Who We Are
Unquietness is a knowledge and inspiration point dedicated to helping you realize your leadership potential and building a network of influential leaders. Our life-changing programs, such as Futures Foresight Navigator and the Atlas of Leadership, are designed to equip people with the knowledge and skills they need to lead effectively and create a better future.
Unquiet’s Vision
Inspired by the essence of 'unquietness,' our vision is to uncover restlessness, optimism, and impact. We nurture curiosity and self-discovery, empowering all to craft intentional futures for a meaningful impact.
Our Unquiet Founder
Dr Hafsa Ahmed MNZM is the founder of Unquiet®. She is an award-winning speaker, social entrepreneur, researcher, consultant and a board member. Widely known as "The Optimistic Futurist," Hafsa draws inspiration from Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, a symbol of hope and possibility. She believes deeply in our shared ability to create intentional futures. Her work sits at the intersection of strategic foresight, leadership development, systems change, and community empowerment. A certified futurist and professional member of the Association of Professional Futurists, Hafsa equips people to reframe uncertainty, imagine alternative futures, and act with clarity, purpose, and courage. Her strengths-based, reflective approach is grounded in lived experience, narrative, and inclusive engagement. She is especially recognised for:
- 🌟 Pioneering New Zealand’s first ethnic women’s leadership programme (2021)
- 🌟 Winning The Christchurch Foundation’s Kate Sheppard Grant (2023)
- 🌟 Receiving the Visionary Legacy 2025 Award at the Kiwi Indian Excellence Awards
- 🌟 Being appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in 2023 for services to ethnic communities
Hafsa regularly speaks on topics such as:
- • Leading with purpose
- • Narrative foresight to reframe change
- • Futures mindsets and inclusive leadership
- • Systems transformation through foresight
- • Empowering underrepresented voices for intergenerational impact.
She blends strategy with story, data with heart by inviting audiences into deeply resonant reflections and forward-looking action.
The Vision of Dr. Hafsa Ahmed for Unquiet
Dr. Hafsa Ahmed, MNZM, is the dynamic Founding Director of Unquiet Ltd, hailing from Hyderabad, India. An "Optimistic Futurist," she migrated to New Zealand in 2007, driven by a passion for enhancing lives and fostering thriving communities. In January 2023, she earned the prestigious Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her contributions to ethnic communities and women.
The journey of the unquiet founder
In January 2023, she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to ethnic communities and women. Her professional expertise includes leadership coaching, futures foresight planning with a focus on stakeholder ecosystems engagement and managing change. She has professional work experience of over 20 years in private, public and not-for-profit sectors in India and New Zealand. She is also the co-founder of Lady Khadija Charitable Trust and has held board positions in different organisations in the not-for-profit sector over the past decade. Her favourite places to visit are coffee shops, (as a self-acclaimed coffee snob) and bookstores to find non-fiction books to read (from high performance to soulful mysticism). She has spoken as a keynote at various events – and you could consider inviting her to your next event to inspire some “unquietness.”
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