https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/1a https://img.youtube.com/vi/4r_QZvG_doA/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: Why America is Stuck in Political Gridlock Aakif Ahmad, co-founder of Convergence, explains why the political status quo is failing to meet 21st-century challenges and why a fundamentally new approach to problem-solving is needed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r_QZvG_doA https://www.youtube.com/embed/4r_QZvG_doA 45 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/1b https://img.youtube.com/vi/9hCi5A1Gspc/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad on Creating the Right Conditions for Change Aakif Ahmad shares a powerful framework for understanding why pushing an agenda won't work without creating the right conditions first — a lesson that applies to policy, business, and leadership. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hCi5A1Gspc https://www.youtube.com/embed/9hCi5A1Gspc 55 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/1c https://img.youtube.com/vi/darTodr9zW8/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad's 4 Conditions for Cooperation Aakif Ahmad outlines the four essential conditions to foster cooperation between deeply divided groups: a safe space for dialogue, a shared framework, trust and understanding, and diverse participation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=darTodr9zW8 https://www.youtube.com/embed/darTodr9zW8 60 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/1d https://img.youtube.com/vi/_adTcU18duY/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: The Taxi Ride in Karachi — Creating Safe Spaces for Dialogue Aakif Ahmad tells the story of Mazhar, a Pakistani taxi driver, and how a safe, honest conversation can uncover shared values beneath surface-level conflicts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_adTcU18duY https://www.youtube.com/embed/_adTcU18duY 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/1e https://img.youtube.com/vi/TX7mAt9osKs/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad on American Values: \ Aakif Ahmad shares a moving revelation from a Pakistani taxi driver about his deep admiration for American values and the rule of law — a reminder of what unites us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX7mAt9osKs https://www.youtube.com/embed/TX7mAt9osKs 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/1f https://img.youtube.com/vi/zvin33liJWk/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: Thomas Jefferson and the Power of a Unifying Framework Aakif Ahmad uses the Declaration of Independence as a historical example of how a shared framework — defining the challenge, values, and vision — can unite even the most divided groups. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvin33liJWk https://www.youtube.com/embed/zvin33liJWk 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/1g https://img.youtube.com/vi/xN3woZmG3g8/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: How Convergence Reframed the Obesity Epidemic Aakif Ahmad explains how Convergence helped transform a bitter policy conflict into a cooperative effort by reframing the goal from regulation to increasing consumer demand for healthy food. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN3woZmG3g8 https://www.youtube.com/embed/xN3woZmG3g8 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/1h https://img.youtube.com/vi/9Bql6KvoU6s/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad on Building Trust Across Deep Divides Aakif Ahmad shares a surprising breakthrough moment during a national healthcare dialogue, proving that trust can be built even between deeply distrustful opponents. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bql6KvoU6s https://www.youtube.com/embed/9Bql6KvoU6s 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/1i https://img.youtube.com/vi/nAYCHLc_RCY/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: Respect and Humility Are the Keys to Creative Solutions Aakif Ahmad argues that treating people with genuine respect and humility — especially those we disagree with — is the key to unlocking the creative solutions needed to break national gridlock. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAYCHLc_RCY https://www.youtube.com/embed/nAYCHLc_RCY 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/2a https://img.youtube.com/vi/FAk9T1_8fpk/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad on the Founding of Convergence: \ Aakif Ahmad recounts the pivotal sidewalk conversation in 2008 when Rob Fersh asked him to help build what would become Convergence — before it even had a name. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAk9T1_8fpk https://www.youtube.com/embed/FAk9T1_8fpk 60 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/2b https://img.youtube.com/vi/HHw8m_p7eh4/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: Beating the Startup Survival Odds Aakif Ahmad reflects on the fact that only 0.64% of startups survive past their first few years, making Convergence's 10-year anniversary a profound and hard-won milestone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHw8m_p7eh4 https://www.youtube.com/embed/HHw8m_p7eh4 60 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/2c https://img.youtube.com/vi/TRTpEc2OpTM/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: Living the Mission of Dialogue Across Political Divides Aakif Ahmad shares a personal story about maintaining a strong, ongoing dialogue with a close friend whose political views are fundamentally different from his own — Convergence values in daily action. