Each winter, a select group of applicants is introduced to the program through Immersion Weekend, which offers an opportunity to preview life as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar. The participants enjoy micro-versions of KHS’s leadership curriculum, connect with their fellow finalists and meet program staff and current scholars. That’s also when they undergo the interview process and tour Denning House, home of the KHS program. Azimi said the weekend was transformative.

“I remember that I felt very warm and very welcomed,” he said. “I knew from Immersion Weekend that this is a place where you can have big aspirations and create a plan to achieve them.”

Once committed to the program, scholars have access to personal and professional development opportunities. Past speakers, for instance, have included Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff; former president of Chile Michelle Bachelet; artist and MacArthur Award winner Trevor Paglen; CNN host Fareed Zakaria; documentary filmmaker Ken Burns; former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki; former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck; former U.S. secretaries of defense William Perry and James Mattis; actress, comedian, author and entrepreneur Karith Foster; and former astronaut Ellen Ochoa. Stanford faculty that visited with scholars include Stanford Law School Dean Jenny Martinez; professor of computer science and codirector of HAI Fei Fei Li; professor of psychology Carol Dweck; and professor of history Caroline Winterer.

Building relationships is a major benefit of the program. Azimi, who grew up in the former Soviet Union, was surprised when he found a mentor in political scientist Michael McFaul, former ambassador to Russia and director of the Freeman Spogli Institute.

“He and I have met every quarter – sometimes a couple times each quarter – to talk about politics in Central Asia,” Azimi said.  McFaul has helped him brainstorm ideas for improving TajRupt: “This year we’re getting a summer intern from Stanford thanks to the discussions I’ve had with the ambassador.”

Azimi said the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program offers an introspective experience that pushes students to dig deep within themselves to improve how they approach their work and contribute to their fields. To anyone thinking about applying, Azimi urges them to be prepared to test preconceived notions they might have about leadership.

“Be ready to challenge yourself and in the process gain an insight that might improve you as a person and as a leader,” he said.

Azimi said the most impactful outcome of his journey as a Knight-Hennessy scholar has been developing and launching tajrupt.ai, the first machine learning lab in the Central Asian region. He has partnered with fellow Knight-Hennessy scholar Aadith Moorthy – a PhD candidate in materials science and engineering –to build an interdisciplinary machine learning curriculum that is currently being piloted in Tajikistan.

After graduating in June, Azimi will briefly return to Harvard for the final semester of his MPA. He then plans to return to Silicon Valley for a few years to build a for-profit venture while continuing to develop his organizational and leadership skills. He then intends to return to Tajikistan to further develop TajRupt and improve outcomes for the country’s youth.

What he’ll remember most about the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program is the supportive environment the program cultivates and the relationships – personal and professional – it enables for its scholars.

“You can come here and talk to your fellow scholars and get support and feel like you’re not alone in this,” he said. “And that feeling, I think, will be with me forever.”