Academy of International Business MENA

Season’s Greetings from the AIB MENA Chapter! As we wrap up another remarkable year, the AIBMENA Chapter extends its warmest wishes to you and your loved ones for a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year 2025! This year’s highlight was our successful annual conference hosted by the University of Birmingham Dubai, which brought together academics, industry leaders, and researchers to share valuable insights and ideas. A heartfelt thanks to everyone who made it possible. We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing committee for their dedication and exceptional contributions, which have laid a strong foundation for the chapter’s continued growth. Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome the new committee (Yama Temouri, Vikash Ramiah, Dr. Saneesh Edacherian, Marcio Amaral Baptista and Dr. Sadaf Khurshid) and work collaboratively to drive impactful initiatives in 2024. Together, we aim to build on past successes and explore new opportunities for academic and professional excellence in the region. Here’s to another year of meaningful connections, impactful research, and shared growth. Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year 2025! Warm regards, AIB MENA Chapter

Dear AIB Members, I hope this message finds you well. After serving as the Chapter Chair of AIB-MENA from November 2017 to December 2024, I am writing to announce my stepping down from this position and to introduce our new Executive Committee members who will lead the chapter forward. I am pleased to announce our new Executive Committee: - Chapter Chair: Dr. Yama Temouri - Vice-Chair Finance & Sponsorships: Dr. Vikash Ramiah - Vice-Chair Program: Dr. Dr. Saneesh Edacherian - Vice-Chair Operations: Dr. Marcio Amaral Baptista - Vice-Chair Marketing & Outreach: Dr. Dr. Sadaf Khurshid Reflecting on my tenure, I am proud of what we have accomplished with Professor Melodena Stephens, Founding Chair (President) of the MENA chapter and the EC members. The AIB-MENA chapter has grown significantly, hosting several successful conferences that brought together scholars, practitioners, and students from across the Middle East and North Africa region and beyond. These conferences have facilitated knowledge exchange and fostered valuable networking opportunities and research collaborations. Our chapter has made significant strides in advancing international business scholarship in the MENA region. We have supported numerous publications, special issues in prestigious journals, and research initiatives that have contributed to our understanding of business dynamics in this unique regional context. Some key achievements during this period include: - Establishing strong partnerships with leading academic institutions across the MENA region - Developing mentorship programs for early-career researchers - Successfully organizing annual conferences despite global challenges - Contributing to the advancement of IB research focused on emerging markets I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all AIB-MENA members, past executive committee members, webmasters, and our global AIB community for their unwavering support and contributions. Your dedication has been instrumental in our chapter's success. I am confident that under the leadership of Dr. Yama Temouri and the new executive committee, AIB-MENA will continue to thrive and achieve even greater heights. Please join me in welcoming and supporting our new leadership team. Best regards, Immanuel Azaad Moonesar Ph.D., R.D. Outgoing Chapter Chair, AIB-MENA

Master in Management (Strategy&Consulting) students of Graduate School of Management SPbU Высшая школа менеджмента СПбГУ have completed International Consultancy Project with SPIMACO under the mentorship of Yakov and Partners and in collaboration with MBR School of Government The project’s core objective was to assist SPIMACO - the largest Saudi pharmaceutical company with one of the subsidiaries in UAE, Dubai, in navigating the complex landscape of international pharmaceutical markets. Students were tasked with evaluating global competition for 130 pharmaceutical molecules and developing tailored market entry strategies. What made this project truly remarkable was its complexity and scope: Data-Driven Insights: Students leveraged advanced tools like the IQVIA database, which provided unparalleled market intelligence. This enabled them to perform sophisticated analyses of competitive dynamics, regulatory environment. Real-Time Collaboration: Working directly with SPIMACO’s leadership ensured that the recommendations were aligned with the company’s strategic objectives. Innovative Solutions: Teams were encouraged to think creatively, combining rigorous analysis with innovative approaches to market entry under the mentorship from GSOM and Yakov&Partners representatives. Through this project students developed advanced competencies in strategic analysis, client engagement, and teamwork. The project provided a real-world test of their ability to deliver under pressure, enhancing their confidence and professional readiness. This project highlights GSOM's Высшая школа менеджмента СПбГУ role as a leader in strategic consulting education, bridging academia and industry, and preparing future-ready leaders. A heartfelt thank you to SPIMACO Prateek Parakh Fokion Sinis , our partners at the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government and especially Immanuel Azaad Moonesar Ph.D., R.D. , GSOM team Dr. Ioannis P. Christodoulou, Olesya Ustimenko, and our brilliant students for making this milestone possible! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to SPIMACO, MBRSG, and Yakov & Partners for their invaluable support and collaboration, which played a pivotal role in making this project both remarkable and outstanding. Their dedication and contributions have been instrumental in achieving this success, and we look forward to future opportunities to work together!

