SBA Careers Nov 2014

CAREERS–SBA newsletter Issue 3 | December 2014

School of Business Administration Internship and Placement Office Newsletter

Careers–SBA Internship and Placement Office Newsletter December 2014

32 American University of Sharjah

By Tanya Gibbs, Careers Editor

What does it take for fresh graduates to succeed in today’s very competitive business environment? Will you be in demand after graduation? How can you make sure your dream job will be waiting for you after your get your diploma? Students should ask themselves these questions as they embark on their studies.

There is one common response to these questions: showcase your uniqueness and originality. This comes through all throughout the recent book Think Like a Freak by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. It also comes through in a June 30, 2012 Gulf News piece by journalist Sherouk Zakaria (then herself an intern from AUS), whose article showed that employers look for applicants who stand out from others, who are clearly different (i.e., better) than everyone else.

One way of doing this is by gaining experience, an important qualification that can put you ahead of your peers. Some potential employers seek students who have done not just one but multiple internships. The aforementioned Gulf News article paraphrased a manager explaining that some graduates were having trouble finding jobs “because most companies require experienced

employees to handle a job independently.”

Excellent networking skills are also essential in finding your dream job. The latter require well-developed soft skills, which are impossible without great communication abilities.

If you would like to excel in the qualities mentioned above, don’t rely solely on course work (although that’s always crucial). Rather, remember that self-education and independent learning (which your professors want you to learn to do) is the way to get ahead of the game. Toward that end, get involved in extra-curricular activities, research projects, volunteer work, and/or professional qualification studies. Participate in career development events. Attend conferences and presentations that will broaden your knowledge or stimulate new interests. Doing this puts you in the front row among applicants for top jobs.

We are happy to share with you this third issue of our Careers newsletter, which is filled with valuable insights on the current state of the local job market, the latest internship opportunities, and helpful hints on how to prepare for your job debut.

Find out more about the successful launch of our Business Practicum, an extended internship program for credit that gives you a better inside scoop of the companies you have marked as potential career opportunities and employers the chance to include you in more in-depth, on-site analyses, projects and initiatives. Take note when some of our most recent interns and graduates share how they have encountered the business world first-hand. And remember, it is never too early to start thinking about your career goals.

I am sure you will enjoy the news stories and interviews and hope you won't hesitate to give our newsletter team some feedback.

Dr. Jörg Bley

InsideEvents 4–5

With Industry in Mind 6–7

Student Focus 8–11

Dean’s Business Team Update 12

Our Graduates 13–15

Message from the Associate Dean Take your studies to the

next level How companies are improving the environment around usBy Damion Lock, Managing Director, ONE9 3NINE Consulting

The environmental movement has been mobilized over the years focusing on one thing: saving the world around us. In many cases technology and innovation can be utilized to support environmentally based education. Recycling is something that is globally understood even if it is not practiced or executed in all regions. However, it’s just a single example of the many environmental challenges around us today. This is the reason why the subject of the environment is generating many new employment roles, such as implementing LEED building standards that require many different expert backgrounds in electrical, mechanical and safety design. In addition, these specialist environmental roles can also be generated by cross training classical engineers that have no first-hand experience of environmental services from the commercial world.

The subject of sustainability is now a global issue and innovation in technology as well as resourcing is required. For this reason, the environmental movement supported by governments, companies and global standards such as LEED have started to create a huge opportunity for university graduates. At ONE9 3NINE Consulting, we are striving to make a difference to the community around us through the technical services we offer. With our background in high-tech data center

infrastructure design and IT, our scope of services includes designing electrical supply, AC cooling, fire-fighting and detection, access control and CCTV, to name but a few.

ONE9 3NINE is a technology consulting company established in 2011. We not only use our vast knowledge to increase the safety of data centers, but also to achieve greater building sustainability. As the Internet age matures, there is a growing need for more efficient, flexible and operationally proactive businesses. This goal, however, doesn't result in a compromise of the environment. We incorporate the traits of any high-tech computer room with ecological consciousness to present the most advanced, up-to-date, business consulting in the region

and all at a competitive market value. Our consulting services follow international standards or certification wherever possible, including a total end-to-end solution along with customer service follow-up. Our collective team experience includes countless different and diverse projects in the region, such as projects in the oil and gas, hotel, construction and financial markets.

If you would like to join our growing company as a graduate or as an intern, positions are available as back office manager, social media coordinator and as a business development manager. Please contact Tanya Gibbs, SBA Internship Coordinator, for further details and visit our website (www.1939.me) for additional information about the company.

