At the American University in Dubai, Dr. Sunitha Kshatriya has redefined what it means to blend education with enterprise. Guided by years of experience working within Toronto’s immigrant communities, she recognized early on that entrepreneurship could be far more than a business endeavor, it could be a pathway to inclusion, empowerment, and social transformation.
That belief has become real. Under her supervision, students who previously thought entrepreneurship was an abstract concept now have 70 trade licenses for their own enterprises. She is leading the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, which has generated 150+ industry mentors, 83+ partner relationships and raised over AED 350,000+ in grants and funding from Dubai government, corporates and global investors who have invested in AEIC Startups – milestones that illustrate a philosophy of action and measurable results.
Her career, which spans more than two decades in Canada and the UAE, exemplifies a unique combination of academic leadership, social innovation, and community engagement. She established the Empowerment Centre for the Advancement of Education in Toronto and previously worked as a Program Manager at the London School of Business. Her academic background at Stanford’s D. School and Columbia University has shaped her unique “embodied leadership” approach and “experiential learning” educational philosophy that assures learning is both intellectual and immersive.
As a scholar and an Author of five books on human resource management and spiritual inquiry, she has made significant contributions to academic discourse, receiving over 80 citations in top publication. Her ‘Leaders in Residence’ project, which received the Status of Women Canada Award, exemplifies her lifelong purpose of converting education into a force for empowerment, innovation, and significant social change.
From Toronto to Dubai: A Journey Rooted in Empowerment
Dr. Sunitha’s trajectory into higher education began in 2010, driven by a deep fascination with human development and experiential learning. By 2013, she had already immersed herself in entrepreneurship and skill-building initiatives focused on empowering women and youth work that would define her professional identity.
Her time in Canada proved pivotal. As Leader-in-Residence for Project Empowerment, an initiative supported by Status of Women Canada and Skills for Change from 2013 to 2014, she worked directly with women to enhance their leadership capacity and economic participation. The experience earned her the Status of Women Canada Award and crystallized her life’s mission: to empower young people to pursue their intrinsic passions and achieve self-actualization.
“This calling eventually led me to the American University in Dubai, where I now lead efforts in entrepreneurship and innovation education bridging academia, industry, and community to nurture purpose-driven, future-ready changemakers,” she reflects,
In 2014, she founded her first not-for-profit initiative in Toronto, eCAFE, the Empowerment Center for Advancement of Education to support women and youth in developing entrepreneurial and life skills. This grassroots work revealed entrepreneurship’s transformative power as a tool for empowerment, self-reliance, and social change.
Her global academic exposure spans York University, Seneca College School of Business, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Stanford University’s D. School, and Columbia University. These experiences enabled her to integrate experiential learning, design thinking, and sophisticated pedagogical frameworks into her teaching and leadership practice.
A Leadership Philosophy Built on Authenticity
Dr. Sunitha defines her leadership style as motivational, and purpose driven. She inspires students and young founders to pursue their passions with conviction, emphasizing resilience, a growth mindset, and positive attitude as core enablers of success and transformation.
“My professional evolution at AUD has been guided by the principles of sincerity, authenticity, transparency, and heartfelt commitment to my work and those I serve,” she explains. This approach resonates deeply within AUD’s academic ecosystem, where her leadership extends beyond administrative duties into genuine mentorship.
She practices what she calls “embodied leadership” an approach where learning transcends cognitive boundaries to become emotional, reflective, and purpose driven. This philosophy prepares students not merely as business graduates but as creative problem-solvers and socially conscious innovators ready to tackle real-world challenges.
Building an Innovation Ecosystem: The AEIC Model
Under Dr. Sunitha’s direction, the American University in Dubai Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center (AEIC) has evolved into a dynamic force within the UAE’s innovation landscape. The center’s core mission and value of ‘Impossible is Nothing!‘ ignites entrepreneurial mindsets and nurtures innovation-driven leaders who create real-world impact aligned with UAE Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
AEIC operates on six foundational pillars: Education, Incubation, Acceleration, Industry Partnerships, Research, and Community Engagement. This comprehensive framework transforms students from passive learners into active creators through a structured six-level startup pathway that guides them from mindset development to market entry.
The numbers tell a compelling story. AEIC has signed over 80 corporations and three government memorandums of understanding, onboarded 150+ local and global business mentors, and facilitated 70 student and alumni startup trade licenses. These aren’t just statistics—they represent young entrepreneurs who have transformed ideas into viable businesses under Kshatriya’s guidance.
“AEIC transforms students from learners to creators. We promote learning-by-doing through design thinking, prototyping, and real-world industry projects,” she emphasizes.
