Shahid Ahmed

Shahid Ahmed is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences at Northwestern University. He bridges academia and industry by advising early-stage firms in wireless, IoT, and digital sectors, while supporting telecom operators in digital transformation.

Education:

• BS in Computer Science from Elmhurst College
• Masters of Engineering Management from Northwestern University

Research and Industry Expertise: His professional focus includes

• Wireless infrastructure and IoT deployment
• Digital strategy for telecommunications
• Emerging technologies in consulting and enterprise innovation

At PwC, he led practices in Data & Analytics, Emerging Technologies, and the Emerging Technologies Lab, while at Accenture, he managed a $1B+ North American Communications portfolio.

Leadership and Advisory Roles: Ahmed has held executive positions at Sprint, Accenture, and PwC, and currently serves on advisory boards for the Smart Network Council, Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA), Northwestern University’s MEM program, and The Coral Group. He chaired IoT and cybersecurity working groups at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) after his 2011 appointment as advisor.

Notable Engagements: He served as a commencement speaker at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering (2015) and spearheaded new venture initiatives at PwC.