Mostafa Sayyadi - Management Thinker & Theorist, CEO & Co-Founder & Retired Professor of Practice. 

Retired Professor Mostafa Sayyadi is a Management Thinker & Theorist, Management Consulting Veteran, CEO, Co-Founder, former (Full) Professor of Practice, and Adjunct Professor, and is recognized as one of the World's Leading Executive Educators and Management Consultants. As a co-founder of The DS Consulting Group, Inc. in Dubai, UAE, with over 20 years of experience in the business world, he works with senior business leaders, managers, and staff to develop knowledge and innovation in companies effectively. He has led change management initiatives and the development of enterprise strategic management frameworks to manage organizational knowledge and innovation strategically. His holistic approach to innovation and leadership has enabled him to add value to organizations’ bottom lines throughout his +20 years of career. Working in various countries also assists global and domestic leaders minimize the business risks of working across cultures and with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, enhancing their intercultural effectiveness, and delivering innovation and business results.

In recognition of his work with the Australian Institute of Management and the Australian Human Resources Institute, Management Consulting Veteran and Retired Professor Mostafa Sayyadi has been recognized for excellence multiple times, including as an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (AFAIM), a Certified Professional in Human Resources of the Australian Human Resources Institute(CAHRI), and a Certified Professional Manager of the Australian Institute of Management (CPMgr). 

Mostafa is an international management consultant, globally recognized author, professional writer, Retired Professor of Practice, and teacher in the Harvard Business School (HBS) Case Method, revisionist business scholar (who seeks social justice in the business world), and a world authority on leadership and disruptive innovation for his Magic Spark Model, his Impact Model, his Executive Model of Innovation Strategy, his Competency-based Recruitment Model, his AI-Powered Adaptive Leadership Model, his Soft Model of Organizational Change Management, his Japanese Leadership Model, his Post-Pandemic Corporate Culture Model, his Expanded Model of Kotter's 8-step Change Model, his Social Innovation Leadership Model, and his Lee Iacocca's Chrysler Leadership Development Model at the University of South Florida. Author of hundreds of articles, case studies, teaching cases, teaching notes, columns and books and a contributor to California Management Review Insights (UC Berkeley Haas), Rutgers Business Review (The State University of New Jersey - Rutgers), SAM Advanced Management Journal (Society for Advancement of Management (SAM):The oldest management society), Management and Business Review, Muma Business Review (The University of South Florida), Muma Case Review (The University of South Florida), International Journal of Organizational Analysis and Strategic HR Review (Emerald Publishing), The Case Center (Cranfield University), The European Business Review Journal (like Harvard BR, but published in London), The European Financial Review Journal, The World Financial Review Journal, Management Consulting Journal (The Chartered Management Institute), Business Information Review (SAGE Publishing), IGI Global, American Management Association (AMA) Quarterly, EDGE Journal, International HR Adviser Quarterly, Canadian Management Centre (CMC) Quarterly, Management Centre Europe (MCE) Quarterly, The Canadian Business Journal, The Canadian Business Quarterly, Industrial Management (Norcross Georgia), Integral Leadership Review, HR Florida Review, ISE: Industrial & Systems Engineering at Work, NUCA's quarterly Business Journal (11 articles published since 2021, the most of any of the authors), Chief Learning Officer Magazine and The Diplomat Magazine. He has authored Over 1,000 Research Articles, Case Studies, Teaching Cases, Teaching Notes, Columns, and Books, dealing with business growth, innovative leadership, AI, design thinking, and innovation and learning cultures. The common theme of his work is high individual and organizational leadership performance with disruptive and social innovation. He writes a monthly column for Conscious Company Magazine, TD Magazine, People+Strategy Journal, HR Future Magazine, SHRM Executive Network, Consulting Magazine, HR.com, ColoradoBiz Magazine, Hotel Business Review, and People Management Magazine (UK), and his work has been featured in these premier management journals and top-flight business publications.  

