Interview with Dr. Riyaz Rashid

Interview with Dr. Riyaz Rashid 

1. Which year did you join KTJ, and when did you graduate from KTJ?  

Joined KTJ in 1991 (pioneer batch for SPM) and graduated in 1994.

2. Which house were you in?      

Imran House.  

3. What do you remember most about KTJ? 

The entire boarding school experience instilled a strong sense of self-discipline and responsibility, which people tend to carry with them into adult life. The teachers were all highly dedicated and would go all out to ensure we excel in our endeavours. And of course, not forgetting lifelong friendships and lasting bonds with peers, creating a unique sense of community. 

4. Tell us about your educational journey after KTJ? 

After KTJ, I furthered my studies at Trinity College, University of Cambridge (UK) to pursue a 4-year undergraduate course in Electrical Engineering and Information Sciences. Thereafter, I stayed on at the University of Cambridge to do my PhD in Semiconductor Physics and subsequently took on a research fellowship at the Department of Engineering for a couple more years.  

5. If you had to go back and relive your high school (KTJ) experience all over again, what would you change and why? 

Probably not much at all, the entire boarding school experience was amazing, and there was so much to offer in terms of academics and extra-curricular activities, so I wish I could have indulged in more of it while at school. 

6. What do you do now (work)? 

At present, I’m the Managing Director of SSI Schaefer (Asia-Pacific), a German based leading global solution provider for all areas of intralogistics, plastics manufacturing for storage and sustainable recycling management.   

7. What did you learn that is most applicable (proper, most vital) to your current position? 

One of the most applicable things I learned in school was how to think critically and break down complex situations. Especially true for mathematics and applied sciences, where we often had to analyse problems and propose logical, data-backed solutions. In my current role as MD, I rely on that same structured thinking to evaluate customer needs, prioritize tasks and make decisions under uncertainty. That training gave me a strong foundation, not just analysing problems, but in staying calm and methodical when things get messy.   

8. Who should we feature next in our KTJ Community? 

Sumitha Soorian