Employer’s Voice



By Mais Al-Amouri

KPMG assessed 30 candidates for advisory or auditing careers at an October 21 event in the School of Business Administration.

SBA Placement Director Linda McLoughlin said her office team is “always delighted to welcome big employers” to promote SBA graduates, seniors and MBA students. She said KPMG’s program for select graduates offers “wonderful” career opportunities and “worthwhile” training and qualifications that will serve them throughout their working life.

SBA graduate Mahmoud Monfaradi, who is interested in an advisory career, said that he chose this path because it offers the opportunity to work with people on a larger scale. “I am aiming

to be somebody successful” who can come to universities and ask students to join the company, he added.

After working for one year in an auditing firm, finance student Rodolphe Amer, who applied for the auditing program, said he enjoyed the work experience in this field. He added that he appreciates KPMG’s effort to help students find career opportunities.

KPMG is known as one of the Big Four firms that provides auditing and accounting as well as finance and advisory services, Audit Senior Manager Mohammed Altatawi said. Regarding the benefits of working in auditing, Altatawi said that employees interact with different clients through a “strong and diverse career path,” noting that the knowledge obtained at the company is “an ongoing training process.”

KPMG Senior Manager Janice Caspe said that the firm is looking for people who continuously develop themselves to gain more knowledge. Assistant Manager Mahveen Ali said that KMPG has an urgent need for auditing trainees and also others who could fit in management consulting, IT advisory and risk management. Arabic speakers would have an advantage in their career, she added.

She said that students with MBA, management and computer science degrees are looked for in the advisory field, whereas there is a pressing need for finance and accounting students in the auditing area. The advisory team is looking for people with strong academic records, Ali said. Candidates should be “presentable in a way that they look professional and have good communication skills as they will have a lot of client interface,” she added.

KPMG Recruitment Campaign at SBA

Events

By Nada Ramadan

A bank’s biggest asset is its clients’ trust in its services, Bank of Sharjah Senior Manager John Williams said in a panel discussion to an audience of around 50 people on September 18 in the School of Business Administration (SBA).

“If you lose your trust, you lose everything,” Williams added. He stated that trust, along with reputation, takes years to build but days to destroy, which is why companies should be “completely transparent with everything they do in society.” Having a good compliance, ethics and conduct culture in place can help establish and maintain a financial institution’s clients’ trust, he said.

In agreement with Williams, Ahmed Saeed, J.P. Morgan’s managing director of the MENA sector, added that seeing the world from your client’s

perspective is key to having a successful career. The failure to communicate those perspectives is what leads to a breakdown of trust, he stated.

In response to Saeed’s statement, Tushar Singhvi, Vice President of Crescent Enterprises, added that having good corporate governance practices in place can help avoid the issues that lead to a loss in trust. Singhvi stated that

rebuilding client reliance in a banking institution is a collective effort, which is not an easy task.

Hosted by the Pearl Initiative and SBA Internship Coordinator Tanya Gibbs, the session aimed to share the perspectives and experiences of the three invited business leaders in areas such as financial reputation, integrity and responsible investing.

Finance and investments: integrity matters

PwC Academy offers career boostBy Nada Ramadan

Becoming certified with the help of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) Academy will fast-track careers in finance and accounting, the institution’s marketing manager said on September 28 in the School of Business Administration.

“Getting your undergraduate degree is a good starting point, but unfortunately, that is simply not enough nowadays,” Farhanah Raza said to an audience of around 60 people. Located within the PwC offices in Dubai, the academy specializes in providing professional qualifications

for people who are looking to start or move up in business-related careers, she stated.

“With professional qualifications, additional tests and attesting are no longer needed,” Raza added. She stated that recent graduates with professional credentials would have their résumé “moved to the top of the pile” during the recruitment process at PwC. “There is nobody better for us to recruit than people we have trained ourselves,” she said.

However, she noted that completing the programs offered at the institution does not guarantee a job with PwC. “We do make sure you get a career, whether it’s with us or with one of our

corporate clients,” Raza stated.

With six in the Middle East and 30 worldwide, the academy offers programs in ACCA, CFA, CPA, CMA, CIA, FIA and many more, Raza stated. According to the company’s website, PwC is the fourth most popular brand in the Middle East, after Google, Coca Cola and Ferrari.

She added that undergraduates of all SBA majors are allowed to take the course, provided that the company’s projects are in line with the student’s studies. Besides the projects the interns worked on, they were also required to complete written assignments, essays, a final report and presentation, she stated.