In 2022, he collaborated on a Muma Business Review article (A Case Study on an International Financial Company in Melbourne, Australia) titled "A New Era of Culture Shaping Has Emerged," in which the authors proposed a model for business culture in the new world. In 2023, he collaborated on many other Muma Business Review articles, such as "The Magic Spark Model" and "The Impact Model." His four newest Muma Business Review articles on Adaptive Leadership in the AI World, Change Leadership, Design Thinking Culture, New Leadership Shifts, Walmart Inc.'s Case Study, and Lee Iacocca's Leadership Style at Chrysler Corporation were published in 2024. His Muma Business Review (University of South Florida) articles on Leadership for Social Innovation and Organizational Transformation Model were published in 2025. His newest teaching case and teaching note on Nissan were also published by The Case Centre in 2025.

His first California Management Review Insights article on Knowledge-powered Strategy was published in 2022. In 2023, he also collaborated on a California Management Review Insights article, "How to Adapt to AI in Strategic Management". The authors proposed a model for strategic leadership in the AI age. His other California Management Review Insights articles on AI Accountability and Corporate Social Innovation were published in 2023. His other California Management Review Insights articles on Leadership in the DEI World and Social Innovation were published in 2024. His newest California Management Review Insights article on How to Manage AI Systems was published in 2024.

In 2023 and 2024, he collaborated on Rutgers Business Review articles on Toyota and Innovation Culture at Tesla. His Alex Ferguson article was also published in Rutgers Business Review in 2025. And new articles from him on Carlo Ancelotti and AI will be out in Strategic HR Review and Rutgers Business Review. Mostafa's case study on Nissan Motor was published in The European Business Review in September/October 2024 (Businessman and former automotive executive Carlos Ghosn posted this article in The European Business Review on his official website in 2024). His newest European Business Review case studies on Tesla, Inc., and Panasonic were published in January/February 2025 and May/June 2025 editions, and his other case studies with his co-author professors at Barry University in Florida and IÉSEG School of Management in Paris on Intel, Nissan, and Panasonic were published in the Swiss Business School's premier management journal in 2025. His article with his co-author professors in Florida and Houston-Downtown University on Management by Perkele was published in Emerald Group Publishing in 2025. His case studies in The European Business Review on Intel and Chrysler were published in 2025. His other articles in The European Business Review with his co-author professors in Florida and Spain on change management, digital culture, authentic leadership, and design thinking,  which explain his many years of management and technology consulting across the globe, will also be published in 2025 and 2026. From 2022 to 2024, Mostafa collaborated on many of The Case Centre's teaching cases and teaching notes on Tesla, Inc. (Teaching Note), Salomon Brothers, Inc. (Part A & Part B/Teaching Note), Level Up Leadership Model (Teaching Note), Decision Making (Teaching Note), Leading Oneself, and The 1960s American animated Halloween television of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. His newest Case Centre's teaching cases and teaching notes with his co-author professors in Florida and Houston-Downtown University on Intel Corporation and Negotiating in 40 Minutes were also published in 2025. And a teaching case and teaching note from him on Bill Campbell (the board of trustees of Columbia University and chairman of the board of Intuit) may be later! ​In 2023, he collaborated on an article, "Consulting on the Cusp of Digitalization?", for the Management Consulting Journal. They proposed a new model for management consulting in the era of digitalization. This year, he also published a Management Consulting Journal article, "The End of Management Consulting as We Know it?", and as a leading author, he proposed a model for management consulting in the new post-AI world. In addition to his many Management Consulting Journal (MCJ) articles, his newest, "The Knowledge-Powered Management Consulting Strategy," was also published in this journal in 2025.     

He was nominated for the CMCE Research Award of the Centre for Management Consulting Excellence in the UK for 2024, featured as the author of The Best Blog of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) in the US for 2020, earned The Best Paper Award of the Academy of Business Research Conference in Canada for 2019, and also earned The Writer Badge and The DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Award of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers in the US for 2021, 2023, and 2026 (Lee Iacocca was also an honorary member of The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers at one time). One of his articles in the Leadership Excellence Essentials Magazine in Toronto, Canada, also predicted a long time ago that a Business Person (President Donald John Trump) could be the 45th U.S. President. He has been appreciated for sharing his ideas with the American Management Association, and served as an editorial board member of the Journal of Applied Business Research (Swiss Business School's premier management journal), and a reviewer for the prestigious SAM Advanced Management Journal, Journal of Knowledge Management, Human Resource Development International, FIIB Business Review, Journal of General Management, Global Business and Organizational Excellence, the Academy of Management Conference (Management Consulting Division), and the Southern Management Association (OB & Management Consulting Divisions) in Virginia in the US.

