Before joining APARC in December 2022, Shabnam worked as public relations/marketing manager at Arghavan Salles and Associates. Previously, she served as an English teacher at SLP Gangseo English Academy in Korea. She also worked as an event assistant with organizations including Agency Guacamole and USC Annenberg Research Network in International Communication (ARNIC).

She holds a Master of Arts in Global Communication from the University of Southern California, a Master of Science in Global Media and Communication from The London School of Economics and Political Science, London, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.