While digitalization, specifically, #AI is drastically changing how we do business, the big question remains whether it is for the best or worst?! Great insights from the AIBMENA Chapter conference on the theme of "Innovating for Sustainability in a Global and Digital World" held at the University of Birmingham Dubai Campus. Happy to have had the opportunity to present my paper on women leaders amidst digital transformation. Many thanks to the Keynote speakers for sharing valuable knowledge on digitalization and employees wellbeing (Professor Pawan Budhwar) and Qualitative research (Professor Becky Reuber). Not to forget the inspiring panel discussion on women in AIB by Melodena Stephens and Bronwyn P Wood Dr. Saneesh Edacherian and Dr. Sadaf Khurshid thanks for all the assistance and support! #AIBMENA2024 #digitalization #internationalbusiness #leadership #womenleaders #sustainability #academicresearch #management

An amazing kick-off at #AIB_MENA2024 at #UniversityofBirminghamDubai Our morning was warmed up with deep discussions during PDW with Distinguished Professor Vijay Edward Pereira #ISMO Later we were enlightened by Professor Pawan Budhwar about the impacts of #Digitalization on the Employee’s health #Keynote Great catching up and meeting with Dr. Richa Gulati, Ph.D., MoAPM, Exec. MBA, BIT Maryse Matta PhD Dr. Sadaf Khurshid Dr. Douglas W.S. Renwick - Author of Work, Politics and the Green Industrial Revolution Linsy Kavanancheeri MBA ,BTech,FHEA Yama Temouri Immanuel Azaad Moonesar Ph.D., R.D. Hagop Aynedjian Prof. Shlomo Tarba, University of Birmingham, UK, Fellow of Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) Dr. Saneesh Edacherian Marie-Therese Claes

I'm thrilled to share reflections on the presenting our co-authored research "Sustainability Orientation of Entrepreneurs in MENA Region" at AIB-MENA 2024 by Yulia Aray. I’m Collaborating with esteemed colleagues from GSOM SPbU and MBRSG, we explored the crucial intersection of entrepreneurial intentions and sustainable actions in our region with coauthors: Olga Verkhovskaya Bogatyreva Karina Melodena Stephens #aibmena2024 Academy of International Business (AIB) Academy of International Business MENA GSOM SPbU Our findings revealed intriguing paradoxes about how entrepreneurial ecosystems influence sustainability actions. While a more developed ecosystem might initially appear to have negative impacts on sustainable development practices, we discovered it can actually facilitate the crucial transition from intention to action when entrepreneurs are committed to implementing sustainable strategies. The engaging discussions that followed our presentation highlighted the MENA region's unique position and potential in driving sustainable entrepreneurship forward. The audience's questions and insights particularly focused on how we can better support entrepreneurs in converting their sustainability orientations into concrete actions. Call to Actions: 1. Government bodies: Develop dedicated sustainability-focused funding streams 2. Incubators: Create specialized tracks for green startups 3. Entrepreneurs: Integrate sustainability metrics into business planning 4. Academic institutions: Enhance research on sustainability implementation 5. Ecosystem players: Foster sustainability-focused mentorship networks #SustainableEntrepreneurship #MENA #AIBMENA2024 #ResearchImpact #Sustainability #GreenBusiness #EntrepreneurialEcosystem #SustainableDevelopment #BusinessResearch #Innovation #EnvironmentalAction #SocialImpact #GreenEntrepreneurship #MBRSG #DubaiResearch #BusinessSustainability #AcademicResearch #EntrepreneurshipResearch #SustainableInnovation #GreenInnovation #ClimateSolutions #EcosystemDevelopment #SustainableGrowth #EntrepreneurialAction #GEM2024 #BusinessStudies What aspects of the research findings particularly resonated with your experience in sustainable entrepreneurship?

