Former ComSoc President joins tenth cohort of Schwarzman Scholars

Each year, thousands of candidates from around the world apply to the Schwarzman Scholars program, a prestigious and fully funded master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University. The immersive experience aims to develop the next generation of global leaders.

This month, the program will welcome its tenth cohort, and Smith Commerce graduate Mahir Hamid, BCom’24, will be among the 150 Scholars, representing 38 countries and 105 universities from around the world.

“Schwarzman Scholars is my launchpad to explore China’s approach to economic development, venture building, and the future of work” says Mahir, who is interested in how innovation can drive global prosperity.

Over the next year, Mahir will tackle a curriculum that includes core courses focused on global affairs and China, and elective courses from a variety of academic disciplines, such as public policy, economics, business and international relations.

Here, he shares how his lived experience, educational and professional journeys have inspired him to take on this bold, new challenge.

What inspired you to apply for the Schwarzman Scholars program? What do you hope to gain from it?

Well, I think the calibre of the network and being at Tsinghua University is a huge draw already! More than anything though, I’ve always been excited by opportunities that push me to think beyond borders, because I truly believe the biggest challenges we face as a society are global by nature.

For context, I’ve spent most of my career so far working in the startup and entrepreneurship ecosystem. But I was always most interested in how the innovations we worked on could create broader social and societal impact. That interest comes from my experience growing up across different economic realities, and from over a decade of student government leadership, which shaped how I view inequality and opportunity.

My curiosity about how new technologies and entrepreneurship could drive impact eventually led me to the bustling, unfamiliar streets of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, after graduating from Smith. I joined Accelerate Prosperity, part of the Aga Khan Development Network, where I researched two key questions: 1) What kinds of businesses need to exist to strengthen economies and create jobs across developing regions of Asia? And 2) How can we better support the entrepreneurs already driving impact there today?

Kyrgyzstan made me realize how little I actually knew about the systems driving global change, and how central China is to so many of them. Today, I'm particularly interested in how China is shaping its future of work — especially how it's navigating the tradeoff between emerging technologies displacing jobs and creating new ones, given its history as a manufacturing-driven economy and its growing role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

It’s my hope that the Schwarzman Scholars program will be my springboard for improving lives in Canada and around the world.

How has your experience as ComSoc president influenced your interest in leadership development opportunities such as this one?

I feel very lucky and privileged to have served as ComSoc President. I think it’s a rare experience at our age to represent 2,000+ peers and manage a team of 60+ highly motivated people.

My time in student government and as ComSoc President gave me incredible insight into how young people from different backgrounds feel about the issues that impact us today. Leading a team to tackle things like classroom inclusivity, camaraderie, career readiness, and skills development felt like a microcosm of some of the biggest questions facing our generation: How do we encourage diverse perspectives without fueling division? What will the future of entry-level jobs look like? And how can educational institutions actually prepare young people for what’s coming? ComSoc grounded me in missions I care deeply about that I’ll be exploring in China.

But, it also made me realize how much I still have to grow. Schwarzman feels like the perfect next step to expose me to how other leaders think and lead. I know that our generation will face unprecedented challenges as we become leaders, so building a strong network early on and learning how others navigate their inflection points is one of the best ways we can build resilience.

Have any courses, professors or experiences outside of school shaped your interest in furthering your knowledge in geopolitics and global affairs?

I owe my interest in global affairs to two mentors: David Detomasi, who sparked my interest in the field through his classes on international market and non-market strategy, and William Yu, MBA ’87, Sc’84, whose guidance through The Cansbridge Fellowship (which he founded with his wife Diana) taught me to dream beyond what I thought was possible.

What does it mean to represent your school and community on such a global stage?

Being part of such a close-knit undergrad program gave me the motivation to pour my heart into leadership. I truly believe the level of personal growth I experienced wouldn’t have been possible in any other program. I’m incredibly proud to represent Smith at Schwarzman College and will carry that pride with me throughout my career.

Is there anything you're especially excited or nervous about as you prepare for this new adventure?

I’m currently trying my hand at Mandarin, though I’ll admit I’m pretty terrible at it right now! That said, I think having nerves is actually a good sign since it means I’m stepping outside my comfort zone. I’m especially excited to share what I learn and document the journey on social media, so other young Canadians can feel more brave about taking their first step.