Kanwer A. Saeed is an authentic leader, coach, and facilitator with nearly three decades of experience in shaping people strategies across leading organizations in Pakistan and abroad. He is recognized for his ability to inspire self-discovery and guide individuals toward finding purpose, enabling them to maximize their potential both professionally and personally.

Prior to establishing Ascend Consulting, Kanwer held senior leadership roles, including Head of Human Resources for Engro Foods & Engro Fertilizer and Talent Director for Asia Geography at Unilever Singapore. Throughout his career, he has successfully led complex people and organizational transformations, consistently driving cultural change, leadership growth, and organizational resilience.

His expertise spans leading large-scale talent management and cultural transformation programs, organizational design, and restructuring initiatives. He has co-led major restructuring and CBA negotiations that delivered significant results, including a 40% reduction in manpower, and has developed frameworks for vision, mission, values, and behavioral competencies across multiple industries. Kanwer has also supported HR transformation and organization design projects for leading companies in textiles, banking, chemicals, and utilities.

At Ascend, he continues his mission of enabling individuals and organizations to grow authentically, leading leadership development, cultural interventions, and people strategies that create lasting impact.

Salman brings over 15 years of corporate experience in Pakistan, primarily with Engro Corporation’s Fertilizers and Foods businesses, along with playing a role in the establishment of Abu Dawood Pakistan. His career has been built on strong cross-functional expertise in Human Resources and Supply Chain. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, he has also ventured into food-related and allied businesses, expanding his exposure beyond traditional corporate roles.

At Ascend, Salman applies his diverse background to projects that span strategic transformation, process reengineering, people development, and cultural change. He has partnered with organizations across FMCG, logistics, manufacturing, and banking sectors, contributing to initiatives that strengthen leadership, embed talent practices, and enhance organizational performance. His passion lies in creating meaningful impact by empowering both individuals and institutions to grow and thrive.

Salman’s professional journey includes key leadership roles such as General Manager Supply Chain Services at Engro Foods, Senior Manager Resourcing & Rewards at Engro Fertilizers, Senior Distribution Manager Karachi at Engro Fertilizers, and Compensation & Benefits Manager at Engro Fertilizers. These roles equipped him with deep expertise in strategy, consulting, experiential learning, leadership development, executive search, and coaching.

Through his work, Salman continues to inspire positive transformation while shaping sustainable business outcomes.

Farah has been an integral part of Ascend since 2015, where she has contributed significantly to finance, meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE), as well as experiential learning initiatives. With strong management skills and an eye for detail, she has consistently provided the company with a competitive edge, ensuring seamless execution of projects and impactful client experiences.

As Manager of Experiences, Farah has taken the lead in designing and implementing innovative programs that combine organizational objectives with personal growth and empowerment. One of her most notable contributions has been the founding of This is Us, an initiative dedicated to gender empowerment and reclaiming public spaces for women. Through this platform, she has championed greater inclusion, awareness, and opportunities for women to step into leadership roles with confidence.

Farah’s vision is to see a world where women’s leadership potential is fully realized and celebrated across all spheres of life. She believes that empowering women not only strengthens communities but also creates pathways for more equitable and sustainable growth. At Ascend, she continues to align her passion for empowerment with her expertise in business management, delivering meaningful experiences that inspire change.

Shamikh Ahmed is a dynamic HR and marketing professional with extensive experience across talent management, employee engagement, corporate communications, and sustainability initiatives. With a proven track record in leadership roles at prominent organizations such as United Bank Limited and Engro Energy Limited, Shamikh has demonstrated a strong ability to design and implement impactful HR and culture development strategies.

At United Bank Limited, as the Head of Talent, Culture & Employee Experience, Shamikh focused on enhancing employee satisfaction, retention, and organizational culture through innovative wellness, recognition, and DEI initiatives. His expertise in performance management and organizational development enabled him to lead change management processes, ensuring that the company’s values aligned with its growth and innovation.

Shamikh’s ability to blend communication strategy with change management has enabled him to deliver results that not only drive internal transformation but also enhance the external image of the organizations he works with. His holistic approach to managing change, combined with his keen understanding of corporate communication, makes him a valuable asset in navigating complex organizational transitions.

Hafsa is a Principal Consultant at Ascend with more than eight years of experience as a management consultant. Her expertise spans strategy and consulting, culture change, leadership development, talent management, and capability assessments. She is passionate about helping organizations and leaders reflect, reform, and grow by using insights, trends, and a deep understanding of both business context and people.

