Ajaz Ahmed is the founder of AKQA, the ideas and innovation company, which he started at age 21.

In addition to his AKQA Group, Ajaz is a Trustee on the charitable boards of:

  • Mission 44 founded by Sir Lewis Hamilton: empowering young people from underserved groups to succeed.

  • Elton John AIDS Foundation founded by Sir Elton John and David Furnish: fund frontline partners to prevent infections, fight stigma and provide treatment.

  • Virgin Unite founded by Sir Richard Branson and Jean Oelwang: unite people and entrepreneurial ideas to create opportunities for a better world.

Prior to his current trusteeships Ajaz served on the board of the Design Museum, Prism The Gift Fund, Lumos, the Institute of Contemporary Arts, Mental Health Innovations and The Prince’s Trust.

The Ajaz.org fellowship (launched in August 2021) provides grants to charitable organisations. It also offers advice on leadership and governance.

Ajaz received an honorary degree of Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Bath in December 2018, conferred by HRH The Earl of Wessex. Ajaz received an honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University, England in 2002. Ajaz received an MBE in the June 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours for Services to Media.

Below is a collection of Ajaz’s thoughts, writing and interviews. All proceeds from Ajaz’s books, writing and public speaking are donated to charitable causes.

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Books

A minimalist book cover with a light gray background. The title NOTES FROM A FOUNDER is centered in bold black text, with the subtitle A Decade of Journeys with Ajaz Ahmed below, highlighting Ajaz Ahmed in yellow.

Notes From A Founder

A light gray book cover with the word Writing in large white letters at the center. At the top, it reads A Collection of Essays, and at the bottom, Aiaz Ahmed is printed in smaller text.

A collection of essays

Book cover for Velocity by Ajaz Ahmed and Stefan Olander. The word velocity is in lowercase, with a black dot in the center of the o. Subtitle: The Seven New Laws for a World Gone Digital.

Velocity

Book cover with a light blue background, featuring a small bird silhouette above the title Limitless in large black letters. Below the title, it says Leadership that Endures. Author name Ajaz Ahmed is at the bottom.

Limitless

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Defeat

Podcasts

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Interview May 2024

Changing Course

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Interview December 2023

Designing responsible business with imagination

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Interview November 2023

Is AI healing or destructive?

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Interview August 2023

The Decent Leader

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Interview February 2023

Executives on the move

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Interview January 2023

The Entrepreneurs

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Interview July 2022

Drive full-speed at opportunity

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Interview June 2017

The Entrepreneurs

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Panel May 2014

Creativity in Conversation: Youthful Thinking

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Interview August 2013

The AKQA Story

Articles

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The Telegraph

Moderation and safety

Ajaz Ahmed discusses Elon Musk’s relationship with the industry. Ajaz said: “Advertisers have the right to protest against the proliferation of content they deem to be toxic and harmful.”

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City A.M.

How a skip of stationery inspired an advertising empire

Ambition A.M. meets Ajaz Ahmed to learn how his never-ending quest for success led him to his globally recognised digital design agency AKQA.

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Financial Times

AI and big data streamline the art of charitable giving

Donors’ funds can be used more efficiently and their impact measured when philanthropic bodies adopt new technology.

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The Sunday Times

Why many of the best chief executives are Indian

From family values to education and entrepreneurial spirit, India offers lessons from which Britain could learn.

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The Article

75 years of reinvention

On the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth, it is imperative that we reassess its true value—an asset often overlooked amidst the political turmoil of recent years.

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The Times

Entrepreneurship schools could inspire

The alchemy of ambition has the power to enrich the lives of employees, making a positive difference to society, and evoke national pride.

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Campaign Live

Listening, journalling and meditation

AKQA’s founder and chief executive writes about several techniques that have given his brain a workout.

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AKQA

AKQA’s founder honoured with 2022 Spear’s Impact Award

Ajaz Ahmed has been honoured with the Spear’s 2022 Impact Award recognising the impact of his charitable fellowship ajaz.org.

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City A.M.

Our businesses have been built by industrious refugees

One hundred and forty years ago, a refugee fled eastern Europe. After meeting Thomas Spencer, the pair set up M&S.

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Semi Permanent

Serendipity and Learning

An entrepreneurial journey with AKQA’s founder.

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Campaign Middle East

Innovation is simplification

An extract of Ajaz Ahmed’s book DEFEAT, a collaboration with artist Christian Watson.

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City A.M.

Imagination must shape all our businesses

When we think about the fuel that will power our economic growth, our creative flair will be absolutely crucial.

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Shots

Leadership and what matters

We’re about pushing the limits and explorations, counterbalanced with good engineering and execution.

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Forbes

Lessons in Limitless

The relentless drive towards the future.

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Fast Company

Consumers Respond to Timeless Values

Timeless values applied via new technology can democratize markets and extend across goods, services and experiences.

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The Guardian

Bridging the Gap between Art and Business

Successful collaborations between brands and artists are possible, once outdated preconceptions are overcome.

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The Guardian

Bravery, Creativity, Courage and Resilience

All aspiring entrepreneurs should read Rudyard Kipling's 'If' – every word of advice in it is for the ages.

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The Guardian

Resisting Ease is the Path to Digital Excellence

High achievement comes from persistence, not convenience, as exemplified in Ang Lee's use of 3D in Life of Pi.

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The Guardian

Its Never too Late to Pivot

Brands that champion what really matters to people will always have a future – but ditching any emotional attachment is the first step to achieving revival.

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The Guardian

An Operating System For Your Life

Put technology to work for people and you're already taking steps towards that inspirational aspiration.

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The Guardian

Young Entrepreneurs can Build a Better Future

There is opportunity to be had in difficult times when the old ideas are malfunctioning and people are more open to change.

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The Guardian

Radically Simple Design Always Wins

The best digital innovations are ones that are simple and easy to use and keep your audience in mind.

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Wired

A public announcement: advertising is over

Digital has changed things even more drastically. The phone is the passport to everything advertising was designed to obscure.

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The Guardian

The interface is the Brand

Whether we are gathered around a campfire, a cathode ray tube or an iPad, it's the story that's being shared that matters.

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The Guardian

The End is Nigh for Identikit Branding

It has never been easier for people to scan past or switch over, so to persist with identikit advertising campaigns is ridiculous.

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Wired

The Steve Jobs MBA

Be zen, obsess over details, relentlessly improve everything and other lessons from Steve Jobs.

Interviews

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Interview October 2024

Should founders nurture employee side hustles?

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Interview November 2023

Square Mile and Me

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Interview October 2023

A ripple effect

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Interview June 2023

Communicating in an authentic way

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Interview March 2023

Explaining luxury’s new brand identifiers

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Interview February 2023

How I became an agency founder

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Interview February 2023

How do leaders build trust?

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Interview October 2022

Five ways to build a thriving team

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Interview July 2022

Business is now who cares wins

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Interview June 2022

How CEOs make an agency creative

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Interview May 2022

Enterprising teenager to advertising executive

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Interview August 2021

The early days and perspectives on the future

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Interview May 2021

New-style creativity

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Interview July 2018

Use your work as an expression of your values

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Interview October 2017

Ajaz Ahmed at the Design Museum

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Interview April 2017

Attaining velocity in the age of disruption

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Interview April 2017

Explore new solutions

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Interview March 2017

It’s important to embrace disruption

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Interview March 2014

How leaders get top-down success

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Interview October 2014

We exist to create the future for our clients

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Interview April 2014

What makes a leader