Alen Hadzic
Born on November 15, 1991, in Paterson, NJ, USA, Alen Hadzic (Alen Hadžić) is a graduate of the Ivy League's Columbia University, New York, NY, where he majored in economics and business. He further enriched his academic credentials with a Master's in Business degree from the prestigious Vlerick International Business School in Belgium. In the business world, Alen stands out as the CEO and Founder of both Clinical Trial Scan and Take the Lead Advertising. Beyond the corporate arena, Alen's talents extend to the world of sports. He is a distinguished American épée fencer, celebrated as a severalfold North American Champion. At the peak of his fencing career, he represented the United States in the Summer 2021 Tokyo Olympics as an Olympian.
Vlerick Business School
Master's Degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
2016 - 2017
Member, Strategy Consulting Club
Highlight: In 2015, the Vlerick MBA Program was distinguished in the top 100 MBA Programs by the Financial Times, and also recognized among the top 10 for Entrepreneurship globally.
Columbia University
B.A. in Economics
2010 - 2015
Varsity Fencing
Captain of the Men’s Varsity Fencing Team
Winter Academic All-Ivy 2011-2012 (for athletes with a GPA of 3.0 or higher)
Dean’s List, Spring 2015
Relevant Coursework: Calculus, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Statistics, Econometrics, Public Economics, Financial Economics, Chemistry, Psychology, Public Policy & the Healthcare Industry, Environmental Economics.
Montclair High School
2006 - 2010
Graduated with Honors
AP Scholar Award, 2009
Entrepreneur & Independent Business Consultant specializing in:
- Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
- Private Equity
- Healthcare: Insurance & Pharma
- Medical Devices
- Financial Services
- Real Estate
- E-commerce
WORK EXPERIENCE
The New England Consulting Group & Gotham Consulting
Consultant
Provided consulting services to two eminent firms:
The New England Consulting Group, a top-tier Marketing Management Consulting firm in the U.S.
Gotham Consulting, a leading private equity advisory firm.
AH Strategy Group
Consultant
2017 – 2018
Take the Lead, Inc
CEO & Founder
2018 – present
Clinical Trial Scan™ Advertising
CEO
2023
Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Alen Hadzic is the son of Dr. Admir Hadzic and Gorica Lalic, PhD. His early years were spent in the culturally rich and affluent community of Montclair, NJ, where he was a student at Montclair High. Later, New York City became his home during his academic journey at Columbia University, before relocating to West Orange, New Jersey. With deep Yugoslavian roots, Alen boasts fluency in English, Italian, Spanish, and the South Slavic languages: Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian.
Family Background:
Dr.Admir Hadzic: Alen’s father grew up in the former Yugoslavia, relocating to the United States in 1989 to pursue a career in medicine and academics. A board-certified internist and anesthesiologist, he served as a Professor of Anesthesiology at Columbia University, New York. His accolades include honorary professorships at several esteemed European universities. Prof. Admir Hadzic has further solidified his reputation in the medical community through his gold-standard medical textbooks, making him a globally recognized figure in medical education.
Prof. Gorica Lalic-Hadzic: Alen’s mother, originally from Montenegro, is a distinguished scholar with a PhD in Literature from CUNY (City University of New York). She currently dedicates her time to research and teaching in Morristown, New Jersey.
The Hadzic family journey, while filled with love and support, was also marked by a profound loss. The untimely passing of Dennis Hadzic, Alen’s younger brother, cast a heavy shadow over the family. At the time of Dennis’ passing, Alen was only 7 years old. Dealing with the immense grief from this loss was challenging for everyone. Such profound sorrow has a way of either pulling families together or, in some cases, driving them apart. For Alen’s parents, the immense grief over their child’s loss became a dividing force. Their individual coping mechanisms and struggles to navigate this immense pain eventually led to their separation when Alen was 12 years old.
As life has its unique way of moving forward, new chapters begin to unfold. A few years after the separation, Alen’s father found love and companionship again, this time with a Belgian woman named Dr. Catherine Vandepitte. This union not only brought happiness back into his father’s life but also happily expanded Alen’s immediate family circle. Through his father’s second marriage, Alen gained three step-siblings: Carolina, aged 5; Raphael, aged 7; and Adriana, aged 9. This newly blended family found their nest in the picturesque city of Leuven, Belgium, where they currently reside.
Alen Hadzic started his advanced sports career back in 2013, when he became a member of the US senior world tour team. He competed in numerous tournaments, showcasing his skills and passion for the sport.
Throughout his career, he has participated in numerous international competitions, including the Pan American Games, the World Fencing Championships, and the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021. In 2021, Alen Hadzic made headlines in the United States after winning the gold medal at the North American Cup. His victory brought him to the forefront of the fencing world, solidifying his status as one of the top fencers in North America.
Early Sports (Fencing) Achievements
2011-12 Highlights:
- Runner-up position at the 2012 NCAA Championships in men’s epee, earning First Team All-America honors
- Second place at the National Fencing Championships in men’s epee
- Academic All-Ivy League member
2010-11 Highlights:
- All-American during the freshman season in college.
- First Team All-Ivy League recognition.
- Second place at the Milwaukee Junior North American Cup
Montclair High School Achievements:
- Four-year Letterwinner and served as Team Captain during the senior year.
- Two-time State Champion (2009, 2010)
- Three-time Epee District Champion (2008, 2009, 2010).
Other early-carrier Noteworthy Achievements:
- Member of the United States Junior National Team
- Bronze medal at the Montréal World Cup
- Champion at the 2010 Junior Olympics in Memphis.
- Third place at the 2009 Junior Summer Nationals in Texas.
Sports
Fencing: Alen has had an illustrious career in fencing, with accolades including two state championships and three regional titles. Interestingly, fencing wasn’t always his first choice. Back in high school, it was the drummer of his high school band who introduced him to the world of fencing by encouraging him to join the school squad. This initial exposure sparked a passion that would later evolve into a professional pursuit and culminate in his being a United States epee fencing Olympian at the 2021 Summar Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Musical Pursuits During the COVID-19 pandemic
Alen showcased his musical prowess by single-handedly setting up a recording studio in his West Orange, New Jersey home. Channeling the atmosphere of those uncertain times, he delved deep into the heavy-metal genre and birthed an entire album titled Social Warfare {Social Warfare – Apple Music}. A testament to his multifaceted talents, Alen was the sole architect behind the project, penning all the lyrics, playing all instruments, and lending his voice for vocals. He then collaborated with several musicians, music producers and mastering engineers to release his heart-felt album, Social Isolation.
Though he no longer performs professionally, Alen’s passion for music remains undiminished. He skillfully balances his time, toggling between business and sports commitments while ensuring he always has moments reserved for musical practice.
Languages: Alen has a passion in literature and languages. He is multilingual and proficient in English, Italian, Spanish, and Slavic group of languages, Serbian, Slovenian, Macedonian and Croatian.
Music & Poetry: For over a decade, Alen has expressed his artistic side through writing poetry and playing the guitar. The world of melodies and verses has been a consistent source of joy and introspection.