Since joining Ascend, Hafsa has worked on several high-impact projects across industries. She has led culture transformation initiatives with UBL, conducted large-scale talent assessments involving over 1,700 employees at K-Electric, and supported integrated talent management programs with Interloop Ltd. Her work demonstrates a unique ability to bridge organizational needs with leadership growth, ensuring that both individuals and institutions are well-positioned for long-term success.

Hafsa has also delivered key projects in leadership development, including programs for K-Electric and PMI, and has played a central role in recruitment and assessment of management trainees for organizations such as Faysal Bank. Additionally, she has contributed to HR transformation and strategy design for diverse sectors including FMCG, banking, and manufacturing.

Driven by her commitment to building stronger, more resilient organizations, Hafsa continues to enable leaders and teams to reach their highest potential.

Ateeba brings over a decade of experience in talent acquisition, consulting, and business development, managing end-to-end delivery for key corporate accounts. At Ascend Consulting, she has worked across diverse industries including FMCG, education, fintech, banking, real estate, oil and gas, and chemicals. Her expertise lies in developing organizational frameworks, conducting 360-degree feedback assessments, and translating insights into strategies that enhance business performance and employee success.

She has built a strong reputation for fostering relationships with candidates, leaders, and C-level executives within collaborative ecosystems. Ateeba is particularly recognized for her ability to support gender-balanced organizations, helping them unlock innovation, improve profitability, and drive employee engagement. She has also mentored and coached professionals at every level, with a focus on empowering women to return to the workplace after career breaks—an area she is deeply committed to addressing.

Her key performance areas include people management, leadership development, and driving efficiencies that strengthen both organizational culture and results. Combining business acumen with a people-first approach, Ateeba consistently delivers value by aligning individual growth with organizational objectives.

She holds a degree in Mathematics and Economics from Lahore University of Management Sciences, graduating in 2010.

Sumbul Afzal Rao is a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in strategy, culture, communications, and brand transformation. She specializes in crafting powerful narratives, driving organizational growth, and aligning business messaging with core values to foster engagement and impact. Her expertise extends to strategic branding, change management, culture-building, and communication strategy, with a proven track record of bridging creative vision with business objectives.

She has worked with leading organizations such as Sapphire and Telenor, where she designed and executed initiatives that strengthened brand identity and supported organizational transformation. As a consultant and mentor, she advises organizations on brand strategy, communications, and change management, helping leaders navigate transition and build strong, purpose-driven cultures.

In addition to her consulting work, Sumbul contributes to academia as a visiting lecturer at NUST Business School and Bahria University. There, she shares her industry knowledge and experience with the next generation of brand and communication professionals.

Her holistic approach—combining brand strategy, data-driven storytelling, and culture development—enables her to deliver innovative solutions that amplify organizational identity while driving measurable business results. She is recognized for her ability to merge creativity with strategy, shaping brands that inspire connection and growth.

Rehma Fatima brings extensive expertise in HR transformation and strategic planning. She holds a Master’s in Business Analytics from the Karachi School of Business & Leadership and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the Institute of Business Administration. Since joining Ascend in 2024, Rehma has led several high-impact projects, including defining HR mandates, designing end-to-end Talent Acquisition Policies, and implementing a customized behavioral competency framework for a pharmaceutical company with over 3,000 employees. She also developed a revised HR structure and worked on the implementation of performance management system across the organization.

Prior to Ascend, Rehma served as a People and Culture Specialist at Jaffer Business Systems, where she partnered with business units and C-suite leaders to develop strategies for achieving business excellence and growth. Her work included implementing a productivity framework to enhance employee efficiency across multiple business units, managing recruitment processes, and developing roadmaps for achieving strategic financial goals.

Rehma’s combination of analytical expertise and strong leadership skills has enabled her to drive transformation across various organizations, making her a key player in creating scalable HR solutions that align with business objectives.

Faizan has a strong background in Economics and Mathematics from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). Since joining Ascend Consulting, he has led several high-impact projects. He successfully implemented a Zero-Based Organizational Design strategy for Descon OxyChem Ltd., and developed Talent Development Centers at Interloop Holdings Ltd., focusing on competency frameworks and succession planning for top talent. He has also executed programs for Servis Global Footwear Ltd. and designed experiential learning initiatives to foster customer-centric and collaborative approaches in organizations.

Beyond consulting, Faizan has demonstrated entrepreneurial success as the founder of Decantry, an online store specializing in niche and designer perfumes. His technical proficiency includes expertise in STATA, MS Excel, and C++, complemented by his strong leadership experience in directing major events and securing significant sponsorships.