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRTpEc2OpTM https://www.youtube.com/embed/TRTpEc2OpTM 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/2d https://img.youtube.com/vi/99FUQuHQjvY/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: America Has Survived Worse — A Message of Historical Optimism Aakif Ahmad offers a grounded message of hope: America has survived the Revolution, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights movement, and dialogue was central to each turning point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99FUQuHQjvY https://www.youtube.com/embed/99FUQuHQjvY 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/2e https://img.youtube.com/vi/eySyzVJVIwQ/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: 10 Years of Policy Breakthroughs at Convergence Aakif Ahmad reflects on a decade of work on budget reform, reentry readiness, long-term care, and Congressional gridlock — contrasting the early struggles with a decade of impact. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eySyzVJVIwQ https://www.youtube.com/embed/eySyzVJVIwQ 90 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/3a https://img.youtube.com/vi/Z_rL3KV9RyA/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad at Nexus: Philanthropy as a Tool to Restore Meritocracy Aakif Ahmad speaks at the Nexus Global Youth Summit about the transformative power of philanthropy to restore meritocracy in communities where advancement is based on connections rather than merit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_rL3KV9RyA https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z_rL3KV9RyA 60 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/3b https://img.youtube.com/vi/dBgYTqu50Bc/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad on Social Entrepreneurship and Scaling Solutions to Global Challenges Aakif Ahmad defines social entrepreneurship as approaching massive global challenges — poverty, homelessness, food security — with scalable solutions, and argues that passionate innovators need mentorship and capital to succeed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBgYTqu50Bc https://www.youtube.com/embed/dBgYTqu50Bc 61 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/4a https://img.youtube.com/vi/801OSrsonRI/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: Why Cold Calling is Not Dead Aakif Ahmad, expert in B2B sales, debunks the myth that cold calling is obsolete and explains why it remains the essential lifeblood of B2B pipeline generation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=801OSrsonRI https://www.youtube.com/embed/801OSrsonRI 60 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/4b https://img.youtube.com/vi/6yYhGnb4p0U/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad on the Psychology of Asking for Money in Sales Aakif Ahmad breaks down the emotional toll of sales and the psychological barriers that prevent salespeople from confidently asking prospects for a commitment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yYhGnb4p0U https://www.youtube.com/embed/6yYhGnb4p0U 60 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/4c https://img.youtube.com/vi/qLumo3Z6Zq0/maxresdefault.jpg Qualified Leads + Funnel Discipline = Revenue Growth | Aakif Ahmad Aakif Ahmad argues that a committed, formulaic sales process is far more reliable than relying on natural talent, and that consistent funnel discipline is the foundation of predictable revenue growth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLumo3Z6Zq0 https://www.youtube.com/embed/qLumo3Z6Zq0 60 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/4d https://img.youtube.com/vi/zzEtIJ-uiHo/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: How a Sales Process Beats Natural Talent — Lessons from CEB Aakif Ahmad reflects on his early career at the Corporate Executive Board (CEB) and how strictly following a proven sales process made him successful despite not being a natural salesperson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzEtIJ-uiHo https://www.youtube.com/embed/zzEtIJ-uiHo 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/4e https://img.youtube.com/vi/17l1Y-Wzz50/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad on the Power of a Great Mentor in Sales Aakif Ahmad credits his early manager for seeing his potential and maintaining her support through the difficult learning curve of B2B sales — a reminder that great mentors make great careers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17l1Y-Wzz50 https://www.youtube.com/embed/17l1Y-Wzz50 60 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/4f https://img.youtube.com/vi/gVt3Doat5Ak/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad's Side-by-Side Sales Coaching Strategy Aakif Ahmad explains why side-by-side training in live sales appointments — alternating who leads the meeting — is the most effective way to transfer knowledge and build a high-performing team. