Shafat Qazi
Shafat Qazi | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Master's in Structural Engineering Bachelor's in Civil Engineering |
| Alma mater | National Institute of Technology State University of New York |
| Occupations |
|
| Board member of | BQE Software Inc. Structural Engineers Association of Southern California Chair, Structural Engineers Association Computer Applications Committee |
Shafat Qazi is a Kashmiri-American entrepreneur and film producer. He is the Founder and former CEO of BQE Software,[1][2] a cloud-based project management and accounting software company. In 2018, he was listed among the top 50 CEOs by USA Today.[3][4][5]
Early life and education
[edit]Qazi was born in Kashmir and later relocated to New York in 1986.[3] Qazi obtained his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the National Institute of Technology in India.[6] He later pursued a master's degree in structural engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo.[7] While at SUNY Buffalo, Qazi developed a medical billing software for his personal doctor, eventually leading him to venture into the software development industry.[5] His father retired as the principal of the Amar Singh College in Srinagar.[6]
Career
[edit]After completing his education, Qazi moved to Los Angeles in 1988 to pursue his career in engineering. He joined David C. Breiholz, Inc., an engineering company, and later became a partner in the firm. The firm was subsequently renamed Breiholz Qazi Engineering.[3][6] During this time, Qazi also served as the chairman of the Structural Engineers Association Computer Applications Committee and a board member of the association.[6] In 1995, Qazi sold his shares at Breiholz Qasi Engineering and co-founded BQE Software with his partner, David Breiholz. BQE Software initially developed BillQuick, a project management and billing software.[6][7] By 1998, Qazi left his engineering firm to focus full-time on BillQuick and his company. As the company expanded, it ventured into accounting, resource planning, and business intelligence.[5] In 2009, BQE Software acquired another software company, OrangeLoft LLC. In 2012, BQE Software launched its product, BQE Core.[6][5]
Apart from his involvement in software, Qazi has also ventured into the music industry. He created a music brand called IBM with singers Mohammed Irfan, Bilal, and Mehmeet Syed. He supported the band in organizing music concerts worldwide.[3]
Qazi has also been involved in the independent film industry. He produced Songs of Paradise, a feature film inspired by the songs of Raj Begum and narrates the story of a Kashmiri woman who faced the barriers of societal norms in the late 1940s, particularly regarding the acceptability of women singing publicly in Kashmir and neighboring cities.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "New CEO for BQE Software". Architecture Australia.
- ^ "IUST organizes special lecture on "Technology and Entrepreneurship"". Kashmir Convener. 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
- ^ a b c d "Shafat Qazi". Kashmir Life. 2018-12-19. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
- ^ "Kashmiri American In US's Top 50 CEO List". Kashmir Life. 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
- ^ a b c d "Shafat Qazi: A top ranked IT entrepreneur". Rising Kashmir. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
- ^ a b c d e f Reshi, Lubna (21 March 2023). "Shafat Qazi: The Kashmiri techie who built a global firm". The Global Indian. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
- ^ a b Malik, Bismah (2018-12-12). "Meet Shafat Qazi: The Kashmiri engineer who features among top 50 CEOs in USA". www.ibtimes.co.in. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
- ^ "Saba Azad to play Raj Begum in Danish Renzu's Songs Of Paradise - Exclusive". The Times of India. 2022-09-25. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-05-25.