Smith Interns Dive into Dubai

Four Smith alumni are representing the United States in a 10-month immersive internship and learning program in Dubai. The program, comprised of 40 international graduates, is sponsored by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai. 

Edward J. White ’15, David Oganesyan ’15, Mary McCune ’09 and Kevin Marrin ’09 joined cohort members from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia for Dubai Business Internships, which kicked off in September 2015.

In mid-October, participants were placed in internships in some of Dubai’s top organizations, including Emirates Airlines, the National Bank of Dubai, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. They returned to the classroom before starting a capstone consulting project.

White, who completed an earlier internship with global hospitality group Jumeirah, says the Smith School prepared him well for the Dubai experience.

“I hope to gain a greater world perspective and exposure to cultures that are very different than my own,” White says. “Dubai is a city that is at the crossroads of the world with residents from virtually every country on Earth living in harmony. What’s more striking, and what drew me here, is that despite this diversity, Dubai is an oasis of tolerance and stability in an often misunderstood part of the world.”

He plans to stay in Dubai after the program ends in June to work for a few years before pursuing an MBA. /CH/