Her life has always been a journey of self-exploration. It began in search of self and will reach its destination with self-actualization. “My name is Sunitha. While I am an academic in the external world, within, I am a Sufi. My search for the ‘self’ has been an eternal one—and I now find myself standing at its threshold, ready to enter a realm that is both timeless and true.”

Dr. Sunitha Kshatriya is the Director of the American University in Dubai’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center & Certified Incubator, and Associate Professor of Management. Previously she was the Chairperson of the ‘Empowerment Centre for the Advancement of Education’ (ECAfE), a not-for-profit she founded in Canada, and Program Manager at the London School of Business, among various other academic and management positions that she held.

“I am naturally drawn to spirituality and philosophy, for it is in these realms that I find kindred minds. I do not consider myself religious in the conventional sense; rather, my search transcends all religions. It embraces and embodies every thought that leads inward, toward the essence of being.” In the last 20+ years, Dr. Sunitha Kshatriya has played a key role in academic and not-for-profit institutions both in Dubai and Canada including establishing strategic partnerships in Education along with Women and Youth Empowerment initiatives.

She specializes in program creation, teaching, training, curriculum design, and design thinking, reinforced with an entrepreneurial mindset and an extensive breadth of international experience in management, policy development, and strategic leadership in the public, private and academic sectors.

“Writing—and all forms of intellectual exploration—are passions of mine. Poetry, in particular has been my soul’s language, a way to bridge the inner world with the outer. I hold a deep love for humanity, believing that every human being carries the spark of the divine.”

She is the author of three academic books in HRM – ‘Self Actualization: A Perception Study’ (ISBN: 978-3-330-96641-3); in Training & Development titled ‘Empowerment’ (ISBN: 978-3-330-97651-1) and in Recruitment & Selection titled ‘A Selection System and Job Analysis’ (ISBN: 978-620-2-30002-5). She has also recently published her 4th book of her poems A Door Within: In Search and in Stillness: A Sufi’s Awakening (ISBN: 979-8280542372). She has over 10 journal publications including 15 conferences that she presented, chairing and co-chairing many including various workshops that she conducted, and projects consulted, including research concluded. Her current research interests are in Happiness, Design Thinking, Potential Actualization and Empowerment.

“An introvert by nature, I seek meaning in solitude rather than in superficial connections. In many ways, I am a paradox—a quiet seeker navigating both the world of ideas and the silence within.”

Dr. Sunitha Kshatriya is the recipient of various awards including the prestigious Status of Women, Canada award for her ‘Leaders in Residence’ project related to Women Empowerment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62OQSsBvZTw ‘Best Researcher’ and ‘Research Contribution’ awards she received between 2012 to 2015. She was also a TED-X speaker at the prestigious Rogers School of Business Management in Toronto, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAjljpYZgSg).

Dr. Sunitha Kshatriya has previously served as Associate Professor, Human Resource Management (HRM), Director, Institutional Effectiveness. Other positions held by her have been Acting Dean Research and Program Leader at the London School of Business Toronto, Professor at Seneca College Toronto, and Guest Lecturer at York University, Toronto.

A Calling Rooted in Intellect and Purpose

A shining beacon of purpose-driven education and human-centered pedagogy, Dr. Sunitha Kshatriya stands tall among the most admired academic leaders in the Middle East. Her intellectual rigor, transformative teaching style, and unwavering commitment to empowerment have carved a distinct space for her in the world of higher education. As an educator, researcher, institution-builder, and thought leader, she continues to inspire students and fellow academicians alike with her deeply experiential philosophy and trailblazing work in academia.

Driven by an intrinsic intellectual curiosity, Dr. Kshatriya’s journey into the realm of academia was never about mere occupation—it was a calling. Her pursuit of knowledge and passion for transforming lives through education have led her through numerous landmark achievements over the years.

Defining Moments that Shaped a Trailblazer

One of the pivotal moments in Dr. Kshatriya’s career was the establishment of Symbiosis University’s first international branch office in Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZA) in 2008. This initiative marked the beginning of her mission to bridge global academic practices with regional aspirations.

Her commitment to social impact became even more evident when she was honored with the Status of Women Canada Award for her pioneering work in training immigrant women between the ages of 35 and 55, transitioning them from survival jobs to career-oriented opportunities. This success inspired her book Empowerment (ISBN: 978-3-330-97651-1), a testament to the real-world application of her philosophies.

