2009 Arab & American Business Fellowship
Program Overview
The Arab & American Business Fellowship is the only private-sector led exchange program that focuses on cultivating today’s global leaders. The Fellowship seeks to:
- Equip participants with a deep understanding of issues important to each region to positively shape future economic relations between the U.S. and Arab worlds
- Expose more Americans and Arabs to each others' cultures and leaders through meetings with business groups, universities, nonprofit and civic organizations, government and media
- Inform companies' strategic planning processes processes with insights into Arab and American business cultures that fellows can share with colleagues and integrate into training programs.
History
What started as an exciting experiment has now become a proven program for accelerated cross-cultural business success. Since 2007, the Arab & American Business Fellowship has created unique opportunities for the Fellows and the companies that sponsor their journeys.
In 2007, seven young Arab Fellows from five Middle Eastern companies traveled to the U.S. for three weeks to learn about best business practices at four host companies. In 2008, Business for Diplomatic Action transformed the program into a two-way exchange, as 12 Arab Fellows and nine American Fellows visited each other’s nations for a corresponding three week period, with 14 companies participating as sponsors. In addition, a further 23 companies, government agencies, and non-profit organizations have donated executive time and resources to the program.
Sponsor companies to date have included Dow Chemical, Microsoft, Boeing, MidAmerican Energy, Sesame Workshop, Bloomberg LLC, Siegel+Gale, Rudin Management, Related Companies, RR Donnelley, Principal Financial Group, Tatweer Holdings, Global Investment Company and Bahadi Inc.
Business for Diplomatic Action and its partner organizations are pleased to welcome nominations for the Fellows and expressions of interest from sponsors for the 2009 program, which will run from October 3, 2009 through October 24, 2009.
How the Fellowship Program Works
- U.S. companies sponsor one or more visiting Arab fellows, and can nominate one or more of their employees to be fellows traveling to the Middle East. Sponsoring companies from the Middle East do the same.
- The Arab and American fellows begin their three-week fellowship together in New York on October 4th, with a two-day orientation session on cross-cultural understanding and business protocol led by experts from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and the Protocol School of Washington, the orientation seminars are open to executives from the sponsoring companies as well.
- The Arab fellows spend almost three weeks in three U.S. cities: New York, Washington DC, and one other “heartland” city. They are mentored by executives from the sponsoring U.S. companies, meet with employee groups, and engage in social and cultural activities. The U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy and the National Council for International Visitors help plan the events and activities.
- The American fellows leave New York on October 5th to spend two-and-a-half weeks in Dubai and one other Middle Eastern country: Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, or Palestine. They are mentored by executives from the sponsoring Arab companies, attend meetings and events organized by the YAL national chapters, and engage in diverse social and cultural activities.
- At the end of the program, all of the fellows — both Arabs and Americans — will meet in Washington on October 22nd for a closing conference to share their insights and discuss the key lessons from their experiences, with representatives from the sponsoring Arab and American companies, the U.S. business community, the partner organizations, and the media also attending.
Becoming a Fellow
Business for Diplomatic Action and its partners now welcome nominations for the 2009 Arab & American Fellowship Program for prospective Fellows.
Fellows are expected to put their energies, minds and hearts into the program. They learn and they teach. They create a dialogue to share ideas and insights through presentations and roundtable discussions. And they benefit from connecting with sponsor and host company executives and local community members who have organized thought-provoking and rewarding visits.
The selection process for the Fellows is rigorous. Representatives from Business for Diplomatic Action, the Young Arab Leaders, and the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy form the selection committee. Fellows are chosen based on the following criteria:
- A track record of excellence and achievement that indicates leadership potential in his or her chosen field
- Possession of personal qualities necessary to benefit from the program and successfully use it in his or her career field
- Commitment to socio-economic development of his or her country through application of new skills and knowledge from the program
- Minimum of 5 years experience in career field
- 25-45 years old
- College graduate with proven academic skills
- Arab Fellows must be fluent or proficient in spoken English
- American Fellows must have minimal direct experience with the Arab World.
To apply to become a Fellow in the 2009 Arab & American Business Fellowship program, you must submit a letter of intent describing why you are interested in the program, your resume, and at least one reference from a senior executive or established entrepreneur, to Thomas.Miller@ddb.com. All applications are due by July 31, 2009.
Becoming a Sponsor
The benefits that accrue to corporate sponsors are just as great and diverse as those that the Fellows experience.
- Vast Opportunities: The young executives and entrepreneurs participating as Fellows are on a fast-track career path, so the relationships they develop with their hosts can lead to significant business opportunities.
- Global Contacts: Corporate sponsors and the Fellows are connected by email, a Facebook group and various “alumni” activities, making it easy to collaborate in the future.
- Valuable Insights: The Fellows are personally nominated by their CEO’s and encouraged to share their insiders’ views on succeeding in business practices in their home countries.
- Ready Resources: The Fellows’ sophisticated understanding of their own cultures and business norms is matched by their willingness to serve as resources as the need arises.
- Unique Rewards: Sponsoring companies can give their own high-potential young executives a once-in-a-lifetime experience by nominating them to participate in the Fellowship.
- New Friends: AABF focuses on business, but time spent with sponsors and Fellows-both in and out of the office-forges lasting relationships.
Sponsor companies host groups of 4-8 Fellows for 1-5 days depending on the sponsor’s interests, location, and availability. During this time, sponsors bring their top executives and employees and visiting Fellows together for meetings that explore best-business approaches, practices and special topics regarding the Middle East and United States.
Sponsors are asked to provide funds to cover visiting Fellows’ out-of-pocket expenses (lodging, meals, ground transportation) and program administration costs. To learn more about becoming a sponsor, please send an e-mail to Thomas.Miller@ddb.com.
Contact Us
For further information about the Arab & American Business Fellowship program, please contact:
Thomas Miller
Vice President
Business for Diplomatic Action
212-415-2185
Thomas.Miller@ddb.com
