Ella Shahbazian
Ella Shahbazian is a dedicated student, author, and youth advocate from Burbank, California, committed to fostering leadership, civic engagement, and community service among young people. Maintaining a 4.3 GPA in high school while pursuing dual-enrollment college courses, she balances academic excellence with a deep passion for law, justice, and social impact. Through her work, Ella seeks to empower her peers to make meaningful contributions to their communities and advocate for those whose voices are often unheard.
As the founder of Ella’s Angels, a youth-led nonprofit organization, Ella has spearheaded programs supporting under-resourced communities, including scholarship initiatives, volunteer-driven service projects, and community outreach efforts. Her leadership has mobilized hundreds of volunteers, delivered thousands of meals and care packages, and created sustainable opportunities for youth involvement. In recognition of her sustained commitment to service, leadership, and personal development, she has earned the Congressional Award at both the Bronze and Silver levels, with the Gold level currently in progress.
Ella is also the author of The Real-Life Financial Resource Guide for Youth and Justice for Teens, practical guides designed to educate and empower young people to navigate financial literacy, legal rights, and social justice issues. Driven by her long-term aspiration to become an attorney focused on children’s rights, she continues to blend academic achievement, nonprofit leadership, and advocacy to create tangible, lasting impact for her generation and the broader community.
• Inspiring and Motivating Individuals
• Children's Human Rights - An Interdisciplinary Introduction
• Citizenship and the Rule of Law
• Connected Leadership
• Moralities of Everyday Life
• A Law Student's Toolkit
• AI For Everyone
• Achieving Personal and Professional Success
• Creating Change through Social Entrepreneurship
• Influence
• Introduction to Merchandising
• Introduction to Nonprofit Law
• Managing Human Capital in Retail
• Negotiations
• Omnichannel Retail Strategy
• Retail Digital Supply Chain
• Retail Marketing Strategy
• EdX Verified Certificate for Child Protection: Children's Rights in Theory and Practice
• Rose and Alex Pilibos High School
• Los Angeles Community College
• Harvard University
• Yale University
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of London
• University of Geneva
• Stanford University
• University of Michigan
• Certificate of Recognition – City of Long Beach
• Congressional silver certificate
• Certificate of Recognition form Mayor of Long Beach CA
• Ellas Angels Foundation
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to showing up consistently, even when I did not feel ready, and to caring deeply about the people I am trying to help. I have also been incredibly lucky to learn from supportive adults, community partners, and peers who believed in my ideas and encouraged me to keep going.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to focus more on doing meaningful work than trying to impress people. When you care about what you are doing and stay consistent, opportunities tend to follow naturally.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice would be to start small and stay consistent. You do not need to have everything figured out to begin. Learn by doing, ask questions, listen to the people you are trying to help, and do not underestimate the value of showing up with genuine care and effort.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges right now is making sure service and advocacy remain genuine and not performative. At the same time, there is a real opportunity for young people to use their voices, collaborate locally, and create meaningful change in ways that are more accessible than ever.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are integrity, compassion, and consistency. I try to be honest in my work, care deeply about the people I am helping, and follow through on what I commit to, even when it is challenging.
