As Foundation for Shared Impact (FSI)’s Program Associate, Juneed Ahmed helps run our youth programs and community business support initiatives. Working with people coming from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds, Juneed says he is happy to be working at an organization helping under-resourced individuals reach their potential by enabling access to opportunities and resources.
Read our interview with Juneed to find out why he thinks FSI’s company culture is one of the best parts of the job, why he has not felt out of place for a single day, and what motivates him to do his part well as a Program Associate.
When and why did you join FSI?
I joined FSI in June 2026. I have always wanted to work within and for the diverse communities in Hong Kong that have shaped me as a person. Getting to support grassroots businesses alongside youth-focused work, something I had already experienced and found rewarding earlier in my career, felt like a great fit for my personality and values. Three months in, I’m happy to say I feel like I made the right call.
What are your role and responsibilities?
As a Program Associate, I help run FSI’s youth programs and community business programs. On the youth side, that involves running workshops and outreach sessions to help young people in Hong Kong develop themselves holistically. Another big part of my work is our Community Business Support Program, where I work with different people, from mentors and volunteers to the business owners themselves, to support grassroots businesses around the city.
How would you describe FSI as an organization? Do FSI’s vision and mission align with your personal values? If yes, in what ways?
In one word, dynamic. I get to work on a wide range of programs, projects, and initiatives, with people from diverse backgrounds, not just culturally but also professionally, all working together to create tangible, positive impact.
FSI’s vision of creating a future where people have greater access to the resources and opportunities they need to reach their full potential resonates strongly with me. Oftentimes, the talent, potential, and capabilities of people can go unrealized due to a lack of access to opportunities, and I’m grateful that I get to work for an organization that’s closing that gap.
Were there any memorable moments (e.g., in the work you do, the time spent with your colleagues, learning, inspiration etc.)?
Some of my most memorable moments have come from outreach sessions to community businesses. Learning about the challenges business owners face, and hearing their stories of overcoming them in person, in the place of business they have built from the ground up, is riveting. In a world that at times feels like it’s becoming overwhelmingly digital, seeing people who aren’t the most “tech-savvy” still surviving and thriving makes me wonder what they can accomplish if the playing field is leveled with greater access to knowledge, resources, and opportunities.
I have also felt really encouraged meeting business owners FSI has worked with in the past, and seeing the difference it has made for them. It motivates me to do my part well, contribute where I can, and hopefully become a part of people’s success stories.
How do you find your work and the company culture at FSI so far?
Love it. I have gotten to work across the youth programs and the community business programs, so I get to experience and learn from two major ends of FSI’s work. The company culture has been one of the best parts of the job. Everyone gets to be themselves, and people feel free to speak their minds. Ideas are welcomed and challenged as they should be, objectively and on their merits. I have not felt out of place for a single day, which says a lot about the environment the people at FSI have created.
Tell us a bit more about yourself – your hobbies, self-care routine, passion etc.?
Hobbies: I have developed a real liking for running, and I suppose in a way it has become my self-care routine. Through it I get to practice self-discipline, gain mental clarity, and post-run endorphins feel pretty good 🙂 Passion-wise, I don’t know if I have a single, defining passion. I enjoy doing different things, and always try to pour myself into whatever it is that I’m engaged in.
In your opinion, what is needed to build a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient society? Alternatively, what is the kind of change you want to see in Hong Kong? How does your and FSI’s work contribute to that change?
Equal access to opportunities is the most important thing in my opinion. The circumstances a person is born into shouldn’t be the deciding factor in how far they can go and how much of their potential they realize.
On the youth side, I get to help connect young people to meaningful experiences, like working with entrepreneurs who have built something from nothing and supporting community businesses through our various initiatives.
On the community business side, we support grassroots business owners, many of whom are from ethnically diverse communities, by helping build their capacity and giving them the visibility and resources to compete on a more even footing.
What is the best thing about being Juneed Ahmed right now?
Choosing one thing’s tough. I’m healthy and able to be physically active, and so are my family and friends. I find myself in a rewarding occupation that I can develop myself in. I’m exercising intentionality in my life, I have a good sense of direction, and I’m surrounded by people I can learn from.
