Complexity → Clarity

Resume/CV

About Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Ali, FRSA

Academic researcher and results-oriented leader with a Ph.D. in Management and over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and strategic leadership. Dedicated to leveraging technology and strategic frameworks to foster innovation, equity, and sustainable development across global industries, particularly education, and tech. Experienced mentor and academic leader with impactful contributions cited by institutions such as the World Economic Forum and Harvard Business Review.

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

- 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

Awards
- Fellow: RSA – Recognized for advancing social progress and innovation in entrepreneurship and education (2024).

- Winner: Digital Passport named one of the Top Digital Marketing Books of All Time by Book Authority (2019).

Leadership
- Judge: AMA Collegiate Case Study National Competition (Deloitte & Adobe-sponsored) (2024-2025).

- Conference Chair: Led sessions and mentored junior researchers at the Annual PGR Conference (2023).

Media Recognition
- Featured Expert: Interviewed by The London Economic, Business Leader Magazine, and TGDaily (2018).

- Contributor: Published insights in Entrepreneur, AllBusiness, and Influencive, reaching over 4 million readers (2014 – present).

Publications

Books:

Ali, H. M. (2018). Digital Passport: Your Pass to a Promising Career in Digital Marketing. Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

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 (13 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. (2020). 5 reasons why crowdfunding campaigns fail. Influencive.

4. Ali, H. M. (2019). The future of marketing automation: 5 trends you need to know. Influencive.

5. Ali, H. M. (2019). Authentic Marketing is Customer-Centric Marketing. Influencive.

6. Ali, H. M. (2019). 7 Ways to Conquer the Fear of Failure and Start Crushing It. Influencive.

7. Ali, H. M. (2018). Becoming a Digital Leader in your Industry. Entrepreneur Magazine.

8. Ali, H. M. (2018). Four Benefits of Digital Leadership For Your Business. Entrepreneur Magazine.

9. Ali, H. M. (2018). How Digital Leadership Inspires Staff Productivity. Entrepreneur Magazine.

10. Ali, H. M. (2017). How to Build an Effective Content Marketing Strategy. YFS Magazine.

11. Ali, H. M. (2017). How to Use Colors for More Effective Landing Pages. CrazyEgg.

12. Ali, H. M. (2016). Key Strategies for Improving Online Customer Engagement. KillerStartups

13. Ali, H. M. (2015). The essential website design checklist. AllBusiness.

Professional Memberships

- OPEN Silicon Valley

- Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA)

- American Marketing Association (AMA)

- Chartered Institute of Marketing

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

Read Dr. Ali’s inspiring success story, career aspirations, and contributions to digital marketing and entrepreneurship. Read More