Sarah Sharif, Innovator & Futurist

Sarah Sharif

  • University of California, Davis CA Biological Sciences BS, Jun 2012

    St. Edward’s University, Austin TX Communications MLA, May 2017

  • Harvard University, Design Thinking
    HEC Paris, Strategic Management of Innovation

    Copenhagen Business School, Strategic Management

    Institute for the Future, Futures Thinking

  • Vogue Business Winner ‘22

    Women In Innovation ‘22, Global Programming Lead

    Nordic Innovation House NY ‘21, Innovation Fellow

    OBO Top 100 Innovators’ 2020

    Innovate South ‘19 Innovation Keynote Speaker

    Oxford University ‘19 Climate Tech Speaker

    Mozilla ‘19 Mini Science Grant Recipient

    SXSW Interactive ‘18 Hackathon Speaker

  • Mountainteering, poetry, travel, opera, reading, baking, watercolor painting, and dancing

Core Competencies & Expertise:

Strategic Foresight and Futures Thinking, Design Thinking, Product Innovation, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship

Founder | Scientist Fearless. Bold. Hungry.

Sarah Sharif is a British-American innovator and futurist with a passion to shape 2050 by prioritizing equity and people-centricity based in Manhattan.

As the Founder of Experimental Civics and Innovation Product Manager at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Sharif brings a wealth of experience crafting business services and products of tomorrow. Sharif also teaches innovation as an Adjunct Professor at Sofia University.

Sharif is trusted to deliver on $1M+ strategic foresight, design thinking, and early-stage innovation projects. Her sought-after expertise has supported top brands, primarily in the pharmaceutical industry and Google, Mozilla, and Red Bull. Her work with Experimental Civics has also led to partnerships with leading organizations such as TechStars, United Nations SDN, and the World Wildlife Fund.

Sharif has deep experience delivering strategy for large-scale innovation programs and leading human-centered design, consumer validation, and early-stage ideation engagements and servicing large-scale events from London to Austin, such as Capsule Hack, which drew a crowd of 400 attendees from 31 countries to build startups and solutions for the Climate Crisis.

Sharif's skills have earned her keynote speaking engagements at prestigious events such as Oxford University, SXSW, and Innovate South. Sharif holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences, an M.A. in Communications, and certificates from Harvard University, HEC Paris, and the Copenhagen Business School. Her adventurous spirit is also noteworthy, having completed the Everest Base Camp trek in Sep 2018.

  • Origins

    Sharif began her innovation career through her work with the flagship event ATX Hack for Change. Her hackathon methodology proved impact and over the course of her directorship, the program supported over 147 social good startup & civic projects.

  • Discovery

    Sharif recognized the potential to scale her early-stage innovation work through Experimental Civics. Sharif was able to support more client innovation efforts and hosted internationally recognized for her ideas and award-winning events like Life Sci Hack and Capsule Hack. Her unique methodology continues to mature and evolve now including strategic foresight, product innovation, and futures research.

  • Growth

    Sharif is known for pushing her limits and finding unique intersections to thrive within. Her training in science, experience in consulting and entrepreneurship, and passion for innovation is what clients appreciate. Her work is evolving towards more global strategic initiatives and complex foresight capabilities.

  • Portfolio

    Sharif is a hands-on learner and performs under pressure. Her career is a blend of entrepreneurship, volunteer roles, and full-time roles. During 2021, Sharif took a sabbatical to focus on her life in New York City, full-time work, teaching innovation and rethinking the next steps in her journey. She now takes on projects for select clients from her home in New York.