He has extensive experience in case method research, as well as in writing cases for classroom use and facilitating case discussions, and one of his articles on the leadership education has been selected as Cover Story Article in the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers' ISE Magazine. In an interview in 2020, Mostafa Sayyadi outlines to Alan Hosking of HR Future Magazine why social capital is the path to effective knowledge management and competitive advantage.  He also owns a consulting company (The DS Consulting Group, Inc.) that provides consulting services for the branches of the best American companies based in Dubai, UAE. As an executive who went back to business school, Mostafa is a macro-political and economic commentator, who believes in fixing Capitalism to tackle Climate Change, helps global leaders to learn from COVID to better face the Climate Change Crisis and presents practical insights for them, suggests a new approach to Strategic Management in the age of AI disruptions, and also uncovers a new approach to Change Management in our new corporate world and insights into HRM in the Post-Blockchain era. He has authored the Post-Pandemic Recovery Book, The Pillars of the Post-Pandemic Knowledge-Driven Economy Book, and his most recent books are The Future of Business and Decoding Japanese Management Model's Secret Formula For Success, which were published in Motivational Training in 2024 in Tampa, Florida. He is the Founder of The Magic Spark Model (University of South Florida), The Impact Model (University of South Florida), Tesla-based Innovation Culture Model (State University of New Jersey - Rutgers), The Executive Approach to Innovation Strategy (University of South Florida), The Alex Ferguson's Leadership Model for Business Leaders (State University of New Jersey - Rutgers), "Management by Perkele" Model (Emerald Group Publishing), Nissan's Corporate Leadership Model (The European Business Review), AI-Powered Adaptive Leadership Model (University of South Florida), The Post-Pandemic Corporate Culture Model (University of South Florida), The DEI Leadership Model (UC Berkeley, Haas), The Corporate Social Innovation Model (UC Berkeley, Haas), The Competency-based Recruitment Model (University of South Florida), The Executive Approach to Social Capital Theory (University of South Florida), The AI-powered Data Management Model (UC Berkeley Haas), The Soft Approach to Change Management (The University of South Florida), AI-powered Strategic Management (UC Berkeley Hass), The Expanded Model of Kotter's 8-step Change Model (University of South Florida), Leadership Model for Social Impact (University of South Florida), Digital Transformation Model (SAGE Journals), The Social Innovation Leadership Model (University of South Florida),  The Strategic Knowledge Map Model (SAGE Journals), The Future Leadership Model (SAGE Journals), AI-Powered Business Ethics Model (UC Berkeley, Haas), Knowledge-Powered Corporate Strategy Model (UC Berkeley, Haas), Grid Organizational Development (OD) Model for Higher Education (Society for Advancement of Management/the oldest professional management society which is based in The Villages in Florida), The New Dynamic Approach to KM Strategy (SAGE Journals), KM Strategy Model (SAGE Journals), Digitalization Consultancy Model (Chartered Management Institute), AI-powered Management Consulting Model (Chartered Management Institute), Digital Corporate Culture Model for Al (Swiss Business School), The Future Leadership Education Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), Post-Pandemic Leadership Model (Swiss Business School), Inquiry-based Learning Model for the Course of Introduction to Business (Society for Advancement of Management/the oldest professional management society which is based in The Villages in Florida), Post-Pandemic Strategic Management Model (Swiss Business School), The Japanese Management Model (University of South Florida), Lee Iacocca's Leadership Development Model (University of South Florida), Transformational Leadership-Based Management Education Model (Colorado Christian University), Panasonic-styled Leadership Model (Swiss Business School), Nissan/Intel-styled Management Model (Swiss Business School), Digital Leadership Model (American Management Association), The Dynamic Company Model (Crisis Response Journal), The Innovation Strategy Model (American Management Association), The Technological Approach to Transformational Leadership (IGI Global), The Innovative Approach to Transformational Leadership (Tennessee State University), The Knowledge-based Approach to Transformational Leadership (IGI Global), Toyota's 3-Step Leadership Development Model (Valparaiso University), The Future Leadership Model (The European Business Review), KM Implementation Model (Colorado Christian University), The Practical Model of Knowledge Management (The European Business Review), The High-Performing Corporate Development Model (The European Business Review), The Applicable Transformational Leadership (The European Business Review), The Competitive Advantage Model of Knowledge Management (The European Business Review), The Facing the Giants Movie based Leadership Education Model (Colorado Christian University), MLT's Disruptive Authentic Leadership Model (Valparaiso University), The 3D Lens' Approach to Corporate Culture (Association for Talent Development), The Integrated Approach to Leadership (The World Financial Review), The Model of Transforming Authentic Management into Authentic Leadership (The Society for Human Resource Management-SHRM), AI-powered HR Approach (Chartered Managers Canada), Level Up Leadership Model (Integral Leadership Review), Post-pandemic Management Consulting Model (The European Financial Review), The Dynamic Approach for the Future (SAGE Journals), Post-Digitalization Management Consulting Model (Management Consulting Journal), Post-AI Management Consulting Model (Management Consulting Journal), Authentic Leadership Development Consultancy Model (Management Consulting Journal), Transformational Leadership Development Consultancy Model (Management Consulting Journal), Knowledge Management Consultancy Model (Management Consulting Journal), The Executive Approach to Leadership, Courage, and Ethical Behavior (Colorado Christian University) Transformational Technology Leadership Model (The European Business Review), Data Storytelling Model for Managers (The European Financial Review), Knowledge Management Model for Large Companies (The European Financial Review), Post-pandemic Leadership Model (Chief Learning Officer), Everyday Leadership Model (The World Financial Review), The Knowledge-Based Approach to Management Consulting Projects (Management Consulting Journal), AI-Powered Decision-Making Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), High-performing Transformational Leadership Model (Management Consulting Journal), Japanese