Hassan Akmal (/ˈhʌsən ˈakːmael/;[1] born May 8, 1976, is an American career and life mastery consultant, author, professor, thought leader, philanthropist, and former professional tennis player, model, and athlete ambassador to the United States. He is best known for his Amazon best-selling book—How to be a Career Mastermind™: Discover 7 “YOU Matter” Lenses for a Life of Purpose, Impact, and Meaningful Work and humanitarian work dedicated to Forced Migration and Health.[2]
| Hassan Akmal | |
| Born | May 8, 1976 Bozeman, Montana |
|---|---|
| Occupation | author, professor |
| Contact | hassanakmal.com |
After over a decade as a senior leader in career services, he became the inaugural executive director of industry relations and career strategies at Columbia University in 2017 and founded the Career Design Lab. In 2018, he served on the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) “Future of We” — Advisory Think Tank Committee and is a senior advisor to Graduway, a top 10 in Tech prominent start-up. In April 2019, he delivered the keynote address on the “Future of Career Services” at the Global Leaders Summit hosted by Graduway at UCLA. He also serves on several other prominent boards internationally.
In 2020, he became the executive director of career services at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Early life and family
Akmal comes from a family originally from South Asia. His parents, Muhammad (deceased), and Imtiaz, migrated to Clovis, California where he grew up. After his birth, his family remained in the United States. His parents worked as chemists.
Education
Akmal attended Clovis High School, graduating in 1994. He is an alumnus of the University of California (2001), Los Angeles, where he served on the top-ranked division one men’s tennis team that were Pac-12 Conference champions and as a team reached the finals of the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship in 1999. Following completing his bachelor’s degree, he received admission to medical school but chose to decline to pursue a career as a professional athlete.
After competing in Davis Cup Tennis, he completed his graduate degree at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City. His graduate track was forced migration and health with a focus in epidemiology. He completed his thesis on the psychosocial impact of conflict on children and graduated in 2004, wherein one of his proposed resolutions was the creation of a mental health development program in collaboration with Right to Play.[1] This organization gives children a chance to become constructive participants in society through games and sports, regardless of gender, disability, ethnicity, social background, and religion.[3] Consequently, he attended the Right to Play’s Athlete Training Forum in New York City on April 22-23, 2003 with some of the most notable names in sports including Tiger Wood and Wayne Gretzky.[1]
In addition to English, he is fluent in Urdu and Spanish.
Career
Akmal’s career spans more than a decade of impressive trajectories. Early in his career, he became interested in global health and worked with multiple non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Later, he founded Invitation Relief, Inc, a 501 3 (c) organization committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people affected by conflict and forced migration.[4][5]
In 2008, well-versed in international monetary systems, he was hired as a financial advisor and business development manager of UBS Financial Services Inc., wherein he co-founded the Socially Responsible Investments Affinity Group to educate others about investing and on being socially responsible. He was able to expand this group internationally and use the growth to fund new initiatives geared towards decreasing the marginalization between the rich and poor on a global scale.[6] Also, by working in the finance industry coupled with various exposures in health organizations, he acquired valuable knowledge and insights in the assessment and analysis of worldwide health relief which he used to propose sustainable action plans for the benefit of the underserved nations.[3]
In 2016, he served on the External Advisory Board for Health Systems Management at the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, and as a Loyola Chapter faculty advisor for Aahana, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to redressing social inequalities and empowering communities.
As a senior leader in higher education for over a decade, in 2018 and 2019, he spearheaded Columbia University’s “Career Week,” a five-day premier conference on the future of meaningful work — one of the largest career center events in the nation culminating with a Future of Career Services symposium.
