Hi, I’m Imran.
I’ve run national science institutions, advised $500m+ philanthropies, raised tens of millions in funding, built a global trust-in-science initiative, and helped scale a psychedelic research center from scratch.
Now, I help science-oriented leaders sharpen strategy, tell their story, unlock funding, and re-align teams.
I work with a small number of leaders as a trusted thought partner or strategic advisor. They include researchers stepping into or grappling with leadership roles, funders who care about real-world impact, and founders who need to turn passion into traction.
If you’re:
- Overloaded or feel too close to the problem, and need help seeing the big picture
- Trying to connect research with social purpose and real-world impact
- Needing to turn a high-potential team into a high-impact one, or managing a high-stakes transition
- Craving strategy that doesn’t flatten the science - or a story that doesn’t lose the plot
… then drop me a line to see if we might be a fit.
“Imran’s approach combines leadership experience, integrity, and curiosity. He’s a pleasure to work with, and brings real care to the projects he takes on.”
– Michael Pollan, author and cofounder of the BCSP
I mostly work…
- On retainer – Ongoing advisory or strategic partnership (1 slot open)
- By sprint – Time-bound help on strategy, story, or team alignment/structure
- As a coach – Supporting researchers with leadership, management, influence, or impact
…but each engagement is unique, and focused on need.
“Imran tells it like it is, but with kindness. As an advisor he holds the big picture and asks the right questions, to help us achieve our mission.”
– Ivvet Modinou, Senior Vice President, Simons Foundation
I speak science, systems, and story.
For two decades I’ve helped smart, mission-driven people deliver impact from inside imperfect institutions. If you want the full CV, check my LinkedIn - but the tl;dr is that I’ve:
- Been a CEO and ED on both sides of the Atlantic, including leadership positions at UC Berkeley, the Wellcome Trust, and the British Science Association
- Helped build & launch the first global study on ‘Trust in Science’, and UC Berkeley’s psychedelic science center
- Run national science policy campaigns, rebuilt legacy nonprofits, and been a science journalist
- Spoken at events from SXSW to the World Economic Forum, and been published everywhere from Nature to the Financial Times
- Graduated with a BA, MSc and MBA from Oxford University, Imperial College London, and Bayes Business School
I’m currently writing Psychedelics: The Essential Knowledge with MIT Press. Past consulting clients include the Simons Foundation, CapitalG, OKRE, and Sunstone Therapies.
“Imran combines sharp strategic thinking with a focus on curiosity and impact. As a board member, we counted on him for honest, effective feedback — constructive, and challenging when it mattered.”
– Ravi Gurumurthy, Group CEO, Nesta
☎️ Curious if I can help?
Get in touch for a free 20 min consultation:
🔗 linkedin.com/in/realimrankhan
📍 SF Bay Area, or remote
I’d love to hear what you’re working on - or what’s keeping you up at night.