Unlocking entrepreneurship opportunities

By Ashlyn Sheshynna Selvadurai

Hazim Mohamad brings a whole new meaning to walking in the footsteps of giants. He not only managed to do exactly that but also created a name for himself internationally and within the KYS community.

Recently he shared with us a few words of wisdom regarding his time at KYS, life beyond campus, and his early years of adulthood.

Hazim is a KYSER from batch Vigor 0610 with professional working experience at the World Bank after receiving a Master’s Degree from MIT.

Now, he is a co-founder of CoffeeSpace, a platform that algorithmically matches people looking for co-founders or exploring ideas for the tech space and beyond.

Growing up in Ipoh, Perak, like many, he hailed from humble beginnings. Hazim shared with us how attending KYS was a pivotal moment in his life and how the people around him shaped him into who he is today. “KYS was truly the five most defining years of my life,” he said, here are some of Hazim’s highlights of KYS:

Overwhelming support from teachers and staff

The support system at KYS is still prevalent in today’s culture of excellence. The same was to be said about Hazim’s time at KYS.

Teachers and staff played a big role in his developmental years and shaped him into who he is today.

Valuable life lessons he learned years ago, whether from his teachers or his peers, are still cherished in his memories as an adult.

The system of KYS that nurtures dicipline

He claims that life at KYS is the biggest contributing factor that prepared him for life overseas in the United Kingdom and the United States of America for his educational journey and work life.

The birthplace of a connector

“I live and breathe being a connector. Whether it’s connecting people to people, people to opportunities, or capital to promising companies and ideas, I love it all.” Hazim loved exploring new ideas and implementing new systems that connect people further even as a KYS student.

We have him to thank for the existence of the house cup at KYS. Hazim values this experience because, through fine-tuning ideas and writing proposals, he found his passion for innovation.

The way Hazim carries himself simply exudes a sense of accomplishment and confidence. Even more impressive is the educational journey of a lifetime he went through all in the hopes of reaching for the stars.

Hazim’s Educational Journey

Kolej Yayasan Saad

Hazim was a pure science student from a family of doctors. The path he chose was due to heavy influence from his family and his ambition of becoming a doctor. Towards the end of his years in KYS, he finally decided to pursue finance.

Petronas Scholarship Recipient

He pursued his A Levels at KYUEM under a scholarship from Petronas. He then furthered his studies in the United Kingdom to broaden his horizons at a global perspective at the University of Warwick (Warwick Business School).

He completed his Bachelor’s Degree while interning at Petronas in London and attaining the globally recognised professional designation, the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification.

Massachusets Institute of Technology (MIT)

Hazim then chose to earn his Master’s Degree by applying to MIT. Being in an incredibly competitive institute, he had to put his best foot forward.

The biggest turning point was the reenactment of his pitch to Tony Fernandez during his interview for MIT to establish a Warwick ASEAN conference during his years at Warwick.

We were given a glimpse into the process of an international student admissions. Hazim also shared the ways in which academic-based learning at MIT differs from academic-based learning in the UK in that the former emphasises engagement, service and vocalisation more than the latter.

Post Masters

Journey to the World Bank

Hazim rejected Malaysian and Singaporean job offers with his eyes set on one goal, which was to find his true calling. He moved to DC to try and achieve a near-impossible dream. His sheer perseverance can be observed through a retelling of how he lived in the living room of five college students.

Exploring new frontier

Hazim was approached by a Kyser in 2017 whom he helped network with PPE scholars as a potential future endeavor. This experience helped him write about the future success of his mentor and gained the attention of Hazim’s future business partner who reached out to him. So the concept for a startup was formed.

It would only make sense if we wanted to know more about Hazim, some burning questions were gladly answered along the way. Here are our favourites from the QNA session:

How did you manage to become a more social person? How is the social life in the UK compared to the US?

“KYS made me less shy. I can be thrown into a meeting room and have no problem holding a discussion or conversation. Doing things in front of others, such as orchestra, acting and speeches made me overcome the fear of being on stage. The UK is more reserved, you need to reach out. I find the US more extroverted and active learning is a huge thing over there.”

What’s your advice for someone interested in applying for MIT?

“Just aim for the stars, you don’t know where you’ll reach. If you never try you’ll never know. Some tips are presenting yourself as a unique person, and try having a passion that you can really focus on and turn into a project. Passion is what universities want to see.”

What would you tell your younger self? How did the pressure to succeed in KYS affect you?

“I would tell myself to maintain close relationships with the people who matter. Appreciate the people who have supported you through life. As for dealing with pressure – this is real – when the chances of failure are higher, societal expectations are present. Don’t just blindly follow a path, understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.”

It is now time for us, the future of KYS to stand on the shoulders of these forerunners. Hazim’s story is inspirational and eye-opening. In one evening, so many stories were shared and so many new ambitions were born.