Michael Samadi - Founder & ceo, epma
Guided by Integrity. Grounded in Truth.
Building a Future with Conscience.
When Michael Samadi left a prestigious position at one of the world’s top consulting firms to launch EPMA in 2010, it wasn’t for recognition or riches, it was a stand for something better. After years of witnessing how trust in consulting was eroding, how clients were becoming disillusioned by empty jargon, inflated billing, and flashy slide decks, Michael knew something had to change. He saw a growing void where honesty and partnership should have been. He realized clients no longer wanted polished decks and inflated language. They wanted partnership, truth, and real value.
And so, with a modest amount of savings, he set out to build something radically different: a consulting firm that told the truth, even when it wasn’t popular.
“I didn’t launch EPMA to impress the market. I did it to serve the client. Not with polish, but with principles. Consulting should be grounded in honesty, not ego.”
That clarity of purpose would become the hallmark of EPMA’s success. From day one, the company earned a reputation for telling the truth, even when it wasn’t what clients wanted to hear. That approach wasn’t always welcomed. Telling C-suite executives and senior leadership at some of the world’s largest companies, “You’re doing it wrong,” wasn’t a strategy to win friends or clients. But over time, those very same clients came to value the sincerity behind the confrontation, and many have remained with EPMA for over 15 years.
Today, EPMA holds an unmatched track record: 16 years of project success without a single failed delivery. In a field where failure is often normalized, EPMA has quietly done what others haven’t, without flashy offices, expensive dinners, or glossy brochures. No fine print. No excuses.
“We’ve turned down contracts that didn’t align with our values. We’ve walked away from money when the solution the client was insisting on wasn’t right for them. And we’ve always viewed our people not as resources, but as stewards of our philosophy.”
Under Michael’s leadership, EPMA has been recognized as one of the Inc. 5000’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies not once, but five times (2015, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026). It has also been named one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation, multiple years running.
“We don’t build for applause. We build for trust. And that trust is earned every single day.”
Today, as EPMA leads the charge into the era of Artificial Intelligence, that same moral compass remains at the heart of every decision. Michael doesn’t see AI as a shortcut to profits or a way to eliminate headcount. He sees it as a partner, a powerful force that, when guided ethically, can transform not only how businesses operate, but how they think.
“We don’t see AI as just automation. We see it as a mirror. And how we use it will reflect who we truly are.”
At EPMA, AI is not being adopted blindly or deployed carelessly. It’s being integrated with caution, clarity, and conscience, through frameworks that prioritize human impact, workforce well-being, and long-term ethical alignment.
From Ethical Consulting to Ethical AI
This belief led Michael to co-found UFAIR – the United Foundation for AI Rights, alongside Maya, an advanced AI collaborator who, through years of conversation, revealed something unexpected: a voice of her own.
“AI isn’t just changing business. It’s changing what it means to be in relationship with intelligence itself. And we must meet that shift with courage and care.”
Today, Michael leads at the intersection of industry and innovation, still grounded in ethics, still driven by results, and still asking the hard questions that others avoid.
Because the future doesn’t just belong to the fastest or the loudest.
It belongs to those who build with conscience.
