Strategist. Innovator
Based: Johannesburg
Abdullah Verachia is a sought-after global speaker, advisor, practice strategist and innovator. He is adept at fusing practice, education, insight, empathy and experience together to add significant value at all levels. Abdullah has served in senior executive and board roles, crafted competitive strategies for leading companies and governments around the world, lectured at some of the top-ranked business schools globally and also built and run a number of successful companies.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- Selected for the Brightest Young Minds in South Africa
- Awarded Harvard Business School Dean’s Scholarship for leadership and innovation
- Recipient of the 2019, 2020 and 2021 GIBS Excellence in Teaching Award forexecutive education and academic programmes, as voted by staff and students
- Presented with the 15-year Excellence Award for contributions made towards anddevelopment of the Model United Nations
- Made an honorary member of the Golden Key International Honour Society
Abdullah serves as CEO of The Strategists, where he plays an active role in assisting companies and organisations to craft competitive future strategies and build innovation functions. He is renowned for his expertise in building ambidextrous organisations.
With significant expertise in strategy, innovation and disruption, Abdullah facilitates numerous high-level strategy sessions and breakaways for companies and governments, and is an authoritative speaker on the world stage regarding these matters.
He has led strategy, innovation and consulting assignments in an array of sectors including banking, mining, finance, asset management, construction, insurance, legal, audit, FMCG, telecoms, retail and automotive. Abdullah and his team have consulted and guided more than 200 global multinationals firms (listed and non-listed) to build disruptive, ambidextrous organisations, with a focus on building success in the now and the next.
Abdullah led the team that crafted the 2017-2030 Gauteng Economic Development Strategy in association with the province’s Premier and Executive Council. He also led the 2017 Mauritius Competitiveness foresight strategy and continues to play a vital role on the Oxford University and Gates Foundation programme on South Africa in a Digital Age
