At LAS, the friendships and experiences you gain last a lifetime. Few alumni are as excellent an example of what LAS is all about than Hazal, who graduated in 2010. Hazal has maintained strong relationships with her school friends and created an incredible career in the worlds of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship! Now, she lives in Boston with her family and is a technologist, entrepreneur, and nonprofit founder—but her journey began here on the Magic Mountain over 15 years ago.

Hazal describes her time at LAS as transformative. Some of her fondest memories include the Tuesday and Thursday ski days, as well as Saint Nicholas Day—when students would wake up to shoes filled with chocolates and oranges. Hazal remembers putting out a boot instead of a shoe, hoping to get more candy. Sadly, this didn’t work! She also remembers going on a transformative photography trip to Madagascar and Tanzania for Spring Break, which allowed her to develop her skills and explore the world!

Hazal has stayed connected with her LAS friends, and they reunite in New York twice a year for Thanksgiving and Easter. They even take ski trips together to Vail, Colorado, each March! Hazal is part of a large network of LAS alumni around the globe. Whether visiting a new city or seeking advice on a new idea, she always finds a helpful connection within the LAS community! 

After LAS, Hazal attended Brandeis University, where she initially planned to study so she could join her family’s electronics business. However, she soon discovered a passion for biology, neuroscience, and physics. She combined her love of science and technology by working as a technologist in her senior year, where she maintained lab equipment, trained students on its use, and even designed and built research technology.

At Brandeis, Hazal became part of the team that created the Brandeis MakerLab, an initiative that has since grown to include the Automation Lab and the Digital Scholarship Lab. Her work with robotics, 3D scanning, and design innovation became the foundation for her entrepreneurial projects.

While still at university, she also founded the New England Turkish Student Association, reviving an organization from the 1970s to support Turkish students across the U.S. Hazal left Brandeis in 2021 and created two nonprofits and a consulting firm. The first non-profit was called Life Experience Foundation, where they used immersive technology to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through 360-degree cameras and extended reality applications, they help people practice real-life skills, such as ordering in a restaurant or preparing for a job interview. 

The second company she started is called Turkish Hub. This is a professional networking platform connecting Turkish academics and professionals in the U.S. and Turkey. One of its events featured an Economics Nobel Laureate discussing AI and economics, attracting 400 applicants for just 120 spots. 

Hazal is the perfect example of the wide variety of opportunities LAS alumni pursue around the world. Her story highlights how LAS develops curiosity, resilience, and a strong sense of community—qualities that have pushed many of our alumni towards their goals. 

We are always proud to celebrate the successes of our alumni; if you have a story to share, email us at advancement@las.ch!