Prof Sattar Bawany

Prof Sattar Bawany is an internationally recognised keynote speaker, leadership strategist, executive coach and author specialising in AI leadership, disruptive leadership and organisational transformation. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Executive Education and CEO of the Disruptive Leadership Institute, Sattar has become one of the leading voices helping organisations prepare for the future of leadership in an AI-driven world. With more than 35 years of global consulting and leadership experience, he has advised boards, CEOs, government leaders and senior executives across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. His ability to combine strategic insight with practical leadership frameworks has made him a highly sought-after speaker for conferences, executive retreats and leadership summits worldwide.

Sattar’s early career was shaped by a strong academic and commercial foundation in business, marketing and strategic management. He completed studies with the Marketing Institute of Singapore and the Chartered Institute of Marketing before earning a Bachelor of Business Administration from Curtin University and an Executive MBA in Strategic Management from Golden Gate University. He later completed a PhD in Business Management with a focus on disruptive leadership. Alongside his corporate work, Sattar developed more than 25 years of concurrent academic experience as an Adjunct Professor and faculty member with leading universities and executive education institutions. These experiences helped shape his understanding of leadership under pressure, workforce transformation and executive development, giving him a unique perspective that bridges academia, business and real-world leadership challenges.

Throughout his career, Sattar has earned international recognition for his pioneering work in leadership transformation and strategic foresight. He is the creator of the SHAPER AI Leadership Model™, the CRISIS Leadership Model™, the Disruptive Leadership Framework™ and the Human-AI Leadership Integration Framework™, all designed to help organisations navigate complexity, disruption and technological change. He has authored several influential leadership books, including ‘Leadership in Disruptive Times: Negotiating the New Balance’, ‘Transforming NextGen Leaders’ and ‘Disruptive Leadership Competencies’, with his forthcoming publication ‘Leadership as SHAPER: The Future of Human-AI Organizations’ continuing his work on future-ready leadership. In recognition of his impact, Sattar received the Executive of the Year for Human Resources Consulting award at the Singapore Business Review Management Excellence Awards and was recognised as one of the Top 10 Best CEOs in Singapore by CEO Insights Asia. He also serves as a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, further reinforcing his standing as a respected global thought leader.

Event organisers hire Sattar because he delivers practical, forward-thinking insights that help leaders respond confidently to disruption, crisis and rapid technological change. His keynote topics include AI leadership, strategic foresight, crisis leadership, organisational resilience, executive presence, future-ready leadership and human-centred transformation. Whether speaking to corporate executives, government leaders or industry professionals, Sattar provides clear guidance on how to lead effectively in uncertain environments while maintaining innovation, resilience and strong organisational culture.