From Newspaper Delivery to Disney: The Remarkable Journey of Zahid Sohel
Zahid Sohel Didn’t Plan to Stay But Life Had Bigger Plans. When Zahid Sohel boarded a flight from Dhaka to Stockholm in 2005 with a one-way ticket and a heart full of hope, he had no idea what the future held. He didn’t have much money. He didn’t even know how to cook a proper meal. What he did have was determination and a quiet promise to himself that he would make something of this opportunity.
Fast forward to today is that Zahid is a Lead Software Engineer at Disney Plus and it is one of the world’s most popular streaming platforms. From delivering newspapers on snowy Swedish mornings to building world-class digital experiences in New York, his journey is a living testament to resilience, vision, and the long road in between.
The Role at Disney Plus
Zahid Sohel currently leads a team that enhances the user experience at Disney Plus. Their tasks include content recommendation tailored to users, optimizing which content a user can watch without buffering, fraud detection (such as preventing logins from more than three devices on a single account), and implementing smart algorithms that provide personalized experiences. “In simple terms,” Zahid says, “our team makes sure you see the right content at the right time with the least hassle.”
The AIUB Chapter
Zahid graduated from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the American International University Bangladesh (AIUB) in 2002, earning the prestigious President’s Gold Medal. He then taught at the university until 2005.
Later that year, he received a full scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in Distributed Systems at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. He landed a job even before completing his degree. Over the next 17 years, Zahid worked at several renowned companies in Sweden, including Qlik, Sony Mobile, and IKEA.
The Call of Family
“Everything was fine in Sweden,” Zahid reflects, “but I missed my family my parents, siblings.” Eventually, when his entire family settled in the U.S., he made the decision to move as well, along with his wife and three children.
He got the job at Disney after going through seven rounds of interviews. Initially hired in a different department, Zahid later transitioned to the division where he now leads as a software engineer.
On Studying at a Private University
Zahid addressed a common misconception about private universities is that
“People often think that students who don’t get into public universities, or those who study with their father’s money for show, end up in private universities. I actually had the opportunity to study at a public university outside Dhaka, but I didn’t like the subject. At AIUB, I found the subject I was passionate about. And I studied there with my mother’s money, not by showing off.”
The Shift from Business to Tech
Initially, Zahid enrolled in a BBA program. But after a year, he realized it wasn’t for him. Computer Science was relatively new and full of research opportunities, so he switched.
He expressed special gratitude to Mashiur Rahman, the current Dean of AIUB’s Computer Science department, who selected him as a Teaching Assistant (TA). That role helped launch Zahid’s academic and professional journey.
Learning Without a Computer of His Own
Zahid didn’t even have a personal computer during his first two and a half years at university. He used his friend’s computer late at night after classes and tutoring jobs. Only when his friend went to sleep would Zahid get to practice programming and finish assignments. Eventually, he bought his first computer in the third year. That purchase led to a small business venture he and some friends began importing parts and assembling computers for resale.
Zahid handled the technical side, and they sold nearly 100 units before the business wrapped up as he transitioned into teaching. When asked if the business made a profit, Zahid laughs, “Not really because the earnings were split among friends! But it gave us a sense of independence.”
The Spirit of Entrepreneurship
Zahid laughs when asked if the business brought profits and he said that “Well, any profit was split between friends! But yes, it gave me a sense of financial stability.” More importantly, the experience taught him how to think like an entrepreneur and lead a team. “That’s where I began dreaming bigger.”
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A Tech Pioneer from the Start
With his classmate Khaled, Zahid built an early version of a smart home system software that could turn lights, fans, air conditioners, TVs, and stoves on and off remotely.
“Now it might sound trivial,” he says, “but back in 2000, that was a big deal.” In 2002, he also began developing software to allow AIUB’s campuses to communicate via internet telephony without using PBX systems. He even ordered a book on telephone APIs from Amazon, paid for by the father of one of his students, swimmer Mosharraf Hossain Khan.
“That same technology was later developed by Cisco! I couldn’t finish my project, though, because I got the scholarship to study in Sweden.”
A One-Way Ticket That Changed Everything
“I only bought a one-way ticket in 2005,” Zahid shares. “I couldn’t afford a return ticket. If I had, I might’ve come back home without completing my master’s degree.” It wasn’t an easy start. “I’d never lived without my mother before, never cooked, never even fried an egg. I had to either wash my own clothes or wear dirty ones, cook or go hungry.”
For months, he stared blankly at the sky, homesick and overwhelmed. Slowly, he learned. He’d call his mom for recipes—there was no YouTube back then. He’d cook one large meal and stretch it across weeks. His academic performance started improving. Eventually, he took a part-time job delivering newspapers door-to-door. After nearly 10 months, he landed his first full-time job in tech.
He saved up for a plane ticket, flew home to Bangladesh, and got married. In 2006, he returned to Sweden with his wife, Farhana Kabir, who had also studied CSE and had better academic results than him. All three of their children were born in Sweden.
A Family of High Standards
Zahid believes that the desire to do everything with excellence comes from his mother. “Whatever we do, we try to do it well—pouring in our best effort so the outcome stands out.” Throughout his career, he has only ever changed jobs for better opportunities.
A Tribute to His Partner
Zahid acknowledges that he wouldn’t have made it this far without the support of his wife. “She sacrificed a lot in her personal and professional life to support me,” he says. “She deserves special gratitude.”
From late-night programming sessions at a friend’s house in Dhaka to leading software innovations at Disney Plus in New York Zahid Sohel’s story is one of resilience, humility and determination. It’s a reminder that no struggle is ever in vain and no beginning too humble.
