Mohamed Tarmizi Ismail graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the State University of New York, USA in 1984.
He began his career in Bank Negara Malaysia and subsequently joined D&C Sakura Merchant Bankers Sdn Bhd. After a decade in financial services, Tarmizi joined Land & General Berhad as Group Head Business Development in 1995 prior to pursuing his own business interest. Currently, he is the Managing Partner of Tarmizi Tun Dr Ismail & Partners Sdn Bhd, a strategic human capital advisory and executive search firm which he established in 2002. At the time, he was also invited onto the Board of HwangDBS Investment Bank Bhd.