Granville Boys to greatness: The rise of Talal Yassine

Granville Boys High School experience

You attended Granville Boys High School from 1984 to 1990 and were crowned School Captain in Year 12. What are some of your fondest memories from your time here?

Did you know that I ended up at Granville Boys High School by chance? I attended Granville South Public School and lived in Guildford as the eldest of eight children. Although we were in the enrolment area for Granville South Creative and Performing Arts High School, my mother chose Granville Boys because my cousins were there. Consequently, all my primary school friends went to Granville South, and I was the only one from my class to attend Granville Boys.

I struggled in primary school, often placed in the bottom classes. High school was also tough, but by focusing on my growth, I thrived. With the help of my parents and teachers, I was in the top classes by Year 10. With no pressure, I progressed at my own pace, competing for Dux by Year 11 and becoming School Captain in Year 12.

What I cherish is the kindness and support from my teachers. I’ll start with Miss Patton. Miss Patton was my English teacher, and she made me develop a love for Shakespeare despite English being a second language for many of us. Her passion and engaging lessons brought the subject to life.

Another teacher that I won’t forget is Ms Pinson, my Mathematics teacher. She helped me overcome my fear of math with her reasonableness, consistency and encouragement. She guided me through my struggles, and I ended up excelling in Mathematics.

And someone that helped me thrive through my high school years was Ms Doyle, my History and Debating teacher. She instilled in me a love for history and rigorous study. Her challenging questions and debates before every lesson pushed me to think critically and deeply about the subject.

Granville Boys may have been a challenging environment at the time, but I thrived thanks to the support of those teachers, and I also received many opportunities. The authenticity prepared me well for the future.

Education Journey and Motivation

Like many Middle Eastern families at the time, yours migrated to Sydney to escape the war in Lebanon. You went on to become School Captain and continued your education at Macquarie University and the University of Sydney. This is such an inspirational journey.

Could you share your educational journey? What motivated you to excel academically—from your school days to university?

In Year 12, I didn't achieve the results I needed to get into the School of Law, which was devastating. My dream was to become a lawyer, so I had to find an alternative path. I enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts at The University of Sydney, achieved a distinction average, and then transferred to Arts/Law at Macquarie University. I’ll go into a bit more detail.

My journey isn't one of academic brilliance but of resilience. As the eldest of eight children from refugee-fled, working-class parents, I had to work hard to thrive. Despite failing to get into Law initially, I found another way. Many students today at Granville Boys have the intellectual capacity to thrive, especially in sciences, and this is incredible, but I didn't have that growing up.

I didn't come from wealth or privilege, nor was I naturally bright. Even though I did well in my later school years, I still failed to achieve my initial goal, which was devastating. Nor did I know any professionals who could guide me, but my parents always reassured me.

So I enrolled in The University of Sydney for a Bachelor of Arts, excelled, and transferred to Macquarie University for Bachelor of Arts / Laws, graduating in 1997. I later returned to Sydney University for a Master of Laws.

In the end, it was all about resilience - never giving up and constantly working towards my goals.

Career path and Salaam

Today, you are a successful businessman and the Managing Director of Salaam. Could you discuss your career path? Was this always your desired trajectory, and are you where you aimed to be?

There is a misconception about always knowing where you want to go and what you want to be. I had no idea what my skill set was, but I wanted to be a lawyer. I practiced law for 10 years, but then I changed my mind. In saying that, It's about the journey and the values you hold. As long as you have an aim and live that journey, you're on the right path.

At university, I discovered student politics and the corporate world in Australia. I learned how people in these fields live and saw it as an opportunity to grow and learn.

I was never the best lawyer, but I found my passion in building businesses and institutions for the marginalised Australian Muslim community. My business, Salaam, has since been very successful, though there have been many failures along the way.

Coming from refugee-fled, working-class parents where English was a second language, my journey may have been steeper, but, in the end, it was the same as everyone else's. Others may have had a head start, but I wasn't always sure of my direction—whether to be a lawyer, study marketing, or work at Granville Boys.

Success is important, and you should strive to be ambitious and successful. But what truly carries you through is resilience, a sense of purpose and the support of others.

What is the one thing you need to have as a person to carry you through (to where you want to be)?

I believe it's a combination of belief, self-confidence and grit. Dr. Angela Duckworth, in her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance explains this well. Her TEDx talk is also worth watching.

Money and success come and go, but purpose and grit are constant. Over time, these are what you need to get through.

Never see yourself as a victim. Life may seem unfair, but thinking like a victim means you've lost. My journey includes both failures and successes, like any successful person. Success is often built on many failures.

Future goals and advice for students

What are some future goals for Talal Yassine and what would you like to achieve next?

At 52 my goal is to serve my community, both the Australian and the Muslim community, as they are one to me.

I feel proud and privileged to be assisting the school that shaped me, and my goal is to continue building the Salaam Group. We're focusing on launching products that will empower, serve and strengthen the Muslim community and the community of Western Sydney.

What advice would you offer to current and future students who come from families that have recently migrated to Australia?

The key is to have an aim. You don't need to decide right now what you want to do for the rest of your life. For example, if you like sciences but aren't sure whether to become a doctor, nurse or allied health professional, start with a Bachelor of Medical Science. Don't pursue something unrelated to your interests.

There's a song called "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus that emphasises the importance of the journey over the destination. The lyrics remind us that it's about the climb, not the peak.

If your journey lacks purpose and authenticity, you'll end up unhappy, even if you achieve your goals. For instance, my dream car was a Ferrari. I worked hard and eventually bought one. The joy came from earning it, not just owning it. If I were given more Ferraris, it wouldn't make me happier.

This shows that the journey, with its purpose and responsibility, is what truly matters. It builds grit and keeps you motivated.

To find out more about Talal Yassine

• Talal Yassine official website
• Talal Yassine on Wikipedia
• Professor Talal Yassine AM - LinkedIn profile
• Talal Yassine - Bing videos
• Salaam - official website