Syed is an edtech entrepreneur who enjoys enabling young people to make more informed career choices. As a blended professional, he has worked in media, higher education, and nonprofits both, in India and in the US. He serves on the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council of Tacoma and mentors new entrepreneurs at 76Forward.com and www.bridgeforbillions.org. He curates impact projects for Collegey.com and reviews student projects for Rise, an initiative of Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust.
As part of our organizational team, Syed leads the organizations’ focus on innovation, partnerships, and client impact. His professional experience includes work in the diverse areas of media, academia, and international education. He first came to the US as an International Ford Foundation Fellow, so he brings his own experience as an international student into his vision for Collegey and Branta. His interest in cross-cultural collaborations and global citizenry continue to shape his professional pursuits.
In 2010, Syed took a communications position at India’s Fulbright Commission for the U.S. Department of State’s public diplomacy program, EducationUSA. In his role as Communications Manager, Syed spearheaded EducationUSA’s digital outreach and partnerships. He led several recruitment programs, public diplomacy outreach with US Foreign Service Officers, and many workshops.
After EducationUSA, Syed began consulting for a variety of youth and higher education organizations both in India and in the US. In 2015, he moved to the US and founded Branta, which works with universities, colleges, and recruitment organizations in the US and Canada, as well as youth-focused organizations in India.
Syed’s interests include project-based learning, growth mindset, entrepreneurship, and impact-driven programming. As a trained filmmaker, he also serves on the Board of Advisors of The Way Home: Journey of Family and Faith, a documentary film about three generations of Tibetan women in exile fighting to save their cultural heritage.