Management Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), The Innovative Transformational Leadership Model (The World Financial Review), The Strategic Transformational Leadership Model (The European Financial Review), Knowledge Management Leadership Model (SAGE Journals), The Japanese Authentic Leadership Model (The European Business Review), Practical Social Capital Model (The World Financial Review), The Executive Approach to Psychological Capital (University of South Florida), The Corporate Culture Model (University of South Florida), The New Leadership Shifts Model (The European Business Review), Leadership Development Model for Fighting Climate Change (Valparaiso University), Corporate Culture Change Model (The Society for Human Resource Management-SHRM), Level-Up Leadership Theory (Association for Talent Development), Design Thinking Model for AI (SAGE Journals), Authentic Leadership Model for AI (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), The Good Company Model (The World Financial Review), Practical Authentic Leadership Model (The World Financial Review), Transformational Leadership Model for Real World (NUCA's quarterly Business Journal), The Blockchain Approach to HR (International HR Adviser Quarterly), HR Management Model for the AI Era (International HR Adviser Quarterly), MLK's Disruptive Authentic Leadership Model (NUCA's quarterly Business Journal), Adaptive Intellectual Leadership Style (NUCA's quarterly Business Journal), Japanese HR Leadership Model (International HR Advisor Quarterly), Digitalization-based HR Strategy (The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development-CIPD), Adaptive Intellectual Leadership (Chartered Managers Canada), The Integrative HR Leadership Theory (Valparaiso University), Change Leadership Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), AI-powered Corporate Leadership Model (American Management Association), Kōnosuke Matsushita's Management Model (The European Business Review), 6-Factor Social Innovation Model (The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development-CIPD), Goal-oriented HR Management Model (The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development-CIPD), Dwight D. Eisenhower's (34th U.S. President) Leadership Model (CIM Ontario Central), The Systemic Survival Approach (The World Financial Review), Tesla-Styled Knowledge Management Model (HR Future Magazine), , Strong Corporate Social Innovation Model (The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development - CIPD), Management Consulting Model for the AI Age (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), The Design Thinking Model for AI (NUCA's quarterly Business Journal), Authentic Leadership Development Model (The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development - CIPD), AI-Powered Authentic Leadership Model (International HR Adviser Quarterly), The Great Leadership Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), The Disruptive Leadership Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), Lee Iacocca's Crisis Leadership Model (Crisis Response Journal), The Tech Model of Knowledge Management (HR Director Magazine), The Knowledge Sharing Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), The Knowledge Implementation Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), Firm's Internal Resources Management Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), From Good Leadership to Great Leadership Model (Chartered Managers Canada), The Transformational Leadership Development Model (Training Journal), Nelson Mandela's Leadership Model (The Diplomat Magazine), Transformational Approach into Technology Leadership (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), Transformational Leadership Development Model (HR Florida Review), Corporate Development Model for the Blockchain Era (HR Florida Review), The AI-powered Adaptive Leadership Style (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), The Transformational Leadership Education Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), The Courageous Leadership Development Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), Authentic Leadership Model with no Implementaion Challenges (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), The Corporate Design Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), The Leadership Model for Social Good (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), Japanese Leadership Model (NUCA's quarterly Business Journal), The Knowledge-powered Management Consulting Strategy (Chartered Management Institute), Gordon Moore's Strategic Leadership Model (The European Business Review), Global Crisis Leadership Model (Crisis Response Journal), AI-powered Adaptive Leadership Model for the Times of Crisis (Crisis Response Journal),The Authentic HR Leadership Model for AI (International HR Adviser), The Post-pandemic Business Design Model (Motivational Training Press/Tampa, Florida), The Design Thinking Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), The DEI Business Consulting Model (Motivational Training Press/Tampa, Florida), The HR Strategy Model for the Digital World (SHRM Florida), Authentic Leadership for Hotels (Hotel Business Review), Level-Up Leadership Development Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), Steve Job's Leadership Model (The Canadian Business Journal), The New Business Culture Model (The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers), High-Performing Companies Model for the Oil and Gas Industry (Consulting Magazine), Technology Leadership Model (Leadership Excellence Essentials), Culture Excellence Measurement Model (Leadership Excellence Essentials), Affective Leadership Model (Home Business Magazine- Co-author: Paul Dannar at Air University, Alabama, US), Integrated Approach into Hotel Leadership (Hotel Business Review), The Post-Pandemic Recovery Business Strategy Model (Chartered Managers Canada), The Effective Leadership Model (Chartered Managers Canada), Knowledge-Powered Transformational Leadership (SHRM People+Strategy Journal), Lee Iacocca's Leadership Style (The European Business Review), The Strong Corporate Culture Model (Chartered Managers Canada), The Technology Leadership Model for HR (Chartered Managers Canada), Servant Leadership Development Model (HR Future Magazine), Social Capital Development Model (HR Future Magazine), and Leadership Model for Practice (HR Future Magazine) for senior executives and global business leaders in the real corporate world. Mostafa's (over 60) books include Post-Pandemic Recovery and Management Consulting's Black Box. The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (based in Norcross in Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA) talked about the importance of his book, Management Consulting's Black Box, to American Business Leaders in Industrial and Systems Engineering at Work (Vol. 58/No.1, 2026).

