Integrity Partner
August Leadership
August Leadership was born out of a belief that executive search could be better. Today, the firm serves as the Integrity Partner for the Global Business Hall of Fame, leading and managing the nomination and selection process to ensure fairness, transparency, and alignment with JA Worldwide’s goals and the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
-
2002
Asad Haider founds August Leadership
-
[YEAR]
Expands internationally into [region/country]
-
[YEAR]
Introduces [Signature program name]
-
[YEAR]
Reaches [number] leaders supported worldwide
-
2025
Becomes Global Business Hall of Fame Integrity Partner
Founded in 2002, the firm’s founding partners established August Leadership to redefine the way organizations think about leadership. These senior industry veterans saw how the industry was shifting: “partner-led” had become an unsubstantiated claim. Relationships were increasingly transactional. Integrity was often secondary to scale. The human element was being lost.
Firm founders came together to shape a new vision: one that honored deep client partnerships, intellectual rigor, and bespoke service free from the constraints of conventional firm structures. What began as a regional business in the Middle East evolved, over two decades, into August Leadership, a global firm headquartered in New York City, operating across the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia.
The founding partners built August Leadership for the clients, candidates, and consultants who seek purpose-driven impact through leadership. The firm has helped reshape organizations around the world, having helped clients identify the force multipliers who quietly transform everything they touch. After two decades of consultative work rooted in passion, collaboration, integrity, and excellence, August Leadership is proud to partner with JA Worldwide in fostering and celebrating leadership that is a global force for good.
“I started August Leadership because I wanted to deliver a superior experience to candidates, clients, and partners. Where relationships matter more than transactions. And the team and I work tirelessly to bring it to life. But our dedication goes beyond business. It’s a lifelong commitment to unleashing the transformative power of human leadership, leaving a lasting impact on the industries, professions, and communities we touch.”
Founders & Leadership
At the heart of August Leadership are leaders committed to integrity, empathy, and excellence.
Asad Haider, CEO, Founder, and Partner
Asad Haider’s career spans global leadership roles at Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo. Recognized for his fact-based, transparent, and solutions-driven approach, he advises organizations worldwide on strategic talent initiatives, particularly in emerging markets, high-growth companies, and diversity hiring. A committed advocate for gender equality through Paradigm 4 Parity, Asad and his team are known for delivering exceptional results in recruiting top executive talent.
Farah Haider, COO, Co-Founder, and Partner
Farah Haider is a global legal talent advisor with over 20 years of leadership experience across in-house and private practice, specializing in building and transforming high-performing legal teams for Fortune 500 companies. Known for her ability to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and drive business-aligned legal strategies, Farah is also a committed advocate for developing future legal leaders and expanding educational opportunities for underserved communities.
Lead Partner in Collaboration with JA
Michelle Partipilo, a Partner at August Leadership, has played a key role in JA’s recognition programs, initially serving on the selection committee for the JA Canada Business Hall of Fame, and now supporting the Global Business Hall of Fame through JA Worldwide. She specializes in global executive search for organizations across the aviation and aerospace, travel and hospitality, alternative energy, sports and entertainment, and non-profit sectors. With nearly two decades of international experience, Michelle has lived and worked across Canada and abroad, bringing a truly global perspective to her work.
Michelle leads senior-level executive searches across all functional areas, with a particular focus on VP, C-Suite, and Board-level appointments. She is passionate about leadership, organizational culture, and transformational change, and brings deep advisory expertise to each engagement. A dynamic public speaker, Michelle has been invited to share her insights at leading industry conferences and academic institutions, including NACO Canada, the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, and Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business.
A committed member of the business community, Michelle is actively involved in organizations that champion leadership and equity, including Board Ready Women, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, and the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE). Her philanthropic involvement includes longstanding support for initiatives such as Holiday Helper, Covenant House Sleep Out (Vancouver), the BC Children’s Wish Foundation, and the SPCA.
Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Michelle now resides in Calgary, Alberta. Outside of work, she enjoys polo, skiing in the mountains, and hiking with her dog.
A Global Force for Good
As the Global Business Hall of Fame Integrity Partner, August Leadership conducts thorough research, engaging with senior business leaders, and leveraging their extensive leadership and board networks worldwide to ensure nominees meet the Hall of Fame's criteria for excellence in global business and society. They work with the Selection Committee and Voting Jury to choose candidates who demonstrate integrity, leadership, and have made significant contributions to global business.
