Today's Edition
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
The inaugural class of the Stern School of Business at New York University Abu Dhabi (Stern at NYUAD) is an ambitious and diverse group of professionals, each bringing a wealth of experience from different industries.
The one-year full-time MBA programme, a collaboration between NYU Stern School of Business (NYU Stern) and NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), was launched last month and has attracted 54 students from 25 countries. While the largest representation comes from the UAE and the US, students from India, China, and Pakistan also form a significant part of the cohort.
All students in the inaugural batch have several years of experience in varied fields before commencing their studies at Stern at NYUD. A cross section of students shared their excitement and aspirations for the future with Aletihad. All of them are eager to make a difference in their chosen professions once they graduate from the accelerated one-year programme.
For May Alhajeri, an Emirati student, it is a homecoming of sorts as she studied her undergraduate political science degree at NYUAD. "Now four years later, I am proud to be part of the inaugural class at Stern," she said.
Alhajeri has nearly four years of experience spanning diplomacy, technology and the public sector. She was part of the diplomatic delegation representing the UAE at the UN, apart from serving multiple roles at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. She also had a stint at AD Gaming where she got to know of the workings of an important technology-driven industry. Now at Stern, she would like to refine and sharpen her finance skills.
"I am especially grateful for the incredible group of individuals in this class - their diversity and calibre are expanding my knowledge beyond our current geography and market," Alhajeri remarked.
The young Emirati executive would like to represent the UAE in international forums where she would like to "build bridges and foster meaningful partnerships".
For Katarina Hlavata, a Slovakian student with eight years of experience in tourism and technology, the one-year length of the programme was a major attraction. It allowed her to upskill without taking an extended career break.
"I spent most of my career in London and I am now looking to move to a market that is less mature and growing at a faster rate," she said.
She sees the UAE as a high-potential market, given its rapid economic diversification and reduced dependence on oil.
For Hemin Gala, a chartered accountant from India, Stern at NYUAD stood out for its two signature internships, allowing students to experience different roles before graduation.
Gala, who founded his own accounting and regulatory compliance firm, was previously an audit associate at EY New York. He is open to opportunities in the UAE, seeing it as "one of the fastest-growing global hubs, perfectly positioned between East and West, and bursting with opportunities across industries".
Another Emirati student, Nasser Alkhamis, a lawyer and the founder of NYK Law Firm, said: "Stern at NYUAD is the perfect fit for my current situation and future aspirations."
The one-year, full-time MBA programme is intense and offers hands-on projects with top players across various industries, he said.
The Emirati lawyer has already had several achievements to his credit. "With five years experience running NYK Law Firm, I've got a solid grasp of legal practice," he said.
What is it that motivated this lawyer to do the course in the middle of running a law firm. "I see this MBA to turbocharge my career. This programme will round me out with top-tier strategic and managerial skills. I'm not just looking to keep my firm steady; I want to take it global, and Stern at NYUAD is the perfect launchpad for that."
Stern at NYUAD offers the same academic rigour as its New York counterpart, but with a distinct regional focus. Robert Salomon, Dean of Stern School of Business at NYUAD, highlighted the experiential, project-based internships and the programme's accelerated format as defining features.
"A strong focus on the Middle East, experiential project-based internships, and an accelerated one-year format are what set it apart," Salomon said.
With a module in New York, students gain global exposure while developing the skills needed to drive impact in Abu Dhabi, the UAE, the broader MENA region, and beyond. The goal is not only to attract top talent but to encourage them to build careers within the region.
"We're not just interested in attracting talent for the programme. We want talent that will stay in, and contribute to, the region. We want our students to build careers here in Abu Dhabi, in the UAE and in the broader region," he added.
The selection process for the MBA programme considers two equally important elements: intelligence quotient (IQ) and emotional quotient (EQ).
"The IQ we're looking for in students refers to the need for them to be academically ready for the programme. They need to have the kind of undergraduate training that would lend itself well to a rigorous MBA programme," Salomon said.
On emotional intelligence, he explained that it refers to the ability to work well in teams, communicate effectively, and contribute to a collegial environment.
"We seek individuals who have interpersonal skills, who can manage and lead, but who also have the humility to understand that achievement is not an individual endeavour," he added.
The accelerated one-year MBA at Stern at NYUAD comes with a significant price tag, costing nearly $120,000, according to the university's website. However, it promises a world-class education, delivered by faculty holding PhDs from leading business schools, including NYU, MIT, London Business School, HEC Paris, Harvard Business School, Wharton, and INSEAD.
A press release issued at the time of its inauguration in February stated that Stern at NYUAD is designed to create the next generation of business leaders, equipped with both global insights and regional expertise.