The center provides access to certified incubator support, mentorship, and investor networks that help translate student ideas into viable ventures. It fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between Business, Engineering, and Communication students, creating rich environments were diverse perspectives fuel innovation.
Aligning Vision with Impact
AEIC’s initiatives directly operationalize AUD’s institutional vision, which emphasizes student success, excellence in teaching and learning, and the advancement of society. Dr. Sunitha has strategically positioned the center to strengthen student integration with local and global communities, helping them become empathetic, entrepreneurial global citizens.
The center enhances academic excellence by embedding Stanford and Columbia’s design-thinking pedagogies into coursework and diversifying program portfolios across multiple disciplines. The Teaching-Learning Studios experience (TLS 1.0 and 2.0) has become a signature program, contributing to AUD winning the MENA Award for Teaching and Learning Excellence in 2023.
AEIC extends AUD’s social mission by contributing directly to the UAE’s national innovation ecosystem. The center aligns with government initiatives including Dubai SME, Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, and Sandooq Al Watan’s National Incubator Network. It supports Emirati startups, builds blockchain-based industry linkages, and fosters socio-cultural exchange through experiential learning and internships.
Technology as Enabler, Not End
Dr. Sunitha champions the integration of cutting-edge technologies, AR/VR, Blockchain, Web3, gamification, and artificial intelligence into entrepreneurship and innovation courses. The BlockLab initiative has become particularly noteworthy, offering students hands-on experience with emerging technologies that are reshaping global business landscapes.
“We embrace cutting-edge technologies to deliver immersive, future-ready learning environments,” she notes. Students engage in hybrid, technology-enabled classrooms that combine physical and virtual learning spaces, working on digital transformation projects and sustainability-focused startup solutions aligned with the UAE’s green economy initiatives.
However, she maintains a human-centric perspective. Technology serves as an enabler for deeper learning experiences, not an end. Faculty continuously upskills through Stanford and Columbia-led teaching-learning studios, ensuring pedagogy remains at the forefront of innovation.
Cultivating Critical Skills for Tomorrow
When asked about the crucial skills today’s learners need, Dr. Sunitha identifies five essentials: agility and adaptability in navigating rapid technological and market changes; entrepreneurial self-efficacy and confidence to take initiative; design thinking and creativity to reimagine problems from a human-centric lens; emotional intelligence and resilience to thrive amid uncertainty; and ethical, sustainable thinking to create solutions with long-term social value.
Her commitment to inclusive innovation runs deep. AEIC welcomes students, alumni and community from all disciplines and backgrounds, ensuring equal access through open workshops and incubator memberships. The center prioritizes women’s empowerment through mentorship programs and founder showcases, embeds intercultural collaboration by mixing global and local perspectives within team projects, and partners with organizations supporting women, youth, and Emirati entrepreneurs.
Shaping the Future of Regional Higher Education
Dr. Sunitha observes that universities in the Middle East are transitioning from knowledge providers to innovation ecosystems that nurture creators and problem-solvers. The focus shifts toward applied research, entrepreneurship, and policy engagement aligned with Vision 2030 goals.
“Institutions like AUD exemplify this shift, fostering global citizenship and innovation-led economic growth,” she explains. Universities are becoming regional innovation hubs that bridge academia, government, and industry in unprecedented ways.
Looking ahead, she feels most excited about expanding AEIC’s BlockLab and integrating AI, gaming, and blockchain innovation more deeply into student projects. She plans to launch a Women Founders Fellowship to scale female-led ventures, build an innovation fund to support student startups and applied research, and integrate a Mindfulness Lab within education. Her ultimate goal positions AUD as a regional hub for experiential entrepreneurial education aligned with the UAE’s knowledge economy vision.
A Message for Future Innovators
Dr. Sunitha stays inspired by remaining rooted in purpose of believing that education transforms lives and societies. She draws energy from students’ creativity and courage to dream big, engages in global collaborations with leading institutions, and practices reflective leadership and mindfulness that balances intellect with empathy.
Her message to aspiring educators and future innovators carries the weight of lived experience: “Teach with heart, lead with authenticity, and learn without ego. See education not as instruction, but as illumination, awakening human potential. Believe that every idea, no matter how small, can change life. Build with purpose, not perfection, innovation grows from courage, not certainty.”
She concludes with the conviction that has guided her journey: “Remember: impossible is nothing when passion aligns with purpose.”
In Dr. Sunitha Kshatriya, the Middle East has found an educational leader who doesn’t simply prepare students for the future, she empowers them to create it.
