About – Asif U Ahmed

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2024 in Impact: Numbers That Tell a Story

Some journeys begin with a plan. Others begin with a moment that breaks you open—and rebuilds you completely. Mine has been both. For over 25 years, my work has spanned classrooms and boardrooms, refugee camps and rural markets, across 25+ countries and four continents. From advising multinational corporations and global foundations to mentoring young entrepreneurs and teaching future leaders, every experience has deepened my belief that transformation happens when purpose meets clarity.

As a strategic planner, educator, and development professional, I’ve led initiatives that connect the power of ideas with the precision of systems—helping organizations design strategies that are inclusive, data-driven, and future-ready. My journey has taken me from building social enterprises and women’s empowerment programs in rural Bangladesh to designing outcome-based curricula and leadership programs for universities. At the heart of it all is a single thread: a desire to connect stories with strategy, purpose with impact, and people with possibilities.

A Journey of Transformation

Currently based at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) as Assistant Professor and Director of the Graduate Business Program, the focus is on reimagining higher education through innovative curricula, new specializations, and programs that prepare students not just for the workplace, but for the world.

But this chapter began after a long and successful career in international development. Years of designing programs with CARE, Oxfam, USAID, SNV, and Chevron led to impact—but also exhaustion.

Then came April 25, 2015: five nights spent stranded on a mountaintop in Barabise during the Nepal earthquake. The devastation witnessed there shifted everything. It was time to start over—from the bottom—and step into academia with renewed purpose.

Roots and Values

Much of this journey is rooted in early life growing up in a large joint family, learning empathy through experience, and shaping values through a schooling that encouraged curiosity.

Working globally taught the importance of cultural sensitivity; being a parent to two teenagers continues to teach the rest.

Today, the work blends teaching, consulting, research, and storytelling. Blogs, workshops, and strategic plans may take different forms, but they are all part of the same mission: to build bridges, spark insight, and leave the world a little more thoughtful than before.

Professional Highlights

2023–Present

Director, Graduate Business Program, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). Led a comprehensive initiative to make higher education—particularly MBA programs—more relevant in the post-pandemic era. Spearheaded the introduction of hybrid learning, the digital transformation roadmap for the MBA program, and the strategic plan to prepare MBA graduates as future-ready leaders for the next phase of institutional growth.

Under my leadership, the ULAB MBA program achieved a historic milestone—becoming the only MBA program in Bangladesh with a higher number of female students enrolling and graduating than any other business school in the country.

2019–2023

Acting Director, EMK Center (a U.S. Embassy–ULAB partnership). In addition to my role at ULAB, I had the privilege of leading the Edward M. Kennedy (EMK) Center, one of the U.S. State Department’s priority American Spaces dedicated to advancing public diplomacy through youth engagement in art and culture, STEM education, EducationUSA, and entrepreneurship programs.

From 2018 to 2023, the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) co-managed the Center with the American Center, U.S. Embassy Dhaka. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I guided the EMK team to become the first in Bangladesh to transition fully to virtual programming, delivering one of the most diverse and widely attended online initiatives across the global American Spaces network.

2015–2019

Assistant Professor, School of Business, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). Worked under the leadership of the vice chancellor to drive innovation in teaching and learning within the business school and introduce policies that influenced change in Bangladesh’s higher education ecosystem.

I developed the country’s first Student Maternity and Paternity Policy, a pioneering initiative among all Bangladeshi universities, which was recognized as a finalist for the UN Women Asia-Pacific Award in 2018.

Additionally, I launched the MBA Excellence Program — an exclusive, high-impact initiative designed for a select group of outstanding students to help them grow not only as business professionals but also as socially conscious and ethical leaders.

2024-2025

As Strategic Investment Advisor at Chevron Bangladesh, I led the launch of the Bangladesh Partnership Initiative (BPI) — a multimillion-dollar community development program aimed at improving livelihoods in the Sylhet region, where Chevron’s oil and gas operations are based. I facilitated the design of the program action plan, developed the monitoring and evaluation framework, and guided the selection of implementing partners to ensure long-term, sustainable impact for communities surrounding Chevron’s exploration sites.

2006–2013

Served in senior leadership roles at CARE International in Bangladesh, first as Director of Economic Empowerment and later as Director of Private Sector Engagement. Established CARE’s first and largest Private Sector Engagement Office among all country programs, pioneering strategic partnerships with global corporations including Walmart, Danone, Hermès, Telenor, and Tchibo—setting a benchmark for cross-sector collaboration and sustainable business engagement within the CARE network

1999–2005

Program Director, USAID-JOBS Project (SME development and policy reform) implemented by the IRIS Center at the University of Maryland. Led the SME Development Program, collaborating with the Government of Bangladesh and local entrepreneurs to expand export markets for leather footwear, home textiles, and handicrafts across South Africa, Australia, Japan, Europe, and the USA.Later, as Program Director, I oversaw nationwide initiatives focused on capacity development and market expansion for Bangladesh’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—driving sustainable growth, competitiveness, and global market integrati.

Recent Awards and Recognition

Educator

From classrooms to communities, boardrooms to backstreets—no issue exists in isolation. These writings explore the intersections of leadership, identity, social change, and the future of work. Each piece connects ideas and experiences that shape how individuals, organizations, and societies evolve in an increasingly complex world.

2024: Vice Chancellor’s Excellence Award

Recognized for engagement in teaching and learning at ULAB

2022: Choose to Challenge recognition by World Vision Bangladesh

Recognized by World Vision Bangladesh on International Women’s Day for a sustained commitment to advancing women’s leadership and promoting gender equity—both within the workplace and across the wider community over the years.

Recent Publications

In the post-pandemic period, my research has expanded beyond economic development and business analysis to include public health, girls’ education, and women’s participation in the informal economy. My work is driven by qualitative inquiry, focusing on human stories rather than just data.

While many publications were developed through professional engagements, I also pursue a personal interest in Bangla literature, with published poetry and reflective essays.

Handbook for Women Entrepreneurs in the Chittagong Hill Tracts: Managing Entrepreneurial Growth

Published by Manusher Jonno Foundation under the Women’s Voice and Leadership program.

Breaking Barriers: Understanding and Addressing Constraints to Women’s Participation in the Formal Economy

Published by Oxfam Bangladesh under the Prosperous Women in Rural Bangladesh Project. This research report is based on extensive field studies across eight districts of Bangladesh. It explores the root causes behind the low participation of women in the formal economy, going beyond structural barriers to uncover deeper socio-economic and cultural constraints. The report not only identifies the underlying issues but also offers practical recommendations—both immediate and medium-term—to enhance women’s economic inclusion and empowerment.

Book Chapter: The future of sustainable business in Bangladesh: Are we ready for a radically new normal?

Post-COVID-19 Jobs and Skills in Bangladesh

Commissioned by the Government of Bangladesh, this research marked the country’s first comprehensive study on the impact of COVID-19 on the job market. I led the research team and authored the final report, which analyzed nationwide job losses up to 2024, examined emerging trends in the post-pandemic employment landscape, and identified the skills and sectors most likely to drive future job creation in Bangladesh’s evolving economy.

Consulting with Purpose. Designing for Impact.

Every organization has a mission. The challenge is in shaping the strategy, structure, and story to bring that mission to life. With over two decades of global experience in strategic planning, research, project design, and human development, this consulting practice helps mission-driven organizations navigate complexity, unlock innovation, and lead with clarity.

Whether you’re rethinking your fundraising model, designing a youth skills program, or building a future-ready learning ecosystem—this is where insight meets action.