About Hamada
A life shaped by curiosity.
I'm Hamada Zahawi, an attorney, entrepreneur, and traveler whose work and life have taken me across industries, institutions, and more than 170 countries.
Born in Switzerland to Iraqi parents, I grew up with a strong interest in international affairs and a determination to explore a world that was not always easy for me to access. That curiosity eventually shaped both my career and my travels.
Professionally, I have worked across commercial law, international development, business operations, and education. Outside work, travel has become far more than visiting new places. It is a way to learn, challenge myself, and better understand the people and cultures that make up our world.
Three threads. One perspective.
01 / A professional foundation
Law & Strategy
My professional life has developed at the intersection of commercial law, international development, and business operations. Over more than 15 years, I have worked across the private sector, public service, and entrepreneurship, including international attorney-advisor work with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Advising technology companies and private equity interests requires more than understanding a transaction. It means understanding the people, institutions, and commercial realities behind it. That perspective informs my approach to legal and strategic advisory at Veritas Global Advisors.
02 / Preparing for what comes next
Education & Innovation
I founded Write Track Admissions to help students articulate their stories and prepare for the next stage of their education. Admissions remain an important part of that work, but the ambition is broader: academic excellence, thoughtful leadership, and readiness for a changing world. Educational entrepreneurship has also brought me into conversations about technology and how it is reshaping learning. I am interested in preparing students not only to enter an institution, but to contribute meaningfully once they arrive.
03 / A world worth understanding
Travel & Exploration
Travel was not always straightforward. An Iraqi passport made access to many parts of the world difficult, and those barriers sharpened my determination to explore. After becoming a U.S. citizen, I continued a journey that has now taken me to 170+ countries. Through Final50, I approach travel with intention, using the 3E Lens: Education for the mind, Exploration for the body, and Entertainment for the soul. The most enduring discoveries are often not places, but the ways a journey changes how we see ourselves and others.
Academic foundations
Education
Harvard Kennedy School
Master in Public Administration
UC Berkeley Law
Juris Doctor
University of Cambridge
Master of Philosophy
UCLA
Bachelor of Arts
Stay Curious.
Across my work and travels, curiosity remains the common thread. It keeps me learning, questioning assumptions, and looking for connections that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Discover my work