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Spirit Untamed
Spirit Untamed is a manifesto for creative independence from Ajaz Ahmed, the founder of AKQA and Studio.One. Blending memoir, strategy and soul, it offers a rare combination of emotional depth and business insight. Written with fearless honesty and poetic clarity, it’s a book for anyone building something new outside systems that seek to restrain them. With lessons on leadership, resilience and reinvention, Spirit Untamed is as much a creative toolkit as it is a personal journey. It’s a reminder that ambition, resilience, and imagination still matter – and can take you further than you think.
Spirit Untamed is a deeply personal and thought-provoking collection of reflections from Ajaz Ahmed, tracing three decades of creative leadership, personal growth and cultural commentary. From growing one of the world’s most celebrated creative companies to launching a new venture built on first principles, Ajaz Ahmed offers a unique perspective on the challenges of modern leadership, the contradictions of corporate life and the quiet strength that comes from living your values.
Rather than following a linear autobiography, the book unfolds thematically, exploring topics such as identity and resilience and the pursuit of meaningful work. Written in a voice that is both grounded and reflective, the book invites readers into moments of solitude, conflict, imagination and clarity. It captures the tension between building something at scale and keeping hold of what truly matters. For readers navigating moments of transition, Spirit Untamed serves as a companion for reflection and renewal. It is a portrait of what it means to build, to endure and to begin again.
Publication:
November 2025
Illustrations:
42
Dimensions:
260 x 222 mm
Format:
Hardback
ISBN:
978-1-911736-30-1
No. of pages:
272
Ajaz Khowaj Quoram Ahmed (b.1973) is a British entrepreneur, best known as the founder and former CEO of AKQA, which he launched in London aged 21 and grew into a global agency of 5,000 people, winning 83 Agency of the Year awards. In 2025, he launched Studio.One, a direct rival to the ‘bloated, bureaucratic holding-company model’. Ajaz is a trustee of Sir Lewis Hamilton’s Mission 44 and Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Unite, and previously served on the boards of EJAF, Lumos, The Design Museum, ICA, The Prince’s Trust, and others. Ajaz received the Spear’s Impact Award for the work of his foundation, ajaz.org. A lifelong student of art, technology and culture, Ajaz is the author of several books, including Velocity, described by Forbes as a ‘blueprint for winning’.