Mustafa Syed, a Michigan State University alum who graduated in Summer 2024 with a B.A. in Religious Studies, has been named a Schwarzman Scholar and will join an elite group of future global leaders selected from around the world for this prestigious graduate fellowship program. He is MSU’s second Schwarzman Scholar in the 10-year history of the award.
A highly competitive and selective program, nearly 5,000 people applied this year to become Schwarzman Scholars, the highest number in program history. Of those, 150, including Syed, were selected to be part of the 10th cohort, which represents 38 countries and 105 universities from around the world.
“I am deeply honored to represent MSU on a global stage,” Syed said. “The love and support I experienced as a student played an integral role in shaping my success today.”
Designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders, Schwarzman Scholars receive the opportunity to attend a fully funded one-year master’s degree program at Tsinghua University’s Schwarzman College in Beijing, China, a program that focuses on leadership, global affairs, and China.
“I am deeply honored to represent MSU on a global stage. The love and support I experienced as a student played an integral role in shaping my success today.”
Mustafa Syed
“I was drawn to the Schwarzman Scholars program because it aligns perfectly with my passion for fostering collaboration between cultures and creating meaningful impact through innovative ideas,” Syed said. “This program provides a unique opportunity to engage with future global leaders, gain a deeper understanding of China’s role in the world, and refine my leadership skills in an international context.”
A British-born American of Pakistani origin, Syed embraces his cross-cultural identity as a foundation for fostering global collaboration. After graduating from Skyline High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 2017, he came to Michigan State University to earn a business degree but left to start his own shoe company, called REZA, which is one of the first footwear brands to use fiber optics technology to create an illuminated, futuristic look. Syed co-founded the company with his best friend Jack Krebsbach.
REZA is now recognized globally due in part to Syed’s work in product development and supply chain in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Taipei that enabled the company to ship products to all 50 states and 30 countries. As a co-founder of the company, Syed holds three design patents.
While building his company and experiencing business success, Syed returned to MSU in 2023 to finish his undergraduate degree but switched his major to Religious Studies, which is something he became increasingly interested in during business trips to Taiwan and China.
“My education in Religious Studies has been invaluable in shaping my perspective,” Syed said. “It has taught me to approach complex issues with empathy, analyze diverse worldviews critically, and navigate cross-cultural dynamics effectively. These skills are not only crucial in my career as a founder and innovator but also serve as a strong foundation for my future aspirations to lead initiatives that connect people and ideas across borders.”
“Mustafa is an admirable example of Spartan entrepreneurial excellence and leadership. We’re very proud of his success.”
Kevin M. Guskiewicz, MSU President
During his time at MSU, Syed served as president of the MSU Entrepreneurship Association and drove entrepreneurial growth across campus. He also received the 2024 Engaged Scholar Award presented by MSU’s Department of Religious Studies, which annually recognizes a Religious Studies major who best represents the ideal of the engaged scholar and whose aspirations are to serve the wider community.
“Mustafa is an admirable example of Spartan entrepreneurial excellence and leadership,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “We’re very proud of his success and know that, with Mustafa’s determination to make a positive difference in international settings, he is a highly deserving recipient of the prestigious Schwarzman Scholars award.”
Through the Schwarzman Scholars program, Syed plans to leverage his experience with U.S. and Chinese startups to deepen his understanding of the Chinese economy and strengthen relationships with leaders across industries. He wants to continue to focus on uniting communities through entrepreneurship, particularly in consumer technology.
“My goal is to emerge from this experience equipped to bridge gaps between the U.S. and Greater China, particularly in the areas of entrepreneurship and technology,” he said.
“Gracious in his actions and intentional in his pursuits, Mustafa leads with compassion, inviting others to join in his pursuit of human flourishing.”
Morgan Shipley, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Foglio Endowed Chair of Spirituality
Starting in August 2025, Syed will join the other Schwarzman Scholars in the 10th cohort at Tsinghua University where they will be taught by faculty from Tsinghua University and other globally recognized international universities and will attend lectures delivered by global thought leaders.
“Mustafa Syed models Spartans Will. He is an engaged scholar, an entrepreneurial success story, and a model human being,” said Morgan Shipley, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Foglio Endowed Chair of Spirituality. “Gracious in his actions and intentional in his pursuits, Mustafa leads with compassion, inviting others to join in his pursuit of human flourishing. He is, in short, an inspiration, not in a flashy and heavy-handed way, but as a catalyst for the sense of possibility that dwells in each of us.”
The Schwarzman Scholars program was established in 2013 by Stephen A. Schwarzman with the goal of creating a global network of leaders who will shape the future. Syed and the rest of the Class of 2025-26 Schwarzman Scholars join a network of more than 1,300 members from 104 countries and 459 institutions worldwide.
“Mustafa’s academic achievements and entrepreneurial successes showcase the ambition found across campus,” said MSU Honors College Interim Dean Glenn Chambers, Ph.D. “The Distinguished Student Awards Office – housed within the Honors College – empowers all MSU students, like Mustafa, to pursue these awards. We’re proud to celebrate his remarkable accomplishment as the university’s second Schwarzman Scholar.”
MSU’s first Schwarzman Scholar is Angela Yuan, who graduated from MSU in 2021 with a B.S. in Environmental Studies and Sustainability from the College of Agriculture and natural Resources. She was named a Schwarzman Scholar in 2023.
The article “Michigan State University alumnus named as institution’s second Schwarzman Scholar” written by Anneliese Mackel and Kristin Janka and published by MSU’s Distinguished Student Awards Office contributed to this article.