“Surrey gave me the courage to reinvent myself”: Dr Hasnita Hashim on coming home, transformative teaching and why your university friendships matter

“It’s still like a dream to me,” she said. “It’s been 40 years. It just feels like I never left.” 

For a woman who has addressed global forums and led major financial institutions across the UK, US, Middle East and Asia, it was surprising even to her that this moment triggered nerves. “I’ve done thousands of talks all over the world. But this time I was so nervous – maybe because it was so emotional to be back at the university where I did my first degree.” 

That degree, a BSc in Physics, was the starting point for a career that would see Hasnita pioneer online Islamic finance, lead investment groups managing billions, and champion Diversity and inclusion at the highest levels of international banking. Today, she is one of Surrey’s most distinguished alumni, recognised with an Honorary Doctorate of the University for her global impact.

A Surrey education that shaped a worldview

Hasnita’s story demonstrates something fundamental about Surrey: our students don’t simply study a subject – they learn how to think, question, and reinvent themselves.

“What I realised about doing a degree is that it’s about discipline and the application of ideas. It’s not so much about the subject itself,” she explained. “It’s training your mind to think critically, creatively. You can reinvent yourself to be anything you want. You are under no obligation to stay the same.” 

This mindset would eventually empower her to transition from nuclear physics into global finance – an unconventional leap she embraced with confidence shaped at Surrey.

“Surrey helped shape my early thinking, not just academically but in how I saw the world and my place in it. It gave me such a strong start.”