Dubai World has announced the launch of Dubai Leaders Program, a leadership initiative aimed at building a corps of leaders within the group, in collaboration with the prestigious Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
The Program was announced in the presence of Dubai World’s Chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, distinguished Chief Executive Officers of the Group’s corporate organisations and representatives from the Wharton School, which was established in 1881 and is recognised as one of the world’s leading business schools.
The Dubai Leaders Program is one of the top corporate development programs that can be found globally. The interactive program is focused on enhancing the strategic thinking and leadership capabilities of the participants, who will be invited to the Wharton School’s Philadelphia campus to attend a series of executive education and action learning programs. The design of the program is ambitious and unique, and will use a combination of methods and tools to develop the candidates over a one year period.
In a speech at the recent Dubai Government Excellence Program Awards ceremony, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum highlighted needed future development initiatives that will boost the growth process by intensifying efforts towards introducing new generations of young leaders.
“As part of our continued efforts to develop Dubai World’s leaders and emerging National talent, and in line with what we have learnt from HH Sheikh Mohammed that our true measure is not in what we have achieved yesterday, but rather in what we will achieve tomorrow, we have taken the lead by launching the Dubai Leaders Program. This initiative will be an example of excellence in leadership development, and will set a new standard and example for public and private sector organisations across the region seeking to implement and take their development programs to new levels”, said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem
Outlining the purpose of the program, Bin Sulayem added, “Dubai Leaders Program will review the readiness and capabilities of our personnel to assume positions of leadership within Dubai World’s group of companies. This is in line with the foresight and vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of grooming our National human resources for creatively and responsibly guiding and sustaining Dubai’s future development.”
“Under the Dubai Leaders Program, an ambitious and comprehensive tailored management development plan will be formulated, in keeping with Dubai World's specific strategy and overall objectives. Over a period of two months, the Wharton School’s staff and faculty have identified and assessed the management capabilities of our personnel, leading to a personal development program where a team of senior managers will participate,” said Mahmoud Saleh, Executive Director of Shared Services and Secretary General of Dubai World..
“We met with a number of young leaders and asked them where they see themselves in 5 years. Based on their inputs and considering the booming economy of Dubai, we designed a customised program, which is the first of its kind in the region. The young leaders in Dubai World are enthusiastic and enterprising, and the academic course along with the live experience that the program provides, will help them become global leaders," said Nihat Bülent Gültekin, Associate Professor of Finance, at the Wharton School.
The Dubai Leaders Program addresses three different levels of executive educational needs, organization-wide business management skills, business organization specific skills and individual skills. The program will be run in phases over a one year period. It is expected to meet the Dubai World organisation’s learning needs and develop the business and organisational skills and perspectives of individual managers. The program will ensure that a cadre of highly qualified personnel is available to fill senior leadership positions, at present and in the years ahead, thus building a chain of strong and effective leaders.
"We are delighted to be at the forefront of such a unique educational opportunity with Dubai World. We feel that this program will achieve outcomes which will keep pace with Dubai World's dynamic and creative business expansion. We anticipate that this innovative program and collaborative relationship will help current and future Dubai World leaders drive and shape their respective industries," said Jon Spector, Vice Dean and Director of Wharton Executive Education.
Dubai World was formed to act as a holding company for the Group’s commercial operations. Companies such as DP World, Nakheel, Istithmar, Jebel Ali Free Zone, and Dubai Multi Commodities Centre all fall under the umbrella of Dubai World. HE Sultan Bin Sulayem is the Chairman of Dubai World.
Established in 1881, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is the world's first collegiate business school, recognized for its distinguished faculty, innovative curriculum and academic leadership across every major discipline of business education. With its unmatched faculty and academic programs, the Wharton School is the most comprehensive source of business knowledge in the world. The institution has 11 academic departments, 19 research centers and state-of-the-art academic facilities.