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVt3Doat5Ak https://www.youtube.com/embed/gVt3Doat5Ak 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/4g https://img.youtube.com/vi/PjyM53K6ON4/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: What Makes a Great Sales Manager? Aakif Ahmad argues that the best sales managers carry the burden of the team's objective on their own shoulders — they take personal ownership of the outcome, not just professional responsibility. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjyM53K6ON4 https://www.youtube.com/embed/PjyM53K6ON4 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/4h https://img.youtube.com/vi/OpzKltj6RZ0/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad on Building a High-Volume Sales Engine Aakif Ahmad outlines a rigorous hiring and training process for B2B sales teams: seeking goal-oriented, competitive, and highly adaptable candidates and training them to make 80–100 calls daily. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpzKltj6RZ0 https://www.youtube.com/embed/OpzKltj6RZ0 90 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/5a https://img.youtube.com/vi/4jV2UfaR3OU/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad on PBS: The Case for Broadening the U.S.-Pakistan Relationship In this PBS Global Perspectives interview, Aakif Ahmad discusses why the U.S.-Pakistan relationship must expand beyond military and security issues to include trade, investment, and people-to-people connections. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jV2UfaR3OU https://www.youtube.com/embed/4jV2UfaR3OU 60 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/5b https://img.youtube.com/vi/JNlOinps1nE/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad on Pakistan's Entrepreneurial Spirit and Diversity Aakif Ahmad highlights the incredible diversity and entrepreneurial energy of Pakistan's 180 million people — a story rarely told in Western media. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNlOinps1nE https://www.youtube.com/embed/JNlOinps1nE 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/5c https://img.youtube.com/vi/ano4FReq-R4/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: 120 Million Young Pakistanis and Why America Should Care Aakif Ahmad explains why investing in the aspirations of Pakistan's massive youth population — 120 million people under the age of 25 — is a critical strategic interest for the United States. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ano4FReq-R4 https://www.youtube.com/embed/ano4FReq-R4 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/5d https://img.youtube.com/vi/StPf8okva_k/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: Why Security-Only Relationships Are Fragile Aakif Ahmad argues that building mutual economic and social stakes is the only way to create a resilient international relationship that can withstand political crises. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StPf8okva_k https://www.youtube.com/embed/StPf8okva_k 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/5e https://img.youtube.com/vi/WFCu4J2YSDI/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad Compares U.S.-China and U.S.-Pakistan Relations Aakif Ahmad explains how deep economic interdependence allows the U.S. and China to weather political storms, and why the U.S.-Pakistan relationship urgently needs the same foundation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFCu4J2YSDI https://www.youtube.com/embed/WFCu4J2YSDI 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/5f https://img.youtube.com/vi/neLOGsz2v9s/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: The Imam and the Rabbi — Interfaith Dialogue That Changed Everything Aakif Ahmad shares a deeply moving story of an interfaith dialogue in Pakistan that transformed a conservative Imam's prejudices — ending with the Imam asking a Jewish Rabbi to pray for his unborn child. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neLOGsz2v9s https://www.youtube.com/embed/neLOGsz2v9s 90 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/video/5g https://img.youtube.com/vi/wpyWkG_MS9s/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: Economic Opportunity Is the Antidote to Extremism Aakif Ahmad discusses the potential for business and NGO collaboration between India and Pakistan, arguing that economic opportunity — not just security — is necessary to combat extremism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpyWkG_MS9s https://www.youtube.com/embed/wpyWkG_MS9s 75 2026-07-24 yes no https://aakifahmadtalks.com/talks/overcoming-political-gridlock https://img.youtube.com/vi/jponklwO1os/maxresdefault.jpg Aakif Ahmad: Overcoming Political Gridlock — Full Talk Aakif Ahmad, co-founder of the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, delivers a full keynote on why America is stuck in political gridlock and what it takes to build genuine bipartisan cooperation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jponklwO1os https://www.youtube.com/embed/jponklwO1os 1080 2015-07-12 yes no