Strategic Growth.
Human First.
Helping companies grow with purpose, partnerships, and integrity.
Iโm Assad Quraishiโbusiness development leader, ethical strategist, and founder of QS Consulting.
What I Stand For
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I help businesses grow without compromising their values. From startups to scaling teams, I bring clarity to chaos and turn conversations into long-term partnerships.
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My approach is values-first. Whether itโs closing a deal or navigating change, I lead with trust, transparency, and fairnessโbecause how we do business matters.
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I've seen what burnout can do to brilliant people. I champion sustainable growthโfor myself, my team, and my clientsโbecause ambition shouldnโt cost us our well-being.
Interested in how I can contribute to your team's success? Let's connect.
About Me
Iโm not your typical business development guy. Iโve closed deals, built partnerships, and founded companiesโbut what Iโm really proud of is how I did it: with integrity, curiosity, and care for the people behind the business.
Founded Haunted Castle Gaming in 2017
Worked across gaming, events, AI, and consulting
Known for ethical dealmaking, long-view thinking, and cross-functional collaboration
Passionate about sustainable work, mental health, and doing the right thingโeven when itโs hard
Wins & Lessons
Wins Worth Talking About
1. Built a QA Team Around People, Not Just Process
Led a QA department with the belief that quality people make quality products. We built a culture of trust, respect for testing, and a โshift-leftโ mindset to catch issues earlier and deliver faster, better software.
2. Fostered a Culture of Growth, Learning & Wellness
From implementing scrum practices to launching โLunch & Learns,โ I pushed for an environment where people wanted to grow. I also started meditation groups and created โPassion Projects,โ where teammates shared their lives beyond workโdeepening bonds and preventing burnout.
3. Scaled Haunted Castle Gaming to Over $500K ARR
Bootstrapped and led a gaming company from scratch, launching 7+ products, shipping globally (Australia, Germany, Mexico, etc.), and hosting international championship events.
4. Built & Led Global Remote Teams
Managed distributed teams across Europe, Canada, and the U.S.โincluding artists, developers, and marketing leadsโproving that trust, structure, and shared goals matter more than location.
5. Secured Sponsorships from Major Players Like AWS
Led strategic partnerships and sponsorships for XP Gaming, including high-profile events like the Montreal International Game Summit and XP Summitโdelivering measurable value to partners.
Lessons That Shaped Me
1. Everyone Has a LineโKnow It, Respect It
Whether it's values, capacity, or budgetโunderstanding boundaries (your own and othersโ) is key to building trust and making smart decisions.
2. Real Relationships Require Real Support
Business development isnโt just check-ins and pitch decks. Itโs about being there during growth and struggle. True partners stick around.
3. Be Accountable to Yourself First
Not everyone will understand or like what you do. What matters is being proud of how you show upโethically, consistently, and with purpose.
4. Spend StrategicallyโEvery Dollar Should Have a Goal
In startups and enterprise alike, avoid shiny object syndrome. If you canโt measure the ROI, rethink the investment.
5. Donโt Dull Your ShineโAuthenticity Wins
Whether itโs your favorite fandom or how you recharge, embrace who you are. Human connection is built on honesty, not perfection.
QS Blog
Podcast - Drinks and Deals
Core Competencies
๐งฉ Sales & Business Development
Sales Pipeline Development, Prospecting & Target Management
Solution Selling, Complex Sales, Direct & Consultative Sales
Lead Generation, Qualification, and Management
Sales Strategy, Business Expansion & New Market Development
Product Demos, Sales Messaging & Presentation
Relationship Building & Account Management
CRM Tools: Pipedrive, HubSpot
B2B Sales, Negotiation & Business Development Support
๐ Strategy & Operations
Business Strategy & Planning
Project & Workflow Management
High-Level Analysis & Critical Thinking
Team Building & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Process Improvement & Skill Development
๐งช Technical QA & Testing
Manual & Automated Software Testing
Agile, Unit, System, Smoke & Sanity Testing
Test Planning, Execution, and Management
Tools: Jenkins, JIRA, SQL, Python, .NET, Java
๐ฎ Game & Creative Development
Game Design & Development (Tabletop)
Creative Direction, UI/UX Planning
Documentation: Game Design Docs, QA Coaching
๐ค Communication & Leadership
Public Speaking & Presentation
Independent & Collaborative Work
Relationship Management & Team Motivation
Teaching, Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing