LAUNCHPAD
The Student Leadership Playbook
The ultimate guide for student leaders, advisors, and staff to create effective organizations while excelling academically.
Transform Your Leadership Journey
Based on real experiences during engineering undergrad, this book provides practical strategies for student leaders to build thriving organizations while maintaining academic excellence.
Proven Frameworks
Practical leadership models tested in real student organizations
Academic Success
Balance leadership responsibilities with academic excellence
Real-World Skills
Develop transferable entrepreneurial skills valued by employers and graduate schools
Who This Book Is For
Launchpad is designed for anyone involved in student leadership and organizational development
Student Leaders
Current and aspiring leaders of student organizations looking to create impact while maintaining academic excellence
Student Affairs Professionals
Advisors and staff who support student organizations and want to help them reach their full potential
Educational Institutions
Universities and colleges seeking to enhance their student leadership development programs
Student Organization Advisors
Faculty and staff who guide student organizations and want to help their students succeed
Explore The Chapters
Dive into the 16 comprehensive chapters that will transform your approach to student leadership
Background
Understanding the importance of student leadership and the lessons it teaches for personal and professional growth.
Background
Understanding the importance of student leadership and the lessons it teaches for personal and professional growth.
Member Engagement
Strategies to engage your organization's members and build an active, enthusiastic community.
Collaboration
Mastering internal and external collaboration techniques to drive your organization's success.
Innovation
How to drive innovation within your student organization using brainstorming and experimentation.
Communication Within the Board
Building clear, effective, and motivating communication among board members.
Setting a Culture and Vision
Creating a meaningful vision and culture that energizes your organization.
Inspiring Your Team
Becoming a leader who inspires others to push past limits through actions and words.
Constitution
Designing a strong and flexible constitution to formalize your organization's structure.
Frameworks
Leadership and management frameworks that help you lead more systematically.
Getting the Best Out of Yourself and Your Team
How to self-motivate and create a high-performing, self-driven team.
Working with Your Advisor
Building a professional, respectful, and productive relationship with your advisor.
The Election Process
How to set up smooth leadership transitions and run effective elections.
Funding and Sponsorships
Finding and managing financial resources to power your activities.
Hosting Quality Events
Planning and executing impactful, organized, and memorable events.
Programs
Designing semester-long programs that engage, challenge, and grow members.
Balancing Academics and Extracurriculars
Concrete strategies to maintain strong academics while leading student organizations.
About the Author
Meet the mind behind Launchpad
Saad is an entreprenuer, mechanical engieer, author, and student leadership expert who believes in the power of youth to drive real change.
At Texas A&M University at Qatar, Saad served as President of ASME-TAMUQ, where he led the organization to national and international acclaim. During his tenure, ASME-TAMUQ was named Organization of the Year, hosted over 40 events, won the prestigious ASME Excellence Award, and organized Qatar's first-ever ASME EFx conference with international participants. In recognition of his academic excellence, leadership, and service, Saad was awarded the Qatar Foundation Excellence Award in 2024, an honor reserved for the top one percent of students in Education City.
Today, Saad is pursuing his Master of Public Policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University and serves as CEO of Sport Vector, revolutionizing sports strategy and development using AI.
To learn more, visit muhammadsaad.net.
What Readers Are Saying
Testimonials from students and professionals worldwide
"Saad very well couples his eminent experiences as a student leader with the concepts in this guide, seamlessly bridging the gap between theory and practice for aspiring student leaders."
Princess Magor Agbozo
Master of Science in Public Health Candidate, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Harvard University
Readers From Leading Universities
Available In Prestigious Libraries
Launchpad is now available in these renowned libraries around the world
Qatar National Library
Doha, Qatar
The national library of Qatar, serving as a hub for knowledge and learning in the region.
Texas A&M University Library
College Station, Texas
Supporting engineering and technology education at one of America's leading research universities.
Hamad Bin Khalifa University Library
Education City, Qatar
A modern academic library serving graduate students and researchers.
Qatar National Library
Doha, Qatar
Texas A&M University Library
College Station, Texas
Hamad Bin Khalifa University Library
Education City, Qatar
Free Student Resources
Access free resources to help you implement the strategies from Launchpad
Leadership Resource Pack
Download slides, planning templates, and other resources to help you implement the strategies from the book in your student organization.
Get Your Copy Today
Available in paperback and ebook formats from your favorite retailers
Note: This book was formerly published as "The 4.0 Leaders." The updated edition is available as a PDF download and on Lulu stores with the new title "Launchpad."
10% of all profits go towards education charities
PDF Download
Download PDF directly from this website
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Launchpad
Why I Wrote This Book
When I moved from high school to university, I had big dreams. I wanted to make a difference, to create lasting change, and to lead in ways few had before. But I quickly realized it was not going to be easy. The academic workload was heavier, the systems were more complex, and the path to leadership was not straightforward.
At first, I thought only the student government mattered. Then I discovered dozens of student organizations, each with the potential to create real impact. That realization sparked a deeper goal. I did not just want to lead an organization, I wanted to raise the standard for leadership on campus.
Launchpad came from that journey. I did not want student leaders to settle for being good enough. I wanted them to unlock their full potential and build elite organizations while excelling academically.
This book is the guide I wish I had when I first started. It is built from real experiences and shares the mindsets, tools, and frameworks that helped us turn struggling organizations into powerhouses and leave a lasting legacy.