Her journey also includes significant milestones such as being trained in Design Thinking at Stanford’s d-school, publishing a high-impact paper on happiness in 2022, and being featured on a United Nations panel for women’s empowerment in 2025. Her fourth book, A Sufi’s Awakening (ISBN: 979-8280542372), reflects her spiritual and intellectual evolution.

Transformative Teaching Rooted in Experience and Empathy

Dr. Kshatriya’s teaching philosophy centers around experiential learning—a vibrant, hands-on methodology where the educator becomes a co-learner and facilitator of transformation. Her classrooms are anything but conventional. She integrates music, rituals, collaborative games, prototyping, storytelling, and digital tools such as AI, Mural Boards, and gamification to create an immersive and joyful learning ecosystem.

She encourages failure as a foundation for success and cultivates self-efficacy, creative confidence, and resilience in her students. Her pedagogy engages all eight learning levers—activities, assessments, roles, rituals, communication, space, artifacts, and learner identity—ensuring that students grow holistically. Each session is structured with engagement and discovery in mind, making her classes vibrant spaces for transformation and innovation.

Research That Mirrors the Soul of Society

Her primary research areas reflect both her personal evolution and broader societal needs:

• Happiness – the intrinsic purpose of human life.
• Entrepreneurship – the foundation of economies and leadership.
• Design Thinking – a framework for empathy-driven innovation.
• Women Empowerment – a deeply personal mission as a female changemaker.
• Self-Actualization – a belief in nurturing God-given potential to inspire others.

Adaptation to Institutional Challenges

Adjusting to the academic landscape in the Middle East came with its share of challenges. Within environments marked by established hierarchies and structured systems, Dr. Sunitha Kshatriya remained grounded in her work, and leading with integrity, optimism, and authenticity.

Her resilience and ability to foster genuine human connections enabled her to navigate institutional frameworks, build meaningful networks, and demonstrate that sincerity, excellence, and a commitment to continuous learning can inspire change.

Building Institutions from the Ground Up

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Sunitha Kshatriya’s contributions to institutional development are profound. She has:

• Founded the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center at AUD from the ground up.
• Introduced Design Thinking-based incubation when few understood its value enabling it to gain wider recognition.
• Helped bridging academia and the real world through deep industry partnerships.

She led the development of a blended Innovation and Entrepreneurship curriculum, created AUD’s first Innovation Teachers’ Guide, and helped students monetize capstone ideas. The partnerships of AUD’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center & Certified Incubator with over 70 industry leaders and 60 mentors have resulted in workshops, startup accelerations, and real-world impact.

Mentorship That Ripples Across Borders and Generations

As a mentor to future educators and researchers, Dr. Sunitha Kshatriya fosters global collaboration and knowledge exchange. She regularly participates in joint research projects, shares innovative pedagogy, and leads training programs to build capacity in emerging educators.

Her willingness to embrace and integrate technology—be it the metaverse, AI, or gamification—positions her as both a learner and leader in education’s digital future.

A Vision for Holistic and Human-Centered Education

Dr. Kshatriya’s vision for higher education in the Middle East is both futuristic and fundamentally human:

• Education should help individuals actualize their potential.
• It must nurture emotional intelligence, empathy, and ethical grounding.
• Blended learning, industry integration, and spiritual reflection must be cornerstones.
• Classrooms must evolve into spaces for building cohesive, tolerant, and resilient societies.

Her vision transcends academics—it is about cultivating the next generation of compassionate, value-driven global citizens. This approach is already underway at AUD through a range of initiatives that embody these principles.

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Academics

To those embarking on a career in academia, her advice is both grounded and empowering:

“Pave your own path, actualize your intrinsic potential, experiment, tread new paths, continue to learn and self-develop, learn from failure, be authentic, do not compromise on quality and integrity, and be YOU.”

An Educator, a Visionary, a Catalyst for Change

Dr. Sunitha Kshatriya is not just a professor; she is a movement unto herself—a visionary who brings intellect, empathy, and impact into every classroom and boardroom she steps into. As we look to the future of education in the Middle East, her work stands as a beacon of what academia can achieve when it chooses to be fearless, inclusive, and profoundly human.