Lawan Hawizy

Lawan Hawizy spent most of his life feeling like he didn’t belong. A Kurdish kid growing up across cultures, moving countries, and constantly adapting, he learned early how to fit in without ever fully feeling seen. From engineering school at 16 to corporate success across continents, his life looked impressive on paper—but something essential was missing beneath the surface. That changed in a moment that almost felt accidental. A chance meeting in a Phoenix bar turned into an unexpected creative partnership, and for the first time, Lawan found himself pulled into something he couldn’t ignore. Writing. Not as a hobby. Not as an experiment. But as something that made him lose track of time, feel deeply fulfilled, and rethink how he wanted to spend his life. What unfolds in this conversation is a deeper realization: many people don’t avoid risk—they just don’t recognize the risks they’ve already taken. Lawan’s life is built on bold moves—countries, careers, reinventions—but he never labeled himself as a risk taker. It wasn’t until he reframed those decisions through passion and curiosity that the pattern became clear. The shift wasn’t about becoming someone new. It was about seeing himself accurately for the first time. At its core, this conversation is about identity. About how feeling like an outsider can quietly shape your decisions for decades—and how a single mindset shift can unlock a version of yourself that was always there, waiting.

Profile mirrored from extraordinary.network/leaders/lawan-hawizy