Mostafa is interested in Cal Newport's concept of "deep work" and is enthusiastic about applying AI and commercial drones to business in the future corporate world. In his spare time, he plays harmonica, pilots, and writes novels for senior managers and business leaders, runs, and does carpentry. 

• Selected Case Studies: https://sites.google.com/view/mostafasayyadicasewriter/

• Personal Website 1: https://mostafasayyadi.weebly.com/     

• Personal Website 2: https://sites.google.com/view/mostafasayyadi/

• Personal Website 3: https://sites.google.com/view/prof-mostafasayyadi/

• M. Sayyadi & Associates Consulting, Inc.: CEO & Co-Founder

• Former Leadership Team Member of The Change Leader, Inc. (San Diego, USA), (CEO: Dr. Drumm McNaughton, Former Chairman of Institute of Management Consultants USA).

• The DS Consulting Group, Inc. (UAE): Leadership Team Member

• Former Vice-President of Motivational Leadership Training, Inc. (Miami, Florida) (President: A/Professor Michael J. Provitera).

• Personal Website 4: https://mostafasayyadi.com/

• Follow Mostafa on Twitter - LinkedIn - ResearchGate - The Case Centre Author Page -  Facebook - Muck Rack - Amazon - ColoradoBiz - Stanford University's Library - UC Berkeley's Library - CEOWORLD Magazine - Hotel Management Personal Website - Process Excellence Network Profile - Virtual Tour of some of his writings

• Email: mostafasayyadi1@gmail.com (Over the past decade, I checked my email every day. Now, as a retired professor of practice, I am no longer able to do the same.)

• Health Situation: Very Good.

Professor Sayyadi, in collaboration with Professor Michael J. Provitera from Miami, Florida, is the co-founder of the Level Up Leadership Theory. Test your Level Up Leadership capability here:

Level Up Leadership Questionnaire