BIO

About me

A short timeline of my background and interests up to the present.

Hi, I'm Hasan. I was born in Bahrain, where I attended an international British school. My diverse environment had a profound impact on me and sparked an interest in the social sciences. When it was time to attend university, studying a social science degree in cosmopolitan London was a natural next step.

Me, as a reindeer, with my father, at a school Christmas play. Sand outside, sleigh bells inside – an example of how cross-cultural moments can inspire lifelong open-minded inquisitiveness.

My family at my graduation.

I attended the London School of Economics and though I enjoyed my degrees in social sciences, the Arab Spring disillusioned me from pursuing a career in those fields. The sectarian strife that dragged every Bahraini into the political turmoil showed me how it was a nasty business. An internship at the UN also convinced me there was little value add and my efforts wouldn't count for much.

I also initially avoided finance and consulting because a lot of people told me I was too nice to go into such cutthroat fields. But taking a chance on a PE internship I landed, I soon discovered that I loved the work! It was challenging, urgent, and most importantly, made me feel like my effort contributed value. Pursuing these roles, I eventually landed in consulting for a few years, which I deeply enjoyed.

It turns out being a pleasant person doesn’t disadvantage you in high-pressure roles

"Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship." - Guatama Buddha

In the summer of 2024, I had a serious health scare with Motor Neuron Disease. Though I was cleared several months later, thank God, it was a worrisome time that left me deeply introspective . Shortly after, my brother was diagnosed with cancer at the same time there was company drama around downsizing consultants. I accepted a settlement agreement and decided to take a step back to support my family and reflect on the next part of my life journey.

I had a lot of interest in tech, AI, and automation. I experimented building a few apps in between supporting my family. On a whim, I submitted my prototype of a Halal restaurant tracker to an accelerator competition. Though I was not selected in the 3rd and final round, making it that far with positive responses was proof that I could add value by leaning into my tech interests.

The 14th century Moroccan explorer, Ibn Battuta, is the most widely traveled premodern explorer and the Halal Maps mascot.

Discovering my passion for leveraging tech and AI to deliver value has enabled me to now pursue a career with clarity. If you're in working together, or just discussing ideas, feel free to reach out to me.