Crescent Enterprises Hosts Columbia Business School Students

• 30 MBA students meet Crescent Enterprises leadership to gain insights and understanding of the UAE business practices and landscape

• Over 150 students have been hosted by Crescent Enterprises since 2015

Crescent Enterprises welcomed 30 MBA students from New York-based, Columbia University Business School (CBS), as part of an educational trip designed to increase the students’ understanding of the local business landscape. The programme, which took place at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce, is the first since the onset of the pandemic.

The students were given an opportunity to hear from and interact with senior leadership from Crescent Enterprises. Representatives delivered presentations on the company’s rise from a regional entity to a global diversified conglomerate, and its diversification strategies from ports, and logistics to venture capital and incubation. Leadership also emphasised Crescent Enterprises’ commitment to advancing global best practices in sustainability and corporate governance. Students had the opportunity to discuss a range of topics, across business and culture, with senior leadership as well as recent graduate hires across the organisation.

The programme is an integral part of the CBS MBA course on ‘Global Immersion: Economic Growth in the UAE,’ which dives into the macroeconomic trends, opportunities and risks faced by businesses and policymakers in the UAE.  The course allows students to engage with leading companies and government entities across the region to acquire knowledge of business practices and gain a greater insight into the local economy.  Since 2015, Crescent Enterprises has collaborated with the School to welcome over 150 students, in an effort to encourage diverse talent, bridge divides, and strengthen economic, academic, and socio-cultural exchange.

Pierre Yared, Professor of International Business and Vice Dean for Executive Education at Columbia Business School, said, “We are pleased to reconvene our programme with Crescent Enterprises, with our first visit to the UAE since 2019.  The visit has, yet again, proven to be invaluable for our students, providing them with an opportunity to learn first-hand about the business landscape within the region, as well as about the robust diversification strategies that played a role in the growth of this global company.”

Neeraj Agrawal, Executive Director at Crescent Enterprises, remarked, “We are delighted to, once again, welcome the CBS students to the UAE. It is refreshing to engage with the MBA students and share knowledge and expertise on the cultural values that underpin our business in the UAE. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with CBS and wish the students, the business leaders of tomorrow, every success.”