Shahid Mahmud

Before founding the innovative Book Bale, Shahid Mahmud built a strong foundation in finance and publishing. He pursued a successful career in investment banking, specializing in fixed income and derivatives. As Senior Investment Officer for the City of San Diego, Shahid managed a $4 billion portfolio, implemented an active management strategy, and introduced the City’s first-ever options program. In recognition of his contributions, November 7, 2005, was declared "Shahid Mahmud Day" in San Diego by the acting mayor. In 2006, he shifted his focus to his passion for books, founding Arc Manor, a respected science fiction and fantasy publisher that has worked with esteemed authors like Nancy Kress, Katherine Kerr, Harry Turtledove, and Robert A. Heinlein. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to create Book Bale, a community-driven eBook platform offering affordable access to books and connecting readers with authors through exclusive events while guaranteeing at least 60% of membership fees are distributed to member authors and publishers.