Ahmad Islam

A marketing agency with bold, unapologetic leadership and a hunger for success creates change. It’s a simple truth -- one that Ahmad Islam, co-founder and managing partner of full-service, award-winning marketing agency, commonground, embraces every day. Ahmad is equal parts entrepreneur, scholar, strategist and change agent.

Ahmad is vital to client marketing strategies and new business development for the agency, spurring the creative, strategic and tactical endeavors for the company. He has steered the development of award-winning marketing programs for clients and brands such as MillerCoors, American Family Insurance, The Coca-Cola Company, Bacardi USA, Alberto-Culver, Nike, Wrigley, Sprite, Blackberry and Mercedes Benz.

Prior to co-founding commonground, Ahmad was Vice President, Account Director at Leo Burnett, where he was responsible for the U.S. Army business. Ahmad has been inducted into the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. Chicago United, a business advocacy group, featured Ahmad in its 2011 Business Leaders of Color (BLC) publication. He was also named among Crain's Chicago Business 'Top 40 under 40' list of business people leading in their respective areas.

Ahmad, a native of Springfield, Ohio, earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Psychology from Miami (OH) University and a Master’s of Science degree in Sports Management from West Virginia University. He balances his zeal for his craft with a deep commitment to his family, wife Debra and children, Gabriel and Selena. Ahmad and his family spend a great deal of time fundraising and advocating for Autism awareness. The Islam family recently established Gabriel’s Horn, a foundation dedicated to advocacy and awareness for minority families impacted by Autism. Ahmad is also on the board of the Chicago chapter of Autism Speaks and the Congo Square Theatre.