Finance students attend PwC Fraud ForumBy Mariam El Sayed

Twenty-seven percent of UAE business people responding to a survey reported experiencing at least one instance of economic crime in the past 24 months, regional representatives of international auditing and legal firms said during an October 13 session on preventing fraud and other business-related crimes.

The statistics were discussed during the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Fraud Forum, held in the Oberoi Dubai hotel, attended by several SBA finance students.

Speakers included John Wilkinson, a PwC Middle East regional deals leader and senior partner for forensic services; and Robert Hunter, the head of the fraud litigation and trust litigation sections for Herbert Smith Freehills LLP (UK), a commercial law firm.

Discussing the results of the 2014 PwC Global Economic Crime Survey, Wilkinson noted that asset misappropriation, cyber-crime, procurement fraud, bribery and corruption are on the rise. He observed that most investigations of financial crime involve not just number-

crunching and following digital trails, but also the less technology-sensitive area of gathering information by asking questions.

This also includes interrogating suspects, Wilkinson noted, adding that it was an area where “having the skills to conduct effective interviews is essential for success.”

Both speakers outlined some tactics for effective interviews under such conditions. Hunter noted that “Interviewers should always know the strategies and escape routes their interviewees are going to use before-hand. The first step to do is to eliminate all the questions that give the interviewee the chance to deny their wrong-doing.” Wilkinson observed that “As soon as you feel the evasive nature of your interviewee, remind them that it is not a game.”

They accompanied the presentation with short clips of politicians, and even police detectives, being interrogated. “Every confession or lie should be documented,” Hunter observed, “to prevent the accused suspect from denying it later in front of the court.”

The presenters spoke at some length about tactics required in interviewing politicians. Many develop skill over time at dealing with questions from journalists, he said, and employ tactics to meet what Wilkinson called the “three types of interview questions.” These include those that offered “no threat” and “no necessary threat,” but also “finally the questions that clearly pose a threat.”

The SBA Finance students said the session opened their eyes to serious business issues, and to career paths in anti-economic crime sections.

“As soon as you feel the evasive nature

of your interviewee, remind them that it is

not a game.”



With Industry in Mind

By Mariam Elsayed

Finance is the most sought-after major in the School of Business Administration, something Professor Dr. Narjess Boubakri notes is at variance with most American business schools. “I find it surprising,” she said, “how, compared to the United States where accounting is more demand, three students here choose to go to finance for each one student that prefers studying accounting.”

But Dr. Boubakri, Head of the Department of Finance within SBA, notes that such interest makes perfect sense. The world of finance, she observes, is dynamic, and she likens her field to a wheel that never stops turning. It is also one where, she emphasized, professionalism must be ingrained from the very start of studies.

Teaching investor skillsNow in her seventh year at AUS, Dr. Boubakri says that when mentoring students on course selection, she often advises them to seek a practical minor. Accounting or Islamic finance are good ones for a general finance major, she notes, adding, “It is all about what the region and potential employers require.”

Part of her task is to help implement

new courses, which according to Dr. Boubakri are generally developed based on feedback from employers, particularly those who have hired SBA graduates. Next year, the Department of Finance will offer three new courses covering trading, behavioral finance and financial forecasting. The goal, she says, is to teach students how to behave as investors, a critical skill to have especially in this region.

“The Department of Finance aims to help future finance executives and corporate managers to be able to evaluate and process information and make informed strategic and investment decisions in firms,” she notes.

Professional partnershipsHelping to create that intellectual package are professional partnerships SBA has with organizations such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute. Dr. Boubakri notes that AUS is the only university in the UAE with such an alliance, with the institute providing scholarship opportunities to AUS students to pass the CFA level 1 exam.

“I must say that we are very happy, because the success rates of our students who took the CFA level one exam is 90 percent,” Dr. Boubakri observes. “The CFA also offers nine to ten scholarships every year.” She

credited SBA Associate Dean Dr. Jorg Bley with initiating the partnership with CFA; he is one of three SBA professors with CFA certification, the others being Dr. Mohsen Saad and Dr. Samuel Tibbs.

Another worthwhile partnership in SBA is that with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), something Dr. Boubakri initiated. “ADIB is very supportive of our curriculum,” says Dr. Boubakri, “and especially that we offer a minor in Islamic banking. The bank has offered to send guest speakers to our lectures, providing the students a feel of what the banking world is about.”ADIB currently employs at least six SBA graduates.

