Zee Faridi

Entrepreneur | Real Estate

​My main goal in life is to have a really positive impact in the world. Young kids need to have positive role models, especially those who come from underprivileged backgrounds. I want to make songs and do charity work that can change lives for the better.​

My best memories from my time at Leeds Trinity

Funnily enough, I wasn't really known for my rapping in my student days. I was a pretty dedicated student who did my work and then just came back home. My best memories are actually being in the library until midnight and being able to meet other students during those late nights from diverse backgrounds.

How Leeds Trinity has helped me

Being at Leeds Trinity helped me very much as a person. One of the main things I took away was the ability to become very focused. Having deadlines to meet and being able to stick to various routines is extremely useful in my busy everyday life today.

I also have positive memories of the lecturers from Leeds Trinity. Phil McDonald, I remember, always talked a great deal of sense!

My determination to help others

This all stems from my mother! I remember as a kid my mum really gave back to as many people as possible. As a family we didn't have much but my mother was always extremely (if not over) generous with as many people as possible. I have definitely followed in her footsteps and I'm very proud to do so.

Projects to support my community in Huddersfield

One of the initiatives I started is called 'Everybody Eats'. I set up stalls during the summer in 2017, during Ramadan. These stalls, taking place on a Friday, were for everyone, from any background, they could come along and eat for free as well as collect essential accessories to make their lives easier. A lot of restaurants supported this project and we were able to feed many people.

I also have my own charity which is called the Helping Hand Foundation which was established in 2015. Every winter I gather as much food and useful accessories as possible to give out to people on the streets. I was proud to be out to support many people in Leeds, and Bradford as well as Huddersfield. This was so successful that by December 2017 it had grown bigger than we ever imagined. So many people were prepared to help!

How I think people in Huddersfield would describe me in three words

Positive, popular and respected.

My dream

My main goal in life is to have a really positive impact in the world. Young kids need to have positive role models, especially those who come from underprivileged backgrounds. I want to make songs and do charity work that can change lives for the better.

Forging a career in property

I used the experience and skills I learnt at Leeds Trinity to broaden my horizons and consider other options which led to me joining Ezmuve Estate Agents as Business Director. 

I became Business Director in January 2022 and this represented a big risk for me. Although I had been investing in property since 2020, I had never worked in the estate agents’ side of things. The first few months were a challenge and my hunger for success saw me work evenings and weekends to make my mark.

Ezmuve Estate Agents was awarded the Most People Focused Agents for 2022 at the recent Northern Enterprise Awards 2022, which recognise the companies and teams who are excelling and innovating within their market.

One piece of advice I have for current students at Leeds Trinity

You can do anything, if you believe in yourself.