Faizan’s analytical skills, business acumen, and ability to translate strategic goals into actionable results make him a valuable asset in driving organizational transformation and growth.

Hasnain Fakhruddin brings a solid foundation in management consulting and operational optimization. With an MBA in Supply Chain from SZABIST and a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from GIKI, his expertise spans engineering, business development, and strategic consulting. Hasnain has successfully led high-impact initiatives at Ascend Consulting, focusing on organizational reviews, succession planning, and governance frameworks. He also contributed to improving client processes through data-driven insights and talent development strategies.

Before joining Ascend, Hasnain gained experience in business development at TRUCK IT IN and MAJ International, where he enhanced product offerings and optimized resource allocation for industrial clients. His engineering background and experience in process improvement, including a production internship at Colgate-Palmolive, allow him to approach business challenges with a problem-solving mindset.

Hasnain’s blend of technical knowledge, leadership, and analytical skills makes him a key asset in driving sustainable growth and operational excellence for his clients. His work in developing innovative strategies, coupled with his NEBOSH and IOSH certifications, ensures a holistic approach to business success.

Haroon is a Head of Finance & People Ops at Ascend Consulting. He has a proven track record in Financial Reporting, Taxation, and Corporate Compliances. With over a decade of experience with progressive experience across various industries, from Chartered Accountancy to corporate finance management.

During his tenure at Ascend, Haroon played a pivotal role in overseeing financial operations, meticulously preparing comprehensive management accounts, and effectively managing financial accounting systems. He collaborated closely with executives to develop budgets, ensuring optimal cash flow and providing valuable financial insights to enhance business performance. Haroon also demonstrated a strong commitment to regulatory compliance by spearheading financial audits and reviews.

Moreover, Haroon led several notable projects, including the successful payroll processing for Lush Crush Ice Pops and P3 Connect. He also effectively managed accounts and taxes for Dream 3 Consulting and Model Town Executive, showcasing his ability to handle diverse financial challenges with efficiency and expertise.

Yasir is a Finance Executive at Ascend Consulting with over seven years of experience in finance and operations. He holds a Master of Commerce from the University of Karachi and is currently a CMA Finalist at ICMAP.

During his tenure at Ascend, Yasir has been responsible for managing petty cash, administration, and logistics management, while also providing key support to the Finance Manager. He plays a pivotal role in ensuring smooth day-to-day financial operations.

Prior to his role at Ascend Consulting, Yasir worked at Platinum Corporation. He led significant projects, including payroll processing, stock management, and logistics management, and oversaw administration for the entire office.

He has a proven track record of handling diverse financial challenges, including managing payroll for Lush Crush Ice Pops and Milky by Lush Crush, as well as managing the receivables for Dream 3 group of companies.

Miraal Faisal holds a strong academic background in Social Sciences and Liberal Arts from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA). She is currently a Consultant at Ascend Consulting, where she collaborates closely with clients to co-create impactful solutions across project design, planning, stakeholder engagement, and implementation.

Before joining Ascend, Miraal served as a Branding and Communications Consultant at Shell Pakistan, where she led the development of a new corporate brand and played a key role in brand design and strategic communication initiatives.

With a solid foundation in strategic communications and brand development, Miraal brings a unique perspective to projects involving transformation, organizational development, and strategy execution. She thrives in fast-paced, purpose-driven environments and is passionate about crafting cohesive brand narratives and driving organizational change through thoughtful, effective communication.

Zumer Kerio holds a strong academic background in Business Studies and Human Resource Management from SZABIST, Karachi, where she completed both her MBA and Bachelor’s (Hons) in Business Studies. She is currently an Associate Consultant for Executive Search at Ascend Consulting, where she supports the end-to-end recruitment of middle to C-level executives, contributes to client management, and the design and implementation of management trainee programs for leading organizations in Pakistan.

Prior to joining Ascend, Zumer was associated with the Oil & Gas industry where she gained experience in recruitment and HR operations through roles at Puma Energy, and Taj Gasoline during earlier stages of her career. Her academic research on emotional labor and burnout in the service sector reflects her interest in people-centric organizational development.

She is passionate about fostering organizational excellence through impactful HR practices and talent development strategies.

Mudassir Abdul Qadir is a forward-looking professional who blends entrepreneurial experience with expertise in sales systems and technology solutions. He began his career as the founder of Mentore.app, a SaaS-based platform designed to empower educators and course creators with no-code tools to design, brand, and deliver their own online programs. This entrepreneurial venture gave him hands-on experience in product development, user engagement, and the challenges of scaling digital solutions.

