Nadim Muzayyin, Harvard Business School MBA Class of 2024
Age: 26
Hometown: Singapore
Undergraduate Institution and Major: New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business / B.S. Business & Minor in Media, Entertainment, & Technology
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 2 Years Singapore National Service, 3 years Consumer Venture Capital in Southeast Asia
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
As a venture investor, I’ve developed a passion for creating brands by helping operating companies navigate the pandemic. I wanted to use my MBA as a time to step back, reflect on my experience investing, and transition from investor to operator / entrepreneur so that I can launch a business.
Why did you choose Harvard Business School? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose HBS because of the people. HBS has been home to some of the greatest Southeast Asian entrepreneurs (Grab, GoJek, Funding Societies, ONE Championship) and I wanted to walk a similar path to some of the business leaders that have gone through the program. I’ve always been in search of a community where I belonged. I wanted to be in a community of likeminded, ambitious people and my conversations with people in the HBS community in Southeast Asia made me feel like I truly belonged.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Harvard MBA Class of 2024?
I love building communities and bringing people together. My wife and I plan get togethers all the time, so I think aside from my experience as a consumer investor and background as a Southeast Asian, my most valuable contribution to my class is that I try my best every day to build a strong and deep community with the people I meet.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I am a big visual and audio learner. The best way I learn is from watching others, which is why I love film & television. A lot of who I am today is from learning from some of my favorite movie and TV characters.
Post-MBA career interests:
My post-MBA goal is to transition from investor to operator. Leveraging my venture capital background, I intend to build a brand in the consumer space in Southeast Asia. Using capital raised, I want to launch a single branded product/service catering to younger Southeast Asian consumers. Longer term, I will expand our footprint regionally and extend the breadth of our offerings.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would just be myself on the page again! Tell your full story – you’re the only one who has it!
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would probably not worry too much about the GMAT / GRE scores and focus more on the wholistic application and the story told.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The GMAT / GRE was the biggest hurdle for me as someone who just isn’t that great at standardized tests. What really helped me through it is starting early, creating a study routine and sticking to it!
What is your initial impression of the Harvard Business School students/culture/community?
It is absolutely insane how much diversity there is in our class – from a cultural, professional, personal perspective. Everyone has such high energy to be vulnerable and to meet / learn from everyone around them.
What is one thing you have learned about Harvard Business School that has surprised you?
Not a surprise, but HBS puts a very high bar of expectations on all its students and faculty. It is such a great motivator, but it also requires you to really stay focused on what you want to do throughout your time here.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
HBS has so much to offer! I’m anxious about falling behind of everything I can and want do while at school here.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
The people. I get so much energy from learning from everyone here and I have made some deep relationships given how intense the time you get with your classmates is.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your personal application or admissions process in any way? If so, how?
COVID had affected my professional life and how I chose to spend my time. Because our office was relatively remote – I decided to spend a lot of my time on our portfolio companies. My time at our portfolio companies was such a great learning experience that I ended up postponing my MBA application by a year.
