I’m Laela, the founder of Hangout Co. I’m currently completing a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource Management, which covers areas such as labour law, business management, workplace dynamics, psychology, and training and development. While the degree spans multiple disciplines, I’m particularly drawn to the psychology-focused aspects of my studies, especially how people think, interact, and respond within different environments. I’ve worked in recruitment and across a range of different fields, and I’ve completed various courses that reflect both professional development and personal curiosity. More recently, I’ve begun experimenting with experience and game-based design as a way to explore engagement, participation, and connection in more playful, interactive ways. 

 

Drawing from both my studies and my experience, I developed Hangout Co.’s student programme to help expose young people to the realities of work, a variety of career paths available, and to fill the transitioning gap between teenage student and young adult entering the real world. The programme focuses on helping learners better understand how professional environments function, while developing practical skills such as communication, self-awareness, and navigating real-world expectations.

 

Hangout Co. reflects the way I think and work. I’m naturally curious, a little quirky, and rarely interested in doing things the standard way. Rather than narrowing that curiosity, Hangout Co. acts as a creative container for thoughtful experimentation, allowing different formats, themes, and experiences to coexist. While the work may take many forms, it’s always guided by the same core intention: to create structured, human-centred experiences that offer value, insight, and wholesome fun.