Shaba R. Keys

Shaba R. Keys is a nationally recognized leader in social innovation, with over 25 years of experience advancing equity and opportunity through education, advocacy, and public-private partnerships. Her work centers on building inclusive, innovative systems that connect individual potential to economic opportunity and reimagined education to career pathways.

She currently serves as Chair of both the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem and the New York/Long Island Area Council for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In these roles, Ms. Keys has expanded access to holistic youth development programs that emphasize college access, career readiness, and family support. She is also the Co-Founder of The Bridge Lab, where she launched the Future Workforce Initiative (FWI)—a national model for connecting underrepresented youth to careers in film, media, business, and technology. The Bridge Lab has served over 2,000 participants, ranging from middle school students to law school graduates, by partnering with youth development agencies, public schools, and higher education institutions to deliver innovative career development programs.

Previously, Ms. Keys spent a decade in senior leadership at Columbia University, where she designed community investment initiatives and led a $1 million workforce partnership with Empire State Development. She oversaw grantmaking and capacity-building efforts for more than 60 nonprofit partners and created the Connecting Youth Initiative, which provided educational and career services to over 400 young people.

At the School of Professional Studies, she serves on the faculty of the Nonprofit Management M.S. program, where she designed and teaches Leading with Purpose: Advocacy and Strategy in the Nonprofit Sector. She also co-chairs the Columbia University Seminar on the Collaborative of Community Programs for Youth and Families.

In 2022, Ms. Keys was named one of the 25 Empire Whole Health Heroes by Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Crain’s New York Business for her leadership in health and well-being. A trusted voice on boards and advisory committees, she is known for aligning strategy, policy, and partnerships to drive meaningful change.

She holds a J.D. from The Catholic University of America, a B.A. from Tufts University, and a Certificate of Business Excellence from Columbia Business School.