Reality in the classroom

Such partnerships, Dr. Boubakri notes, help finance students stay in touch with the realities of the job market. “Bringing reality to the classroom is a must,” she notes.

Yet not all such initiatives start with faculty. Dr. Boubakri praises a student organization, Finance Executives (FIEX), for preparing events and competitions to keep finance majors engaged.

“The latest project they are working on will be by far the most challenging,” she adds. “They are planning a visit to the legendary Warren Buffet in Nebraska.”

Business Practicum strengthens internship opportunities

Bringing business reality to the classroom

By Nada Ramadan

The School of Business Administration’s (SBA) Business Practicum course – BUS 497 – is looking to involve more companies for students to intern with this summer, SBA Internship Coordinator

Tanya Gibbs said in a September 30 interview.

“This year, we’re hoping to advertise the course a little earlier and educate students on how it works,” she added.

First offered this past summer, the course came about after SBA saw

the need for a long-term internship opportunity, “as some companies have said that six weeks is simply not enough to accommodate their needs,” Gibbs stated. She noted that students were interested in interning for three months only if they were given university credit.

Because the course was offered for the first time, SBA wanted to work with Estée Lauder, a company with which it has a long-term relationship, she stated. The company chose a total of eight students to work on their projects over the summer, almost half of which are still working there, she said.

“Initially, a lot of us thought that a three-month internship would mean no break, but because of that time-span, I could see the projects through from beginning to end,” Umika Shivnani said during her presentation.

However, students are only eligible to register for the course if one of the companies involved has chosen them, Gibbs stated.

By Nada Ramadan

Unilever’s The Quest, a four-stage student competition that puts business skills to the test, has recently announced that 139 AUS students made the shortlist in the first round of the competition. A total of 240 students were selected for the UAE.

According to the company’s website, the competition gives students real-life contact with the local market and its

challenges, “an experience which is perhaps even more valuable than an internship.”

Last year’s national winning team was made up of four AUS students—two from the School of Business Administration and two from the College of Engineering.

Applicants from various UAE universities were shortlisted based on their responses to several questions. The shortlisted individuals will be

invited to the Unilever offices and factories where, based on their performance throughout the day, they will be divided into groups of three for the national competition. The UAE’s winning team will then move onto the North Africa and Middle East competition, which will be held in Dubai this year. Winners of this competition will be awarded internship or full time job opportunities with Unilever and a trip to London.

AUS students dominate the shortlist in The Quest

“Bringing reality to the classroom is a must,”



Student Focus

Pearl Initiative contest winners attend Cambridge symposium

Interns@SAP Competition Winners

Three SBA students who won the Pearl Initiative’s UAE Student Case Study Competition in May got their reward in September, attending the 32nd Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime courtesy of the contest’s sponsor.

The non-profit organization, which promotes corporate accountability and transparency in the region, enabled Irina Kovaykina, Abdul Haseeb Kazi and Rajiv Mahesh Lakhiani to attend

the prestigious international event by footing their travel, registration and hotel costs.

The students joined over 1,000 other participants from around the globe at Cambridge University in a weeklong set of panels and presentations on eco-nomic crime. Topics addressed included money laundering, terrorism financing and corruption.

The SBA team won the UAE Student Case Study Competition by beating out

more than 100 entries from over 300 other students. Their winning entry profiled Al Fardan Exchange’s anti-money laundering policies. They were recognized at the Park Rotana Abu Dhabi on May 20, in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, the UAE’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development.

Their award package included trans-portation to an international confer-ence of their choice. According to SBA Instructor Tanya Gibbs, who mentored the team and accompanied them to the Cambridge University event, the sympo-sium was an appropriate one to select.

“It built on the student team’s interest in anti-money laundering techniques,” said Gibbs, herself a member of the As-sociation of Certified Anti-Money Laun-dering Specialists and the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists. “But it also took them to the next level by introducing them to worldwide ex-perts in the field, and putting them in a serious and very significant interna-tional forum dedicated to dealing with economic crime and corruption.”

SBA’s Visiting Professor of Economics Dr. Melvin Ayogu also attended the Cambridge symposium.

