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The Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society’s Abu Dhabi University (ADU) Chapter is hosting a virtual guest speaker event starting from October 3^rd till November 14^th. The event covers a wide range of topics including challenges in management before and after COVID-19, ethical leadership, and more.

The first talk took place on October 3^rd, hosted by guest speaker, Dr. Guna Rethinam, Director of Organization Design at Etisalat. Dr. Rethinam provided the audience with insight into ‘Cross-Cultural Management Challenges Before and after COVID-19’. The session aimed to shed light on the contemporary management challenges in addressing the cross-cultural elements impacted by the global pandemic, and how COVID-19 has nullified traditional cross-cultural management practices as organizations pursue a path towards a new normal. The presentation is a must for students and organizations that seek to manage cross-cultural challenges in the workplace.

The second session that was held on October 6^th, was hosted by Haitham Samman, Leader of Global Digital Learning Transformation at IBM’s headquarters. Samman discussed the power of ‘Leadership Development and Succession’ and how new leadership breeds the need to adjust based on the reality we live in. The talk also touched on defining the future of businesses, governments and communities.

The third session which took place on October 7^th, was hosted by Yale Law School graduate, Mr. Robert Knodgrass, Senior Manager, Legal Department, NEOM, Saudi Arabia. Mr. Knodgrass tackled the topic of COVID-19 and Loan Agreements and shed light on how standard versions of legal documents can change in order to account for new events/developments.

The final session will be hosted by  distinguished speaker Ghassan Mirdad, CEO of Katerra and Director of Afkar Ventures, Saudi Arabia, whose session will focus on ‘Ethical Leadership and Integrity’, also discussing what integrity means in an organizational context, highlighting the importance of incorporating ethical business practices in an organization’s culture. The session shall focus on the role of perception in managerial decision-making and how leaders can build and sustain a strong ethics and compliance program. The event will take place on November 14^th.

Professor Barry O’Mahony, Dean of the College of Business (CoB) at ADU commented: “We are excited to work with the BGS Honor Society to host these insightful sessions. They are not only beneficial in providing the real world insights into industry challenges that are a key component of an ADU education, but they are also an opportunity to overcome some of the barriers we face during the COVID-19 pandemic by continuing to provide engaging event in virtual mode.”

Dr. Fauzia Jabeen, Associate Professor of Management at ADU’s CoB and convenor of the series, added: “By giving the ADU community the chance to hear from experts in these business-focused topics, we are providing our students with a holistic learning experience as part of our core values, and offering the public the chance to engage with us around stimulating topics within our virtual campus.  We also extend our gratitude to the guest speakers and thank them for taking the time to participate in these important virtual talks.”

The event is open to Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral Students in the CoB, in addition to BGS Alumni. Members of the public who wish to participate in the sessions are requested to register with the University in advance.

Additionally, ADU’s CoB is also launching an Alumni Speaker Series wherein the ADU community can attend and obtain enriching insights from the University’s most distinguished alumni. The series will showcase CoB’s accomplished Alumni, who have made noteworthy contributions to local and international communities. The series will make its debut in Spring 2021, with the CoB set to host one speaker per month.

ADU’s Beta Gamma Sigma Chapter, under the auspices of the College of Business, had previously received the BGS’s 2020 Bronze Outstanding Chapter Award. The purpose of this award is to acknowledge excellence in business programs established by internationally recognized academic institutions that host a BGS Chapter. As part of the award, ADU has also received a scholarship from BGS that will be awarded to an outstanding student. Established in 1913, BGS is an international honor society which operates exclusively for AACSB-accredited business programs. Membership in BGS is highly selective, reserved for top students within the top 5% of business schools around the world.