Shazada Nawaz is a Quantitative Risk Director, Data Science Leader, and Systems Architect based in Phoenix, Arizona. For more than two decades he has operated where numbers, systems, and human judgment intersect — building models that don't just predict outcomes but shape responsible decisions.

At USAA, he leads Model Validation Quality Assurance for enterprise risk and finance models, developing standards that balance innovation with regulatory trust. His career has spanned roles in data science, credit risk, and systems engineering — from creating predictive pricing algorithms for Carvana to building risk diagnostics platforms for JPMorgan Chase during the financial crisis.

Shazada's unique strength lies in bridging disciplines: he understands how models behave, how systems scale, and how governance keeps them honest. His mission is to build analytical ecosystems where data science and integrity co-exist.

Beyond finance, he is the founder of several ventures — Katchly, Rustic Grower, and the Slow Dating Society — each reflecting his belief that technology can be a force for human connection and creative expression. He writes about leadership, AI ethics, and modern life at his blog.