By Cindy Baker

An amazing time was had by 15 students this summer at SAP Dubai, which hosted more SBA interns than any other employer. These interns will tell you it was “the most rewarding thing” they’ve done and “the hardest thing” they’ve done. These students had a fantastic opportunity to network with their employer as well as SAP customers and partners. Many have already been offered jobs—before graduating from

AUS. They had real opportunities at a real company to make a real impact here in MENA, planning and executing a customer project from beginning to end “The internship opportunity was fantastic! I learned a lot in this extraordinary experience. The work environment was great. We were treated as regular employees and not interns. The amount I learned in this internship was beyond expectation. I did work hard, it was not easy but it was definitely worth it,” said SBA student Khalid Baker, one of the SAP interns.

By Omar Bastaki

This summer has been so transformational for me. I was fortunate enough to be selected to represent the UAE at the Global Village of Future Leaders in Business and Industry in the USA, a multinational program that brings together young business minds from over 40 different countries, enabling them to work together during an intensive five-week period, where they have to deliver a final product to a real-life client. Not only that, but the interns learn to live together in a highly multicultural environment surrounded by so many traditions, religions and languages.

I had certain goals when I first went into the program, but I came out fulfilling goals I didn’t even know I had, goals I set after being inspired

by the other interns who helped me widen my horizon and see the world on a much bigger scale. Not only did the program help me grow as a person, but it also helped me grow as a leader as it offered many intimate sessions with business experts who shared their success stories and secrets. We also had exclusive trips to places such as The World Bank, The New York Stock Exchange, The United Nations Headquarters, The Pentagon and many more. I would not have had half these opportunities had I not been a part of this enriching program.

I went into the program on my own, but I left knowing that I have a welcoming home anywhere I go in the world. When I look at the world map now, I don’t see countries anymore, but the faces of the friends I made over the summer.

Global Village: Education and professional experience beyond the borders

Connect With SBA on

AUS School of Business Administration

Linked in



Harshita Lakhiani What is your major and where did you intern?

My major is marketing. I interned at The Social Networkers, Wide Network Solutions.

How and why did you choose your host company?

I actually did not send my CV to

the host company. Through the SBA Career Portal, my supervisor contacted me for an interview. I chose the host company based on the nature of the organization, scope of work and the location of the office.

What were your responsibilities during your internship?

My responsibilities were vast during the internship. I got was exposed not just to the core function of the business, which is social media management and marketing, but also to other aspects that are vital to running an organization, such as client relationship management, business development, fellow intern training and taking minutes in meetings.

What skills did you gain from this internship?

The skills I learned during this internship included time management, organizational skills, client servicing skills, business development through traditional marketing skills, social media analytics, social media marketing skills and website management.

How has the internship benefitted you?

The internship being my first professional working experience benefitted me by giving me an all-round exposure from dealing with clients to applying my theoretical knowledge into the growing field of social media marketing. Moreover, it also allowed me to showcase my abilities to my employer, with the benefit of being offered a part-time contract.

Would you recommend your host company to other SBA students for the internship placement? Why?

I would recommend the host company to other SBA students in order for them to gain the same experience as I did. In addition, the host company gave me as an intern the freedom to work and interact with clients and participate in all activities of running an agency.

What was the biggest challenge you faced at the internship?

The biggest challenge was dealing with a variety of clients with different needs. As an intern, I had to ensure that all clients were being looked after and replied to promptly and their needs addressed effectively.

Jacqueline Benjamin What is your major and where did you intern?

My major is finance and minor is accounting. I did my internship at Consulate General of the United States, Dubai.

How and why did you choose your host company?

I sought advice from my internship coordinator, Ms. Tanya Gibbs, on how to get a company that will offer me career and personal development. I then started my internship application to different companies

and among several offers, two were very competitive, and these were Philip Morris at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the US Consulate General. With the guidance of Ms. Gibbs, I chose the US Consulate General because it had the potential to offer me better work exposure.

What were your responsibilities during your internship?

Unlike so many internships, at the US Consulate you get to do real work! These are the major responsibilities that I had:

• assisted US Commercial Service staff at major trade shows such as Arab Health 2014

• organized strategic meetings for US companies visiting Dubai

• undertook market research on industry sub-sectors

• assisted in the organization of trade events and missions in Dubai and the Northern Emirates

• prepared written presentations for commercial promotional events and activities

What skills did you gain from this internship?

Ability to work in cross-functional teams, effective time management and report writing.

How has the internship benefitted you?

Throughout my internship, I have been able to build professional contacts and establish networks with many business executives. Additionally, meeting top managers from different companies improved my confidence and how I present myself professionally.

Would you recommend your host company to other SBA students for the internship placement? Why?

