CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: Arab & American Business Fellowship
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
2009 ARAB & AMERICAN BUSINESS FELLOWSHIP
High Potential Young American Executives Encouraged to Apply
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, June 25, 2009 – This week, Business for Diplomatic Action (BDA) issues a call to US executives for nominations to the 2009 Arab & American Business Fellowship (AABF) — an expense-paid cross-cultural exchange program that exposes young, high-potential business executives and entrepreneurs to global business issues and best practices.
AABF's mission is to create an environment of reciprocity in which informed opinions and knowledge flow between businesses and cultures. Each year, representatives from BDA, the Young Arab Leaders (YAL), and the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy (USCCD) select an elite group of high potential U.S. and Middle Eastern business leaders to embark on a three-week exchange. Fellows are challenged to drive dialogues, forge new relationships, open their minds and broaden their understanding of business and culture. "Business for Diplomatic Action's AABF is designed for our business leaders of tomorrow - helping give them firsthand knowledge of the culture, people and corporate environment in the Middle East as well as helping them escalate their careers," said Thomas Miller, VP of BDA.
In its third year, twenty U.S. Fellows between the ages of 25 and 45 will be chosen based on stringent professional and personal qualifications. Fellows must be nominated by their employers and have at least five years’ experience with a track record of excellence in leadership and achievement. Candidates must also demonstrate potential for advancement, be graduates with proven academic proficiency, and possess personal qualities that make them keen to intercultural exchange. (Please note that fellows from last year are available to speak to members of the media about their experiences.)
The 2009 AABF program will commence October 4 in New York with both the American and Arab Fellows attending a two-day orientation by the Thunderbird School of Global Management and the Protocol School of Washington. Following orientation, American Fellows are paired into groups of two and spend the next two and a half weeks engaging in diverse social and cultural activities with sponsoring companies, universities, civic organizations, media and government institutions in the Middle East. Participating countries include the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Egypt.
At the program's close on October 22, the American and Arab Fellows will convene in Washington, D.C., to share key insights and experiences at a conference with representatives from sponsoring Arab and U.S. companies, partner organizations, the wider U.S. business community, the U.S. government, and the media.
The AABF is funded by American and Arab corporations, foundations, and individuals in the private sector. The Fellows' expenses for all accommodations, meals, cultural activities, and ground transportation are covered by the program. The Fellows employers are responsible for all airfares, while the Fellows themselves are responsible for incidental personal expenses. 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, and will be reviewed by staff from BDA, USCCD, and NUSACC. Final interviews will be held by phone with YAL, BDA, USCCD, and NUSACC via conference call.
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Business for Diplomatic Action
Established in January 2002, Business for Diplomatic Action is the only business-led organization dedicated to leading the development of private sector best practices in building new and better bridges across cultures. Its missiion is to enlist the U.S. busness community in actions to improve the standing of America in the world, with the goal of once again seeing America admired as a global leader and respected as a courier of progress and prosperity for all people.
www.businessfordiplomaticaction.org
Media Contact Information:
Cari Guittard, Executive Director
415.608.0806c. Cari.Guittard@sf.ddb.com
Fellowship Contact Information:
Thomas A.W. Miller, Vice President
Business for Diplomatic Action
212-415-2185p/917-414-7597c.
Thomas.Miller@ddb.com
www.businessfordiplomaticaction.org
