Awais Sheikh
Forerunner Co-founder
Deeply rooted in the Northern Virginia Muslim community, Awais has been an active member of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS), serving in various leadership roles. He has also contributed his time and expertise to the ADAMS Compassionate Healthcare Clinic and currently serves as the Chairman of Al Fatih Academy.
Awais’ career includes serving as the Head of Strategic Planning and Execution Management for Amazon Web Services’ largest Public Sector sales organization, where he advised executives on multi-billion dollar revenue targets. Additionally, he held the position of Capability Development Lead for MITRE’s Business Innovation Capability, driving innovation through design thinking and lean startup methodologies.
As a co-founder of Forerunners, he continues to leverage his professional accomplishments and community credibility to foster positive change.
Leading with Trust: A Framework for Scaling Impact with Integrity
How do we grow Muslim-led startups, companies and nonprofits without compromising our values? This workshop presents a powerful model of organizational development based on the Qur’anic metaphor of the human body and the amanah (trust) each part holds. The presenters will explore the “Organization as a Body” framework and the Amanah Assessment - a tool developed by Forerunners to diagnose and guide ethical scaling. Hear from Muslim executives and founders who have implemented these concepts and leave equipped to scale your venture with ihsan, taqwa, and a commitment to societal good. This workshop is ideal for entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, executives, and professionals seeking to scale their work without sacrificing integrity.