I would certainly recommend the US Consulate to my colleagues. It’s like “one-stop shopping” for career development. You meet people from diverse cultural backgrounds, which also enables you improve your networking skills and it teaches you what it is to “hustle.”

What was the biggest challenge you faced at the internship?

My job involved attending various trade shows and promoting relationships between US and UAE companies. Being a reserved person, it was not very easy to go out there and talk to people I have never met, not to mention trying to convince them to form partnerships with some US companies. However, with the guidance of staff at the Commercial Service Department, I later became very comfortable and confident.

By Mais Al-Amouri

A group of 15 participants recently completed the SBA business coaching skills course, which is the first offered by a university in the UAE.

An experienced and credentialed coach herself, SBA Placement Director and coaching program director Linda McLoughlin said that the course, called “The Art and Practice of Coaching,” gives students 10 days of interface training, three online mentor sessions and frequent assignments. She added that the six-month course is delivered in line with the International Coach Federation (ICF) philosophy and is aligned with the core competency framework.

Noting that coaching skills are developed over time, McLoughlin said that students are asked to videotape their mentoring sessions in order to let her observe their practice, give feedback and reflect on their learning.

She added that the program helps students understand the concept of coaching as it applies to executive-level business people, as “it is relatively new in the region.”

SBA is working to get the program accredited by the ICF, McLoughlin noted, in order to give students the opportunity to start the three levels of credentials: Associate, Professional and Master. McLoughlin said that many companies hire coaches to support their executive development and the minimum requirement is an Associate

Certified Coach.

The course is geared toward mature learners over age 25, said McLoughlin. The first program also included executives from the private sector.

“Through the listening and questioning process and setting goals, a coach can help clients to move toward their desired future and make decisions,” McLoughlin said. Throughout the program, she added, coaches can build self-awareness and emotional intelligence in order to understand themselves.

Feedback on the course was “wonderful,” according to McLoughlin, noting that most students said they did not realize that coaching was so complex.

Dr. Cindy Gunn, AUS Faculty

Development Center Director, said that what she learned in the program supplemented her background in psychology and counseling. She highly recommends the program to anyone who is interested in learning more about how they interact with others and how they can improve upon these interactions.

Participant Sarah Ashill, Managing Director of birthEd, said the course involves a journey of self-discovery as much as learning. Ashill said she has become more self-aware after starting the classes, and feels her active listening ability “has increased significantly” while at the same time she also learned how to be more direct.

“Even if people do not go on to be coaches, the skills that they have learned within the program will benefit them,” Ashill said.

The next course will start in March 2015 and further information is available from [email protected].

First students complete new business coaching program



Dean’s Business Team Update Our Graduates

By Nada Ramadan

Around 100 new students attended the Dean’s Business Team (DBT) inaugural Coffee Hour on September 16 in the School of Business Administration (SBA).

“We basically wanted to welcome the freshmen and give them the chance to meet current students and faculty in a very light hearted way,” newly appointed DBT President Amna Masoud said.

The event featured numerous activities including a photo booth and video game lounge.

Because of its success, there are plans to have it every semester, stated Masoud. She added that the team hopes to have most of its usual activities this year such as the SBA Apprentice, corporate visits, workshops and more.

“As president, my main goal is to raise the level of SBA student engagement, mostly on our social media platforms, so that we can find out their demands

throughout the year,” Masoud stated.

Besides the DBT, other SBA organizations such as the SBA Career Coach, the Accounting Society and the Finance Executives were also there to help the students. Before the event, the freshmen were also given a brief lecture on iLearn basics and SBA policies.

“I’ve received more help than I expected so far, which only motivates me to work that much harder,” Reyana D’souza, a freshman majoring in management, said.

DBT kick start new academic year Fares KhraisWhen did you graduate from AUS?

June 2011

What was your major?

BSBA-Finance

What is your current position? And what jobs, if any, did you have before?

Semi Senior External Financial Auditor at Deloitte & Touche ME – Abu Dhabi

What skills and competencies did you develop at SBA that helped you in starting your career?

• Familiarity with dealing closely and confidently with individuals far more experienced and senior than yourself

• Interpersonal, communication, and writing skills

• Presentation skills

• Critical thinking

• Executing projects to tight deadlines

• Ability to prioritize between multiple projects

• Various accounting and finance concepts

What is most essential for fresh graduates to get a head start on building a successful career?

