Some of the Harvard alumni who attended the Malaysian edition of Harvard Global Networking Night 2025 in Petaling Jaya. — Photos: SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star Dr Zafrina (second from left) with her fellow alumni at the event organised by Harvard Club of Malaysia.
HARVARD University alumnus Amri Bukhairi Bakhtiar counts himself among the few Malaysians who can say they studied alongside a would-be president.
His classmate at Harvard Kennedy School in the US, Daniel Noboa, went on to become Ecuador’s president.
“I graduated in 2020, so I was also among the earliest batch to experience online learning,” said Amri, recalling the sudden shift due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic during his Master in Public Administration (MPA) programme.
“I experienced both in-person and online classes. Harvard handled the transition well and the learning experience was the same,” he added.
While Noboa attended the delayed graduation ceremony two years later in the US, Amri was unable to join as he had started full-time work.
Amri was among 60 alumni gathered for the Malaysian edition of Harvard Global Networking Night 2025 – which brought together graduates from various Harvard schools and programmes – at a restaurant in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Khoo Eu Wen said one of the biggest takeaways from his experience was learning how to view challenges differently.
“We get to meet a lot of interesting people at Harvard; some have done very well and gone on to inspire others,” said Khoo, who completed his Master of Business Administration at Harvard Business School in 2011.
Dr Zafrina (second from left) smilling for a group photo with some of her fellow Harvard alumni at the Harvard Global Networking Night 2025.
“Having interacted with people from different nationalities, backgrounds and experiences, it taught me to look at problems from different perspectives.”
He laughingly added, “Some-times it is not the smartest people that are the most successful.”
Khoo, who is also Harvard Club of Malaysia (HCM) deputy president, said the global networking night was observed around the world and also open to visiting alumni.
The evening featured a talk titled “Artificial Intelligence (AI): The Future is Now” by Prof Ong Shien Jin, who holds a PhD in Computer Science from Harvard.
HCM, founded in 1984, has over 300 members in Malaysia, including non-Malaysians.
The event also recognised Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar SS2 owner and managing director Burhan Mohamed, who received a Harvard cap from committee members in appreciation of hosting the event.
Burhan’s daughter Dr Zafrina Burukan said her time in a Healthcare Management programme at Harvard had strengthened her leadership skills and transformed how she runs her clinic in Bandar Utama.
“The leadership and management skills I learned are utilised in my day-to-day practice.
“Through psychological safety, I give my team space to express themselves and share ideas.
“I also want to run a purpose-driven organisation – a place that is driven by its vision and mission, and strives to make a positive impact,” said Dr Zafrina, who will visit Harvard in May for a healthcare programme.
HCM executive committee member Krishnavenee Krishnan said one of the club’s key outreach efforts was Harvard Prize Book – an initiative to inspire high-performing students in Malaysian schools.
“Our club sponsors this programme at around 10 public and private schools across the country, including in Sabah and Sarawak,” said the Kapital DX Sdn Bhd (KLDX) AI chief growth officer.
“Participants are typically at SPM or O-Level age and they are pre-screened to find those who are well-rounded academically and in other fields.
“Similar to a Harvard application process, they have to write an essay, submit an application form and be interviewed by a panel of Harvard alumni,” she said.
Krishnavenee, who is from Harvard’s MPA Class of 2013, said prizes included cash and books, while winners could also take home additional prizes courtesy of their schools or Parent-Teacher Associations.
For details, visit harvardclubofmalaysia.org
