Dr. S. Aqeel Tirmizi is a Professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior at Antioch University’s Department of Leadership and Change. His teaching and research focus on leadership, organizational behavior and design, humanistic management, social innovation, as well as cross-cultural leadership.
Aqeel’s consulting and training focuses on leadership development, strategic planning, management of change, as well as organization design and development. His consulting assignments have included work with transnational and national organizations across multiple sectors.
Aqeel was selected in the CSC Leaders program for his contributions to the profession. The program recognizes leaders from multiple sectors and was implemented through a collaboration between HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (Commonwealth Study Conferences) and Common Purpose – United Kingdom.
Aqeel’s current work focuses on integrating research wisdom to meaningfully inform leadership and organizational practices and contribute to improving the human condition. His publications have appeared in several peer-reviewed outlets. He regularly presents his work at national and international conferences.
- PhD in Management
Focus: Organizational Behavior and Leadership
State University of New York – Binghamton, New York, USA
- Tirmizi, S.A. (with Tim Staub) (2025). Navigating Emerging Climate Crises Through Adaptive Polycentric Meta-networks. Humanistic Management Journal, 10, 165–181 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41463-024-00189-5
- Tirmizi, S. A. (2024). Perspectives on Self and Leadership Development from the Tradition of Sufism. In Leadership at the Spiritual Edge (pp. 163-176). Routledge.
- Tirmizi, S. A. (2023). Globally responsible leadership: The courageous case of Angela Merkel. Leadership, https://doi.org/10.1177/17427150231201733
- Tirmizi, S. A. (with Ken Williams and Noor Tirmizi) (2023). More Human, Not Less: Global Relevance of Values-Based Leadership. Humanistic Management Journal, 1-16.
- Tirmizi, S. A. (2023). Developing Courageous Leadership. Ivy Business Journal, March/April Issue.
- Tirmizi, S. A. (with Noor Tirmizi) (2020). Is Servant Leadership Universally Relevant? A Study Across Cultures and Sectors. International Leadership Journal, 12(3), 38–63.
- Tirmizi, S. A. (2018). A Framework for Responsible Leadership Practice. In Jamison, D., Church, A. & Vogelsang, J. (Eds.) Enacting Values-Based Change. Palgrave Publications.
- Tirmizi, S. A. & Vogelsang, J. (Eds.) (2017). Leading & Managing in the Social Sector. The Netherlands: Springer Publications
- Halverson, C. & Tirmizi, S. A. (Eds.) (2008). Multicultural Teams: Theory and Practice. The Netherlands: Springer Publications.
- Tirmizi, S. A. (2002). The 6-L framework: A Model for Leadership Research and Development. Leadership and Organizational Development Journal.
- S. A. Tirmizi (with Ken Williams) (2025). Meta-Leadership Mastery: Synthesizing Three Decades of Leadership Research. Paper accepted for presentation at the 2025 International Leadership Annual Global Conference, Prague. Czech Republic
- Tirmizi, S.A. (with Tim Staub) (2025). Adaptive Polycentric Meta-Networks: A Networked Architecture for Globally Responsible Climate Leadership. Paper presented at the World Symposium on Sustainability Leadership, Salamanca, Spain
- S. A. Tirmizi (with Emily Aiken) (2024). Advancing Dignity Through the Appreciative Dignity Treatment Model. Paper Presented at the 2024 International Leadership Annual Conference, Chicago, USA.
- S. A. Tirmizi (with Lary “Bing” Bingaman) (2023). An Integrated Framework for Responsible Stakeholder Engagement. Paper Presented at the ILA's 25th Annual Global Conference, Vancouver, Canada
- Tirmizi, S. A. (2021). Honoring Human Dignity and Wellbeing: Towards a “Unified” Theory of Humanistic Leadership. Presentation at the ILA Global Virtual Conference: Reimaging Leadership Together.
- Tirmizi, S. A. & Ladkin, D. (2020). Integrating and Accessing Leadership Wisdom using the Aristotelian Concept of Phronesis. Presentation at the ILA Global Virtual Conference: Leading at the Edge
- Tirmizi, S. A. (2019). Application of Leadership Theories Across Cultures and Work Contexts: A Four-Nation Study. Paper presented at the ILA Global Conference – Leadership: Courage Required, Ottawa, Canada
- Tirmizi, S. A. (2019). Globally Responsible Leadership: The Courageous Case of Angela Merkel. Paper presented at the ILAGlobal Conference – Leadership: Courage Required, Ottawa, Canada
- Tirmizi, S. A. (2018). Leading Responsibly: Relevance of the Major Leadership Theories in the Caribbean Context. Paper presented at the ILA Regional Conference: Exploring the Dilemmas of Leadership in Latin America, Lima, Peru
- Tirmizi, S. A. (2017). Innovations in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Financing and Operations: A Case Story from the Middle East. Invited Presentation at the 2017 Oxford Business Fights Conference, Oxford. U.K.
- Tirmizi, S. A. & Hellstrom, T. (2014). Leading Happiness – How B Corporations are Paving the Way: Evidence from Three Organizations. Paper presented at the Annual Social Entrepreneurship Conference, Boston, USA
- Tirmizi, S. A. (2014). Advancing Leadership for the Social Sector: Responding to Organizational and Sectoral Demands. Workshop delivered at the InterAction Forum, Washington, D.C., USA
- Tirmizi, S. A. (2012). Linking Theory and Research: A Framework for Social Entrepreneurship Education. Paper presented at the Annual Academy of Management, Boston, USA
- International Leadership Association
- International Humanistic Management Association
- Leadership Learning Community