Honored to have chaired the session with these three research papers in International Business education: Key Takeaways: 1. E-learning Readiness (Germany-China Comparison): - Highlights the importance of understanding cultural and infrastructural differences in designing digital education - Demonstrates how resilience in educational systems varies across developed and emerging economies - Shows the need for adaptive teaching approaches that work across different educational cultures 2. Gender Equality in Multinational Leadership: - Emphasizes the critical role of practical examples from multinational companies in teaching gender equality - Illustrates how cultural contexts impact the implementation of equality initiatives - Demonstrates the importance of preparing future business leaders with concrete strategies for promoting workplace equality 3. Study Abroad Programs for Innovation and Sustainability: - Shows how experiential learning through international exposure enhances career development - Highlights the connection between sustainability education and innovation capabilities - Demonstrates the value of practical, hands-on international experience in developing future business leaders Call to Action for International Business Education: 1. Integration of Technology and Culture: - Develop flexible, culturally-aware digital learning platforms - Invest in faculty training for cross-cultural digital teaching - Create hybrid learning models that combine online and experiential learning 2. Enhanced Practical Experience: - Increase partnerships with multinational companies for real-world learning - Develop more structured experiential learning programs - Create opportunities for students to engage with global sustainability challenges 3. Curriculum Development: - Integrate DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) principles throughout the curriculum - Embed sustainability and innovation as core components rather than add-ons - Design programs that balance theoretical knowledge with practical application 4. Assessment and Measurement: - Develop better metrics for measuring the impact of international business education - Create standardized ways to evaluate cross-cultural competency - Implement long-term tracking of career outcomes 5. Institutional Changes: - Foster stronger connections between academic institutions and industry - Create more opportunities for faculty international exchange and development - Establish global networks for sharing best practices in IB education 6. Future-Focused Adaptation: - Prepare students for emerging global challenges - Develop adaptable frameworks that can evolve with changing business needs - Build resilience into educational programs to handle future disruptions Academy of International Business MENA #aibmena2024

Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to the four phenomenal panelists: Dr. Sadaf Khurshid, Melodena Stephens, Bronwyn P Wood, and Malak Abdulaziz Malibari, PhD, for delivering a high-impact session at today's WAIB panel at the Academy of International Business (AIB)-MENA chapter conference. The panel was about "Differences in research approach adapted by women and men in academia: Perspectives in research, teaching, service, and beyond". Thanks especially to Dr. Sadaf Khurshid for organizing her first event. With such a strong start, we're all looking forward to whatever's to come next!

Great to start the #AIBMENA conference at the University of Birmingham Dubai. The workshop focused on AI and international business. The #purpose was to expose international business researchers on possible AI topics like global value chains, culture, global borders, the trade of data (and its ethics) and firm non market strategies. Further we touched challenges in ethics with AI cases. Amazing group of researchers from around the world. Thanks to AIBMENA and host member teams: Immanuel Azaad Moonesar Ph.D., R.D. Yama Temouri Dr. Sadaf Khurshid Dr. Saneesh Edacherian Marcio Amaral Baptista Linda Hsieh Chengang Wang and the Host University staff and students. Academy of International Business (AIB) #AI #globalvaluechains #geopolitics #supplychain #aiethics #lobbying #techfirms #digitalfirms #securitiy #sustainability

Professor Pawan Budhwar delivered a compelling keynote speech at AIB-MENA 2024, addressing the critical intersection of digitalization, employee wellbeing, and HR management, moderated by Professor Dean Edgar Meyer Here's a comprehensive review: Key Highlights: 1. Digital Wellbeing Challenges: - Identified significant impacts of excessive social media use according to WHO & World Economic Forum - Highlighted concerning statistics from Vodafone's global survey on cyberbullying - Addressed cognitive impairment and behavioral skill degradation - Discussed the rise in anxiety, depression, and decline in empathy 2. Research Framework: - Presented a DWB-specific theoretical framework focusing on sustainable digital health - Emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration for grand challenge solutions - Proposed integration of equality, diversity, and inclusion in digital wellbeing initiatives 3. HR's Transformative Role: - Introduced e-Leadership concepts based on recent research (Tigre et al., 2023) - Outlined nine critical HR functions including (to name a few): * Digital leadership development * Manager preparedness strategies * Employee assistance programs * Cultural transformation towards human-centered approaches * Digital health interventions Call to Action: 1. Implement comprehensive digital wellbeing policies in organizations 2. Develop leader readiness programs for digital transformation 3. Create cross-functional wellbeing champions 4. Establish clear metrics for digital health assessment 5. Foster inclusive digital workplace cultures #DigitalWellbeing #HRTransformation #EmployeeWellness #FutureOfWork #DigitalLeadership #WorkplaceMentalHealth #HRStrategy #DigitalHR #WorkforceWellbeing #SustainableHR #EmployeeExperience #CorporateWellness #DigitalTransformation #BusinessInnovation #AIBMENA2024 #WorkplaceCulture #MENABusiness #HRTech #DigitalWorkplace #EmployeeEngagement #OrganizationalBehavior #CorporateCulture #ChangeManagement #LeadershipDevelopment #WellbeingAtWork #BusinessEducation #MENA Stephanie Decker FAcSS Yama Temouri Melodena Stephens Dr. Sadaf Khurshid Distinguished Professor Vijay Edward Pereira MBR School of Government University of Birmingham Dr. Saneesh Edacherian Chengang Wang Reem Alothmany Marcio Amaral Baptista Linda Hsieh Lionel Thibaud Academy of International Business (AIB) Academy of International Business MENA