Following this, Mudassir joined Red Bull as a Sales System Specialist, where he focused on optimizing commercial processes through technology. At Red Bull, he gained deep expertise in deploying and managing sales systems, aligning operational platforms with business goals, and supporting teams in driving performance through data-driven decision-making.

Currently, Mudassir is part of Ascend Consulting, where he is building comprehensive feedback, interview, and assessment solutions tailored for corporate needs. His focus is on designing integrated platforms that help organizations evaluate talent effectively, streamline decision-making, and strengthen leadership pipelines. With a unique background spanning startups, global brands, and consulting, Mudassir brings both agility and structure to his work—creating innovative, scalable solutions that deliver long-term business impact.

Iman Ashraf is a graduate of Habib University, Karachi, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Comparative Humanities. Her studies gave her a strong foundation in analytical and interdisciplinary thinking, drawing on philosophy, and literature, among other disciplines. This academic background developed her ability to research deeply, synthesize ideas, and approach problems with creativity and rigor.

She is currently an Associate Consultant at Ascend Consulting, contributing to executive search projects for middle to senior-level talent. She also plays a key role in the Jaulian Project, managing the website and supporting the next iteration of the Leadership Journey program, while coordinating tasks that ensure timely and effective delivery.

Earlier, Iman gained diverse professional experience during her undergraduate years. She served as Editor-in-Chief of the Arzu Anthology, leading a team in curating and publishing literary work, and completed internships with organizations such as IAL Saatchi & Saatchi and the Legal Aid Society. These experiences strengthened her skills in communication, research, and cross-sector collaboration.

Iman is passionate about education, language, and personal development, and is driven by opportunities to foster growth for individuals and organizations alike.

Zainab is an Associate Consultant at Ascend Consulting, where she blends analytical precision with a creative outlook to deliver consulting solutions that are both insightful and engaging. With a strong academic foundation in Accounting and Finance, she has complemented her degree with electives in Organizational Behaviour and Marketing, giving her a well-rounded perspective on how numbers, people, and ideas come together to shape business success.

At Ascend, she thrives on bringing energy and creativity into her work, believing that making work fun unlocks better collaboration and sharper results. Whether it’s unpacking complex challenges or designing innovative approaches, she enjoys connecting structure with imagination to create meaningful impact for clients.

Curious, dynamic, and people-oriented, Zainab continues to explore ways of merging her financial expertise with her interest in human behavior and creative problem-solving, making her a versatile and engaging consultant.

Kiran Farooq is currently a Consulting Fellow at Ascend Development, where she contributes to design and, delivery of consulting and transformation projects with a focus on clarity, creativity, and meaningful impact. With a diverse background in marketing, brand building, and content development, she brings a unique blend of analytical thinking and creative execution to her work.

Kiran is a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Social Development and Policy at Habib University and her academic focus has given her a strong foundation in the intersection of people, culture, and policy, which she applies to her work at Ascend. She brings varied experience, including her role as a Research Intern at the World Bank Group, where she contributed to a climate and disaster risk assessment of informal settlements in Karachi, developing a framework for vulnerability analysis and policy review. She has also worked as a Marketing Intern at SL Basics, gaining experience in content creation, social media strategy, and market research.

Kiran is passionate about strategy, inclusivity, and impact-driven development. She has led projects on climate change awareness, civic engagement, and inclusive workforce practices, reflecting her commitment to building solutions that are both human-centered and sustainable.

Syeda Raveeha Kashif is an entrepreneur and emerging strategist at the intersection of business and digital innovation, and women empowerment. A graduate of IBA Karachi with global exposure from Bilkent University, Turkey, she has built a portfolio that blends analytical thinking with creative execution.

As Co-Founder of SheCan, she has nurtured a 100+ member community that has already enabled and developed many women to launch their own entrepreneurial ventures, turning an idea into an initiative for economic inclusion. Her corporate experience includes consumer insight and brand strategy at L’Oréal Pakistan and category growth projects at Procter & Gamble, where she contributed to effective marketing strategies and expanding the eCommerce sales. She has also driven SEO and digital marketing campaigns for organizations in the US and Pakistan, consistently translating data into measurable brand growth.

What sets Raveeha apart is her ability to bridge purpose with performance, moving fluidly between grassroots initiatives, boardroom strategy, and digital ecosystems. With certifications from McKinsey, Google, and global universities, she is recognized for pairing data-driven insight with human-centered design to craft solutions that scale impact.

Passionate about innovation, inclusivity, and social impact, Raveeha is shaping a career that unites strategy with purpose, always seeking to build work that not only scales businesses but also transforms.