Musa Malik ‘17, Emerging Global Leader

On his 18th birthday, Musa Malik NYU Shanghai ‘17, launched a charity organization for disadvantaged children in Pakistan -- one of his many efforts towards global tolerance and empathy.

Born and raised in Islamabad, Malik steered his expanding organization -- Pirangi -- towards protecting religious minorities in Pakistan. Now, as a staunch advocate of supporting minority groups, he is being recognized as an emerging global leader by the NYU Leadership Initiative.

Being a part of this program will allow Malik to “crystallize his vision and give him the tools needed to turn his value of empathy into a leadership purpose and approach.”

“I want to try and encourage people to think about the positives of engaging on the state of humanity across cultural, religious and ethnic divides,” he said.

Malik was selected as one of 18 students across NYU New York, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai to be part of this small cohort, and landed some spotlight in NYULeads.

As an NYU Leadership Fellow, he is also recognized as the founder of “Humans” a street portraiture mobile application that tells stories to bridge cultural divisions.

“Try and immerse yourself in the perspectives of others... begin to realize the shared aspects that make you one of them, and them one of you,” was Malik’s ultimate advice.

Read more about Musa Malik and his global vision of cross-cultural exchange and empathy.

The NYU Leadership Initiative is led by Vice Provost for Global Leadership Initiatives and former Assistant to President Barack Obama and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, Melody Barnes.