Windsor Law alum, Sarah Syed, will head to Beijing for the prestigious Schwarzman Scholars master's program (SUBMITTED BY SARAH SYED/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
When Sarah Syed learned she had been selected as a Schwarzman Scholar, disbelief quickly gave way to excitement – and then to reflection.
“It takes time to sink in,” Syed says. “Even now, my family will say, ‘wow, you’re really moving to China.’ I’ll be in Beijing in just a few months, and it still feels surreal.”
A University of Windsor Faculty of Law alumna, Syed is one of 150 scholars worldwide selected for the Schwarzman Scholars Class of 2026–27.
This year, more than 5,800 candidates from around the world applied to the highly competitive graduate leadership program, with only about 400 advancing to the interview stage.
Hosted at Tsinghua University, one of China’s top universities, Schwarzman Scholars prepares future leaders to engage with China’s role in global affairs through intensive study, cultural immersion and leadership development.
“This is a remarkable achievement, but not a surprising one for those who know Sarah,” says Windsor Law Dean Reem Bahdi. “This opportunity recognizes the path she has been building for herself, and we are incredibly proud to see her talents and dedication recognized at a global level.”
For Syed, the journey to Beijing was shaped by persistence, curiosity and a touch of what she endearingly calls “delusional optimism.”
The rigorous process included multiple interview rounds, culminating in an in-person interview in New York.
“Throughout the process, I tried to stay grounded and present,” she says. “Each time I made it to the next stage, I would celebrate and think, ‘OK, I’m going to keep going.’ Being able to connect with other young leaders along the way — from Ivy League graduates to tech founders — was incredibly inspiring.”
Her global outlook was shaped in part by her time studying abroad at the University of Lucerne in Switzerland during a Windsor Law exchange term.
“That semester really opened my eyes,” she says. “I was living with students from three different countries, learning how they experience the world. It changed how I think about success and what I want to contribute globally.”
Syed has long combined leadership with creativity and advocacy. Alongside her legal studies, she co-founded Global Youth Impact, a nonprofit she runs with her siblings that empowers young people to make change through workshops, community programming and fundraising initiatives.
Recently, Global Youth Impact led a workshop at New York University’s International Youth Assembly, reaching more than 500 delegates from around the world. The session explored mental health as a foundation for effective global leadership — an issue Syed is deeply passionate about.
Her advocacy extends to music as well.
As a singer-songwriter in DEYSofficial, Syed and her siblings use music to inspire and raise awareness about global issues. The group has collaborated with the United Nations’ Music Against Child Labour campaign and performed at Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations and the Pan Am and Para Pan Am Games.
“Music has a unique way of bringing people together,” Syed says. “In a world with so much division, that connection really matters.”
Experiential learning at Windsor Law played a big role in Syed’s view of leadership and impact. Through her experience at Legal Assistance of Windsor, she provided legal support to individuals navigating social benefits and tribunals.
“That experience shifted my view of the law,” she explains. “I saw the tangible impact advocacy can have – whether it’s through legal representation, technology or even access to reliable internet.”
Windsor Law also fostered her interest in the intersection of law, technology and creativity. She credits Professor Myra Tawfik, who encouraged her to create a micro-documentary for a World Intellectual Property Organization competition, where Syed finished in the global top 5.
“That course solidified my interest in IP, tech and creativity,” she says. “I began to see how those interests could intersect.”
Looking ahead, Syed sees her year in Beijing as a chance to take her work to a global scale.
“I see Schwarzman Scholars as the bridge between the work I’ve done so far and the impact I want to make on a larger scale,” she says. “China is a world leader in scalable tech solutions. I want to learn from that and apply it to remote regions in Canada, the Global South and beyond.”
Beyond her studies, Syed is looking forward to the cultural immersion — exploring China’s landscapes, sampling local cuisine and even running a 10-kilometre race along the Great Wall, a personal goal she’s excited to tackle.
Reflecting on her time at the University of Windsor, she emphasizes the confidence and perspective it gave her.
“My time in law school broadened how I think about achievement and success,” she says. “For me, success is about finding what fires you up and chasing that with purpose.”
Her advice to other University of Windsor students and alum aiming for competitive opportunities is straightforward: “Bet on yourself.”
“If you don’t try, you’ve already said no,” she says. “Believe in yourself, stay grounded and trust the process.”