State of mind; graduates must consider their careers as an adventure and an opportunity to succeed with hard work. They must remain consistently hungry and enthusiastically tackle tasks, even when they seem simple. Graduates have left the comfort of an institution they had established themselves at for four years and now they have to prove themselves yet again. No task is too trivial, as they are all experiences and doorways to future opportunities. And no task is too difficult; we are all capable of anything we give adequate time to. Remember that positions are earned, and are not an entitlement.

Nikita PhulwaniWhen did you graduate from AUS?

Fall 2013


Marketing

What is your current position and at what company? And what jobs, if any, did you have before?

I am a Public Relations Executive at Unilever Gulf overlooking brands like Knorr, Lipton, Comfort, Dove to name a few. In the past, I have held PR internships at Hill and Knowlton and Estee Lauder Companies.

What do you like about your current job?

I am an outgoing person with a strong interest in communication. I love interacting with people and my job allows me to do just that! As a PR executive, some of the main tasks of my job include communication, dealing with media and events. I love how I am not restricted to an office desk all day.


Some of the courses I took at

AUS really prepared me for the starting steps of my career. Career Management, in particular, taught me some great CV writing skills and interview skills, which came in really handy for my interview at Unilever. Also, the core marketing courses—especially brand management and marketing strategy—help me understand the overall picture of why a particular brand does things differently compared to another brand of the same category.


Internships! I honestly feel my internships gave me great exposure into my field. They are a great way of getting your foot into the door and give you a chance to showcase your skills to your potential recruiter. Paid or unpaid, I highly recommend fresh grads to do internships.

By Linda McLoughlin

While it may seem as though the se-mester has only just started, now is a good time to think ahead about your career and to plan future directions.

Feedback from recruiters at PWC and Unilever who visited campus recently confirms that employers are looking for leadership potential in interns and fresh graduates. Now is the time to invest in yourself and find your “inner leader.” To do this, start by:

• joining one of the many AUS and SBA clubs such as TAS, DBT or FiEX and offer your help

• volunteering with charity, fundrais-

ing and sporting events on campus or elsewhere

• participating in as many internships as possible to show your work ethic

• applying for teaching assistant jobs

and other roles on campus

• entering as many competitions as possible such as the Unilever Quest, the P&G CEO Challenge or the Hen-kel Innovation Challenge – these are great items to build your CV

• attending the many SBA Career Coach workshops and presentations on career- related topics (check out dates on our social media)

Need one-to-one career advice on CVs, interviews or your job search? Please drop by my office (SBA 1109) on Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday from 11 to 1 p.m., Mondays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. or by appointment. I look forward to meeting you soon. Have a great year!

Time to develop your “Inner Leader”

By Amna Masoud

The Dean’s Business Team (DBT) welcomes all new students into the School of Business

Administration (SBA). DBT is a student-run organization that works directly under the

Dean of SBA to plan events tailored to all business students. DBT kick started the year

with a coffee hour for students and faculty to interact and welcome new students. The

team is currently working on several projects for this semester, including CRS initiatives,

competitions and corporate trips. Some past successful events such as Mock Securities

Exchange and SBA Apprentice will also be back again with more exciting twists to

them! In order to keep updated on DBT events, check your email or follow the DBT on

social media: Facebook: Deans Business Team | Instagram/Twitter: @DBT_AUS



Juhi ChanchalaniWhen did you graduate from AUS?

2013


Finance


I am currently working as a Consultant with PwC in the Advisory Deals Line of Service. I work with the Transaction Services team, which provides valuation and financial due diligence services to our clients. I previously interned at the Dubai Mercantile Exchange with their Business Development team and

at PwC with their Advisory Learning and Education team. I also worked part-time while at AUS as a Research Assistant for the Office of the Provost and the SBA Department of Finance, and as a Teaching Assistant with the SBA Management and Marketing departments.


Everything! I most enjoy the fact that my job challenges me on a daily basis. I learn something new every day; the learning curve is immense. Having an excellent team, brilliant partners and a wonderful office culture has been paramount to my professional growth.


SBA has shaped me and my interests in so many ways that it is really hard for me to narrow it down to 100 words. But if I had to pick the most standout skills, they’d be teamwork,

time management, leadership, conflict management and networking. Those 20 or 30 projects that were assigned for every possible course at AUS really paid off!

I also had some exceptional mentors from whom I learned a lot. I would encourage students, especially seniors, to look to the excellent faculty at AUS and SBA for some solid advice!


