “Wind Dream Building,” remains on display in a German museum.

One of the most meaningful professional moments she recalled was seeing students’ joy on the first day of a new K–6 campus she helped design. That experience reinforced her love for educational design and its impact on kids and their communities.

Five years from now? Shima envisions leading an $80–100M project as a Project Architect, guiding a dedicated team from concept through completion.

In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors—surfing, camping, exploring the world, or sharing adventures with her daughter. At some point, having already visited most countries, she plans to travel the remaining 60–70 to complete her global journey.