Commencement Speaker
Firas Ahmad ’95 - Robinhood of Tanzania - Emerging Markets Innovator, Fintech, Group CEO AzamPay/ Sarafu
Firas Ahmad ’95
After graduating from Flint Hill in 1995, Firas attended Georgetown University where he pursued a degree in international economics and finance and went on to graduate study at Harvard Kennedy School where he focused on international development. He has over 20 years of executive and strategic experience in startups and expanding high-growth companies in the areas of fintech, financial services, energy, technology, media & telecommunications in emerging markets.
In 2016 Firas co-founded Grassroots Energy, which has established partnerships with Tata Power and Shell Ventures and is positioned to become an important contributor in the waste-to-energy space in South Asia. At the same time around 2016, Firas started traveling to East Africa and began a series of consulting assignments that ultimately led to the establishment of Azampay, Azampesa and Sarafu, a set of e-commerce companies that seek to expand the usage of digital payments across the East Africa region.
Firas lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife Amina of 24 years and their three children, Sulayman, Yousuf, and Zakariya.
Firas Ahmad ’95
After graduating from Flint Hill in 1995, Firas attended Georgetown University where he pursued a degree in international economics and finance and went on to graduate study at Harvard Kennedy School where he focused on international development. He has over 20 years of executive and strategic experience in startups and expanding high-growth companies in the areas of fintech, financial services, energy, technology, media & telecommunications in emerging markets.
In 2016 Firas co-founded Grassroots Energy, which has established partnerships with Tata Power and Shell Ventures and is positioned to become an important contributor in the waste-to-energy space in South Asia. At the same time around 2016, Firas started traveling to East Africa and began a series of consulting assignments that ultimately led to the establishment of Azampay, Azampesa and Sarafu, a set of e-commerce companies that seek to expand the usage of digital payments across the East Africa region.
Firas lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife Amina of 24 years and their three children, Sulayman, Yousuf, and Zakariya.
Event Schedule
Friday, June 6, 2025
- 10:00 a.m.
Seniors arrive - 11:15 a.m.
Gym opens to families and guests - 11:55 a.m.
All guests seated - 12:00 p.m.
Ceremony begins
*Tickets are not required and there is no restriction on the number of guests per student.
Commencement will be live streamed on June 6
Parking Information
Seniors
Seniors should park in the Peterson Middle School parking lot, entering via Oakton Road. If you are dropping your senior off for rehearsal, please drop them off in the Upper School circle.
Families and Guests
All guests should park in the Upper School parking lots located at 3320 Jermantown Road, Oakton, VA. Parking lot attendants will be available to assist guests.
Guests with Special Needs
Guests with a handicapped parking permit may park in a reserved area of the Upper School parking lot. Parking lot attendants will be available to direct guests to this reserved area. Golf cart shuttles will be available for any guest or party who needs assistance getting to the ceremony site. No advance parking reservations are required nor being taken. There will be a reserved space for guests needing wheelchair seating in the last two rows of floor seating.