Rafat Ali is a prominent media entrepreneur and journalist, best known as the founder of paidContent.org, a pioneering site covering the online media business launched in 2002, and as CEO and founder of Skift, a travel intelligence platform started in 2012 that provides research, news, and analysis for the global travel industry. He began his career as a journalist at Advertising and Marketing magazine in India after earning a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from Aligarh Muslim University in Aligarh, India. Ali later moved to the United States, serving as managing editor of Silicon Alley Reporter, a key publication covering New York's tech scene, before establishing himself as a leading reporter on media business trends. In 1999-2000, Ali was a Knight Fellow at Indiana University's Media School, where he completed a master's degree in journalism. Describing himself as a 'New Yorker' and 'Global Soul,' he has built a career bridging technology, media, and travel sectors, contributing to platforms like Business Insider and maintaining an active presence on Medium with travel photography. His work has positioned him as an influential voice in digital media evolution and travel industry intelligence.