Resume/CV
About Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Ali, FRSA
Hafiz Muhammad Ali, PhD, is a strategic marketing leader, researcher, author, and advisor with over 15 years of experience in digital transformation, business strategy, and economic development. He has helped startups, tech firms, and policymakers drive evidence-based decision-making and sustainable growth.
As the founder of Omnicore, he has led data-driven growth strategies, market positioning, and digital transformation initiatives, leveraging AI and emerging technologies. His work has been cited in Harvard Business Review, the World Economic Forum, 100+ academic and industry publications, and digital policies in the UK and Australia.
Recognized in his Google Knowledge Panel, Dr. Ali is a trusted strategist and thought leader, committed to bridging research, industry innovation, and policy discourse to drive meaningful change in the digital economy.
Research Experience
Doctoral Researcher in Management, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK | 2019 – 2024
Research Contributions
- Research Impact: Developed a crowdfunding framework projected to improve startup funding acquisition by 20% in emerging economies.
- Educational Equity: Identified strategies to address financial access gaps through crowdfunding, contributing to $10 billion in projected GDP growth via economic policies.
- Stakeholder Analysis: Employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to analyze stakeholder perspectives in entrepreneurial finance through in-depth interviews.
Academic Leadership
- Mentorship: Chaired the Annual PGR Management Conference, mentoring 7 junior researchers in qualitative methodologies and academic publications.
- Recognition: Presented research at the Institute for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship, ranking in the top 5% among 250+ participants.
Professional Experience
Founder & CEO, Omnicore Agency, Pakistan | 2009 – 2021
- Strategic Growth: Bootstrapped a digital marketing agency to achieve six-figure annual revenue, implementing innovative growth strategies and optimizing operational efficiency.
- Performance Impact: Increased Omnicore’s Domain Rating from 0 to 82 and generated 375,000 monthly organic visitors by implementing data-driven strategies.
- Operational Excellence: Led and managed cross-functional teams, overseeing collaborations with 20+ partner agencies and 50+ contractors to constantly deliver high-impact, result-driven campaigns aligned with client goals.
- Recognition: Demonstrated significant industry influence through extensive publications and citations: 100+ peer-reviewed journals (Springer, MIT), policy framework inclusions (UK, Australia), and 650+ industry media features (Adobe, Instagram, HBR).
Education
University of Aberdeen, UK | 2019 – 2024
Ph.D. Management (Entrepreneurship)
- Dissertation: Examined Stakeholder Perceptions of Crowdfunding and Startup Success in Emerging Economies.
- Advisors: Russell Williams, Trevor Morrow
- Achievement: Insights projected to drive $10 billion in emerging economic growth.
M.Sc., Digital Marketing Leadership | 2016 – 2018
- Achievement: Developed digital marketing strategies significantly improving business performance across Europe and Asia.
Stanford University, USA | 2020 – 2023
Professional Program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Focus: Advanced expertise in innovation management, entrepreneurial strategies, and cross-functional collaboration.
CIMA, UK | 2020 – 2021
Diploma in Islamic Finance
Alhamra Art Council, PK | 2006
Diploma in Flute
Punjab University, PK | 2003 – 2007
M.A. Political Science
B.A. Journalism
National Institute of Computer Education, PK | 2002
Diploma in Computer Hardware
Professional Development
Research & Methodologies
Literature Searching, Research Ethics & Governance, Citation Analysis, Research Integrity, Qualitative & Quantitative Methods, ATLAS.ti, NVivo, EndNote, Mendeley.
Academic & Teaching Skills
PhD-Tutor Training, Small Group and Non-Native English Speakers Teaching, Advanced Communication, Editing for Readers, Structuring Presentations, Storytelling Techniques Narratives and Storytelling, and Word Formatting for Long Documents.
Productivity & Management
Managing Your Calendar, Digital Mindset, and Time Management (CIMA).
Additional Certifications
- Generative AI Leader (Google, 2025)
- Generative AI for Executives (Amazon, 2025)
- Using Generative AI in Research Projects (LinkedIn, 2025)
- Tableau for Powerful Business Insights (LinkedIn, 2025)
- Marketing Management (UCSC, Silicon Valley Extension, 2024)
- Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies (Harvard Business School Online, 2022)
- Becoming an Entrepreneur (MITx, 2022)
- Sharpen Communication Skills (Stanford University, 2021)
- Disruptive Strategy (Harvard Business School Online, 2019)
- Mastering Value Propositions (Strategyzer, 2017)
- Mastering Business Models (Strategyzer, 2017)
- SEO, Social Media, Web Analytics, PPC, and Online Marketing (MarketMotive, 2012)
Awards & Recognition
Judge | Evaluated submissions at the AMA Collegiate Case Study National Competition Sponsored by Deloitte & Adobe (2024 – 2025). |
RSA Fellow | Recognized for advancing social progress and innovation in entrepreneurship and policy (Since 2024). |
Winner | Digital Passport named one of the Top Digital Marketing Books of All Time by Book Authority (2019). |
Interviewed | The London Economic, Business Leader Magazine, and TGDaily (2018). |
Contributor | Published insights in Entrepreneur, AllBusiness, and Influencive, reaching over 4 million readers (Since 2014). |
Publications
Books:
Ali, H. M. (2018). Digital Passport: Your Pass to a Promising Career in Digital Marketing. Available on Amazon.
Conference Papers:
Ali, H. M., & Williams, R. (2019). Stakeholder perceptions and influence of crowdfunding as a source of entrepreneurial funding: The case of Pakistan. Presented at the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) Conference, Newcastle, UK. Theme: SPACE - Exploring New Frontiers and Entrepreneurial Places.
Selected Industry Articles (11 of 43):
1. Ali, H. M. (2022). Seven easy ways to better support your remote team. Entrepreneur Magazine.
2. Ali, H. M. (2021). Five ways to keep your employees motivated. Entrepreneur Magazine.
3. Ali, H. M. (2021). Three Practical Ways To Fund Your Digital Marketing Agency. YFS Magazine.
4. Ali, H. M. (2020). 5 reasons why crowdfunding campaigns fail. Influencive.
5. Ali, H. M. (2019). The future of marketing automation: 5 trends you need to know. Influencive.
6. Ali, H. M. (2019). Authentic Marketing is Customer-Centric Marketing. Influencive.
7. Ali, H. M. (2019). 7 Ways to Conquer the Fear of Failure and Start Crushing It. Influencive.
8. Ali, H. M. (2018). Becoming a Digital Leader in your Industry. Entrepreneur Magazine.
9. Ali, H. M. (2018). Four Benefits of Digital Leadership For Your Business. Entrepreneur Magazine.
10. Ali, H. M. (2018). How Digital Leadership Inspires Staff Productivity. Entrepreneur Magazine.
11. Ali, H. M. (2017). How to Use Colors for More Effective Landing Pages. CrazyEgg.
Professional Memberships
Since | |
2024 | Fellow, Royal Society of Arts (RSA) |
2024 | Member, OPEN Silicon Valley |
2023 | Member, Chartered Institute of Marketing (to be Fellow) |
2023 | Member, American Marketing Association |
Additional Experience
First-Generation Mentorship (2024–Present)
Mentored first-generation students through the American Marketing Association, focusing on research skill development, professional confidence, and academic growth.
Provided actionable guidance on career pathways and skill-building for academic and professional success.
Professional Mentorship (2023–Present)
Supported early-career professionals through the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Royal Society of Arts (RSA).
Focused on strategic growth, industry alignment, and professional development, fostering a career-oriented mindset and measurable impact on mentees' career trajectories.
Interests
Photography, Coaching, Perusal, Melophile
