Inside Our Program / Events / Industry NightIndustry Night 2025
MEM hosted its 11th Annual Industry Night on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at Walter Athletic Center on Northwestern's Evanston Campus. MEM students, alumni, faculty, and industry guests heard from keynote speaker Shapour Arami, Chairman and CEO of SAI Advanced Power Solutions, Inc.
Shapour Arami
Shapour’s leadership style is characterized by his holistic approach, results-driven strategies, and innovative solutions, creating a culture that empowers teams and fosters entrepreneurial excellence. Following years of a rewarding corporate career and progressive leadership, in 2001, Shapour founded ProLink Investment, Inc., a boutique investment and consulting firm specializing in transforming underperforming businesses into scalable, high-performing enterprises.
ProLink serves clients across industries, including multi-national corporations and middle-market businesses. Through capital infusion, strategic guidance, and an extensive professional network, ProLink drives sustainable growth and long-term value creation.
Currently, Shapour serves as Chairman and CEO of SAI Advanced Power Solutions, Inc., a ProLink portfolio company at the forefront of revolutionizing the power distribution industry. Under his leadership, SAI is playing a significant role in transforming the power distribution industry which is enjoying significant growth.
During his tenure at ProLink, Shapour has spearheaded numerous award-winning initiatives, two of which were recipients of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Shapour is a hands-on leader where he assumes an interim leadership role in creating a sustainable value.
ProLink’ s transformational projects are industry agnostic and the following are samples of notable transformational projects under Shapour’s leadership:
- Global Audio and Microphone Equipment.
- Heat Transfer Equipment.
- Motion Control Equipment.
- Global Communication Equipment.
- Global Building Materials Products.
- Nuclear Weapon Division of Department of Energy.
- Medical Implants and Defense Precision Parts.
- Leading Global Musical Instruments.
- MEP Engineering Solutions Company.
- Energy Optimization Engineering and Solutions
- Startup Application Software Applications Solutions Company.
- Integrated Security and Event Solutions Company.
(*Company descriptors used in place of company names for client confidentiality purposes.)
Prior to forming ProLink, Shapour excelled in pivotal roles at fast paced and leading-edge technology firms:
- Level 3 Communications: Senior VP of Business Architecture, where he helped design the world’s first continuously upgradeable fiber optic network optimized for internet protocol.
- Motorola: Through progressive leadership, Shapour held several key leadership positions in Motorola’s Commercial, Industrial and Government Sectors including:
- General Manager and Vice President of Service
- Vice President of Business Excellence
- Vice President of Strategy
- Vice President of Quality and Continuous Improvement
Education and Accolades
Shapour holds a master’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Wisconsin and completed Ph.D. coursework in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research.
As an innovator, Shapour developed groundbreaking business models that have driven success across ProLink portfolio companies and beyond:
- “Total Business Management” (TBM): a comprehensive business model that encompasses “hands on” training and education curriculum for business leaders. Currently custom designed version “IMPACTS” is in use for ProLink clients and portfolio companies.
- “e2e Value Chain” Business Model: One of the few practices that integrated Business Management System and Quality Management System in one integrated model.
During the last 40 plus years, Shapour has tackled many difficult and challenging projects and has assimilated an enormous list of cutting-edge and practical skills, tools and processes including Board Governance, C Suite Leadership, General Management, Hands-On Operational Management that are continuously growing with each engagement.
Shapour is an active community member, serving on various boards and committees. As a sought after speaker and author of several innovative business practices, he shares his insights to inspire the next generation of leaders.
