At 14, island boy Eizaz Azhar, made a life-changing decision—he walked away from his school with no formal qualifications. What seemed like an unconventional and risky move at the time laid the foundation for an extraordinary journey, culminating in his acceptance into the prestigious Asia School of Business (ASB) MBA program, a collaboration with MIT Sloan School of Management.
Eizaz’s story is a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and of self-belief. His remarkable life thus far is about how one young man challenged societal norms and redefined the trajectory of success for those who dare to think differently.
But it definitely needed all the elements in place to make it happen. Enter ASB, MIT, and a singularly independent thinker into the mix.
An Unconventional Start
Growing up on the beautiful island of Langkawi in the 1980s, Eizaz’s childhood was far from ordinary. Books became his refuge and his gateway to the world. “We didn’t have much, but we had encyclopedias,” he recalls. “Those books were my company, and even today, much of what I know comes from what I learned as a kid.” Encouraged by his tech-savvy father, who taught him DOS at age five, Eizaz developed a passion for technology and curiosity that shaped his entrepreneurial spirit.
Eizaz’s passion for jazz also played a significant role in shaping his identity. He developed a love for the genre during his teenage years. As a saxophonist, he often immersed himself in the improvisational rhythms that echoed his own unconventional journey. “Jazz taught me to think on my feet and embrace unpredictability,” he shares. “It’s a lot like life—you have to be ready to adapt, but there’s always room for creativity.”
About five years after he left the Malaysian school system, at 19, with just RM4,000 in hand, Eizaz started a music studio. He bootstrapped his way to success-repurposing discarded furniture at dumpsites to wiring his own lights, he turned a modest space into a thriving venture that eventually expanded into a music retail and wholesale business. However, Eizaz’s dream didn’t stop there. “I wanted to prove that my business acumen held real value,” he says. “I wanted to validate it with an MBA.”
The Road to ASB
In 2015, Eizaz discovered ASB while scrolling through Facebook. The school’s unconventional candidate track caught his eye. “They were looking for people who had lived extraordinary lives,” he says. “I thought, ‘That’s me!’” Despite lacking formal qualifications—his last academic credential was a UPSR exam—Eizaz decided to apply.
The journey was anything but easy. To meet ASB’s stringent entrance requirements, he had to master calculus, statistics, and economics—subjects he had never encountered. With the help of a friend and about four months of grueling six-hour study sessions, he passed the entrance exam. “I had no idea what calculus was,” he admits. “But I refused to give up. I knew this was my shot.”
Fighting the System
However, another obstacle loomed: government accreditation. Without a diploma or degree, he needed approval from the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) under the Accredited Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) program. What followed was a bureaucratic maze that tested his resolve.
Despite initial rejections, he leveraged his network and the support of mentors like Toh Puan Dr Aishah Ong and Dato’ Idris Abdullah. Their encouragement kept him going, and eventually, he secured the necessary accreditation. “I fought not just for myself but for everyone who might come after me,” he says. “I wanted to prove that if you have the ability, you deserve the opportunity.”
Transformative Years at ASB
In 2016, Eizaz joined ASB’s inaugural MBA cohort. He likened the experience to “a boy in the jungle with a machete, hacking my way through challenges,” – an intense learning curve that provided him with essential tools for business leadership. “ASB structured my thinking, refined my decision-making, and expanded my strategic capabilities. Now, I have an arsenal to handle any situation.”
Beyond classroom learning, ASB exposed him to high-stakes business environments. Eizaz credits the program with teaching him to think rigorously and strategically. From mastering Excel to building complex financial models, the program equipped him with skills he never imagined he’d acquire. “Before ASB, I thought Excel was just Word with tables,” he jokes. “By the end, I was automating financial projections,” he quips.
The experience wasn’t just academic. Eizaz found a community of like-minded driven individuals who pushed him to grow. “ASB is the only alma mater I’ve ever known,” he says. “They gave me a chance when no one else would, and I’ll forever be grateful .”
Beyond the MBA
Post-MBA, Eizaz’s career soared, leveraging his skills to drive impact across industries. As General Manager, Head of Corporate Strategy of the Halal Industry Development Corporation, he applied his ASB-honed skills to navigate the complexities of the halal industry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he pivoted to supply chain management, leading efforts in selling test kits and personal protective equipment.
Today, Eizaz is a digital consultant for a listed company, spearheading the development of AI data centers in Malaysia—a multimillion-ringgit venture. His career trajectory shows how resilience, adaptability, strategic learning, and execution-focus thinking can propel individuals from unconventional background to leadership roles.
Redefining Success for Future Entrepreneurs
More than just a tale of personal success, Eizaz’s journey challenges traditional notions of success. He serves as an example to aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals seeking to carve their own path. His mission is clear: to inspire others to challenge the status quo, believe in their own potential, and seize the opportunities before them. “I want people to know that there are many ways to achieve your dreams. It’s not about where you start – it’s about how effectively you navigate challenges, leverage opportunities and continuously upskill,” he states.
For business leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs alike, Eizaz Azhar’s journey serves as both inspirations and a strategic blueprint. Proving that resilience, adaptability, and bold decision-making are the cornerstones of impactful leadership.