Be prepared, proactive and persistent. Prepare before you graduate—take the right classes, do the extracurriculars and internships, volunteer, and develop technical skills that give you an edge over other graduates in your field. Next, be proactive and find a job— this is obvious, but I need to state it. Don’t wait until graduation day to decide what you want to do next; it is what 90 percent of graduates are doing! No one is going to come up to you and offer you a job unless you look for it. Last but not the least, be persistent. It’s not going to be easy, but hang in there. Know what you want and do what you love. As cliché as that sounds, if you wake up in the morning and look forward to going to work because you enjoy your job, being persistent is going to come easy!

Mohammad ZamaniWhen did you graduate from AUS?

Fall 2010


BSBA in Finance with a minor in economics


Assistant Manager at KPMG LLP - London


My job requires interaction with individuals across various hierarchies in different companies. One of the things I enjoy the most is the fact that working as an auditor builds a very solid business foundation that opens the door for a very bright future whether I decide to become an entrepreneur, pursue a career in accountancy or take up a role in the government sector.

What skills and competencies did you develop at SBA that helped you in

starting your career?

Along with the technical skills in business across all fields ranging from finance to management, I have acquired a lot of soft skills at SBA that I use on my day-to-day job. This includes presentation, analytical and writing skills.

What is most essential for fresh grad-uates to get a head start on building a successful career?

Fresh graduates require an un-derstanding of the importance of choosing careers in companies that could provide the best learning and development opportunities rather than focusing mainly on the monetary benefits. Fresh graduates should value on-job training, motivation to pursue further degrees and qualifications and working in an engaging culture that boosts the career growth.

By Marwa Al-Malik

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the European Commission of Agricultural and Rural Development (EU) have certified a local organic farm–the Organic Oasis–operated by an American University of Sharjah alumna.

“Getting certified is important to gain the trust of people and to obtain credibility, sustainability and reliability,” said Sheikha Al-Muhairy, 23, a School of Business Administration graduate with a marketing degree.

Slated to open in November, the Emirati-owned organic farm is the first in the UAE to have both USDA and EU certifications. It brings the number of organic, non-chemical-using farms in the United Arab Emirates from seven in 2012 to 39 today, according to media reports.

Organic Oasis is opening its doors to consumers to promote awareness on the advantages of having organic produce rather than produce grown in conventional way. “It’s nice to know where your food actually came from,” Al-Muhairy said. “We ensure the freshness of our produce by harvesting, packing and delivering them to customers within the same day.”

Sales of organic foods in the UAE reached around $16 million in 2013, and are expected to grow to $21 million in four years, according to media reports.

The differences between organic and non-organic vegetables are the amount of care, attention and time devoted to grow them, Al-Muhairy said, apart from the extensive amount of documentation to which organic farms are subjected.

“Organic plants are like babies,” she said, “They demand much more attention because they are not growing in their natural habitat.”

Marketing graduate launches certified organic farm

No one is going to come up to you and

offer you a job unless you look for it.

Careers–SBA Internship and Placement Office Newsletter

16

The internship team is more than willing to help you with anything that is internship and career related. Please feel free to contact us or stop by for any inquiries.

Contact us +971 6 515 2363 | [email protected]

By Nada Ramadan

The Dean’s Business Team (DBT) raised over AED 5,000 from its SBA Goes Pink event on October 28, said DBT President Amna Massoud.

“Given that October is the universal Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this was our initiative of promoting it on campus,” Massoud said.

The six-hour event included food, games, activities, raffles and prizes, attracting students of all majors, she added. Additionally, around 10 SBA faculty members wore pink clothing and participated in the Faculty Fash-ion Show, “which definitely brought in the crowd,” Massoud stated.

To end the day, over 50 students at-tended the one-hour comedy show entitled Funny Girls Go Pink, featuring AUS Performing Arts Program Adjunct Instructor Mina Liccione. The show,

sponsored by Top Women, Top Jobs, also included comedians Jill Saydam and Shaima Al Sayed.

“Great comedy does not only make you laugh but also makes you think,” which is a useful tool in sending a message that the audience will remember, Liccione stated after the event.

Massoud said that 100 percent of the show’s proceeds went to the Pink Caravan, an initiative that aims to raise breast cancer awareness in the UAE. A Pink Caravan expert also spoke to female students and faculty members throughout the day about the importance of early detection.

GlamBox, iCream, Cupcake Boutique, Fuschia Sweets, Estée Lauder, Ballona Shop and Polished Spa sponsored the event, Massoud stated.

SBA Goes Pink raises over AED 5,000 for Pink Caravan

SBA Careers Nov 2014

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