Influences
With a heart for service and the ardent desire to commit one’s self to a greater cause, Akmal’s greatest influence was his father. He grew up to stories of displaced populations and the harrowing plight of refugees and orphans. His father’s teachings allowed him to understand what it means to live life meaningfully; “a life with a purpose” as he was often reminded to take advantage of the opportunities that come with living in the United States. Not for their family, not for himself; for the underserved communities in faraway lands. As a witness to the many fundraising events that his home community organized for the public benefit of the underserved, he learned the importance and influence of leading by example at an early age.[3]
Personal life
Akmal’s interest in public health developed while he was working at the UMMA Free Clinic in South Central, Los Angeles. When the clinic was trying to align solutions for funding, his participation in the discussions and grant writing with different agencies in the local, state, and national levels exposed him to various concerns in community health planning. The clinic’s efforts eventually awarded them with federal funding as opposed to the public funding they’re getting in the past.[3]
At the age of 28, when Hassan Akmal was pursuing his Masters in Public Health in Forced Migration and Health with a concentration in Epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, he was almost kidnapped while conducting his internship with Plan Pakistan (Plan International) at the border of Kandahar in Afghanistan.
According to witnesses, Akmal was in the markets of Chaman called Quetta, with his co-researchers when he was approached by several armed men. They proceeded to take his wallet and were attempting to take him away when he miraculously escaped through the store’s front door.
In an interview with Akmal about the incident, this was what he said:
“They probably wanted to hold me ransom to the Pakistan Tennis Federation. They were like, you’re the squash player. We have seen you on TV”.[1]
Television
Akmal has appeared in a South Asian Friends television show and various commercials including for top south Asian fashion brands and Chaitime.com.
Books
- Akmal, Hassan (2019). How to be a Career Mastermind™: Discover 7 "YOU Matter" Lenses for a Life of Purpose, Impact, and Meaningful Work. ISBN 978-1733559317.
Awards and Nominations
- NCAA Men’s Tennis Championships: Finalists[7]
Notes
- The pronunciation /ˈhʌsən ˈakːmael/is one variant Hassan himself has used, for example during public interviews. However, in his career, he adopted the pronunciation /ˈhʌson ˈakːmoll for example: on his podcast “Behind the Scenes.”
References
- ^ a b c d Athlete Ambassador to Pakistan and the United States – Tennis Pro Hassan Akmal Survives Afghanistan Experience and Continues to be a Leader. PRWeb. April 17, 2006.
- ^ Career Mastermind official website.
- ^ a b c d Hassan Akmal: Championing Change. Mala.
- ^ "To Be the Most Complete": Hassan Akmal, M.P.H., M.B.A., Launches a New Umbrella Organization Called INVITATION for Peace, Human Development and Assistance. PRWeb. July 8, 2011.
- ^ AKMAL, The Power of Poise - Public Health Professional Launches Non-Profit Campaign for Multiple Rehabilitation Center for Handicapped Children in India. PRWeb. May 4, 2008.
- ^ Beauty and Goodness in the Making: Hassan Akmal, M.P.H., Columbia University, a Financial Advisor by Day, Philanthropist by Night, Builds Islamic Investment Affinity Group. PRWeb. January 14, 2008.
- ^ Hassan Akmal ’01, M.P.H. ’04. UCLA Alumni.
Further reading
- Career Mastermind press.
- Grads face uncertain job market as coronavirus pushes companies to rescind offers. USA Today.
- UCLA student picked to live in a house with five interns. Daily Bruin.
- 9 tips to kick-start your career. Quinlan School of Business.
- Hassan Akmal. Graduway.tv.
- The changing MBA: How tech and entrepreneurship are reshaping studies. Chicago Tribune.
- Hassan Akmal ’01, M.P.H. ’04. UCLA Alumni.
- Hidden Gem Recipient Loyola University – How to Best Run Career Services. College Recruiter.
- MNYCCPOA Spring 2019 Meeting: Alva Cooper Awards for Best Practices in Career Services & Artificial Intelligence in the Recruitment Process. MNYCCPOA.
- Career Week. Columbia University.
- Hassan Akmal. Graduway.tv.
- International, Foreign Affairs, and National Security: Invitation Relief. GuideStar.