About Umair
Two decades on stages and, lately, in the fields — this is the journey that shaped Umair Jaliawala, and the people who shaped him.
In brief
Umair Jaliawala is an international inspirational speaker, master trainer and changemaker who has spent more than twenty years helping people find the courage to act.
His work has reached over 625,000 people across 213 named organisations in 35+ countries — but the thread has always been the same: real change that outlasts the applause.
Away from the stage, that same belief runs through From Zero, his zero-waste farming social enterprise — proof that you can build something from almost nothing.
20+
years on the platform
625,000+
people trained
35+
countries
213
organisations, by name
For me it has been a daring adventure as an entrepreneur and trainer — the two jobs I embraced as opposed to the corporate career I was studying for. This was probably the best decision I made in my life.
The journey
Scroll the story — the milestones that led from a single idea to a global body of work.
Starts Torque as a business unit inside School of Leadership — his own intrapreneurial venture, with SoL helping on transactions and admin while he builds the practice.
Umair steps in as a Director at School of Leadership (SoL) — an experience-based youth-leadership organisation taking communication, character and confidence to young people across Pakistan.
Becomes CEO of School of Leadership and President of its Foundation (SoLF, relaunched that year) — steering both toward funded, policy-level work with partners including UNICEF, UNDP and the British Council.
Presents the vision for the Karachi Youth Support Network at its launch — a youth centre for under-resourced communities in Korangi, Saddar, Kimari and Lyari. “A one-of-a-kind youth centre model that provides mentorship and guidance,” he said at the time.
Named to the Rise Up Together Youth Champion Cohort, as his six years as SoL's CEO come to a close.
Joins the board of The Ajency as a Director — a creative agency for brand strategy, design, video and animation, where he oversees digital learning tutorials for automobile, banking and FMCG clients.
Brings Dastaan-e-Ishq — two hours of storytelling, Sufi poetry and music — to Plan 9, Lahore. It has since been staged 100+ times across Pakistan.
Takes the stage at CreativeMornings Islamabad, hosted at the National Incubation Center — one of many stages beyond the boardroom, alongside a TEDxIslamabad talk, “Let's Break Barriers.”
After ten years steering School of Leadership and its Foundation, Umair steps away and Torque spins out as a company of its own — corporate learning, training and culture, built his own way.
Leads “Break the Cage,” a multi-sensory inspirational experience on limiting beliefs, trauma and bias, at IBA City Campus, Karachi.
20+ years, half a million people moved — and still going: this October he co-leads “Tongue & Thunder,” a communication and public-speaking workshop in Karachi, with Sarah Mashhood.
Credentials
Formal education
BBA, Branding & Marketing
Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi · 2004–2008
Diploma in Self-Awareness Humanistic Counselling
Centre for Personal & Professional Development (CPPD) · 2016
Intermediate (HSSC), Science
DHA Degree College, Karachi · 2002–2004
Matriculation (SSC), Science
St Bonaventure's High School · 2002
Informal & professional learning
Global Master Facilitator — Active Citizens
British Council, UK
Art-based Citizenship Facilitation
British Council, UK
Conflict Resolution & Peace Building Facilitator
Peace Direct, UK
Social Enterprise Facilitator — Foundations of Social Enterprise
Social Enterprise Academy, Scotland · 2009
Micro-entrepreneurship Master Trainer
Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
Liberalism and Religion
Friedrich Naumann Foundation — International Academy for Leadership, Gummersbach, Germany · 2012
Summer School on intercultural dialogue
UN Alliance of Civilizations — University of Aveiro & Euro-Mediterranean University, Coimbra, Portugal · 2012
SRHR Champion & Global Changemaker (Rise Up)
Packard Foundation, USA · 2015
New Strategies for Creating Extraordinary Results
12th Annual Worldwide Luminary Series, Karachi · 2006
Train the Young Trainer (TTYT)
School of Leadership · 2005
And the school of life
Recognition
The people behind him
Behind every stage is a family that keeps him grounded — the quiet reason for all of it.
Parents
The lessons in effort, humility and generosity that started everything — long before any stage.
His partner
His partner in life and in the mission — the constant behind two decades of travel and work.
Folks and friends
The friends and mentors who've stuck around through every version of the journey — on the road, backstage and off it.
The books
The Force · Umair Jaliawala
Book one
Coming soonGet out of the way, and let God play through you
Umair's first book draws on two decades of personal development work — on stages, in training rooms and in his own life — and the lesson underneath all of it: we are at our best when we stop forcing, get out of our own way, and let God work through us.
From Zero · Umair Jaliawala
Book two
Coming soonStart with what you have
Umair's second book is about beginning before you feel ready — building ventures, communities and a zero-waste farm from almost nothing, and what starting from zero teaches about courage, patience and faith.
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Work with Umair
Bring Umair to your stage, or explore the work that carries the message forward.