First AUS economics alumna creating waves in the business world

American University of Sharjah (AUS) alumna Malika Kennedy attributes her professional success to the skills she learned while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration majoring in Economics, which culminated in her role as a strategy director at CX & Performance for Digitas as part of the Publicis Groupe in Dubai.

Leading teams spread across Dubai, Beirut and Amman, Kennedy is responsible for the supervision of operations and delivery of business pitches and support of company strategy.  

“As you get more experience and authority, it is much easier to navigate challenges that come your way. The most important lesson I learned was to always do your research and triple-check all the work that comes your way. Human errors are a natural thing, so organizing your work using the right process and tools goes a long way,” said the 2012 alumna.

Kennedy aspires to progress in her corporate work while building a base for her own start-up. “Working in strategy opened my eyes and mind to the many present business and market needs in the market. While I was on maternity leave, I worked on several ideas that I would like to pursue one day to start my own business. I found that life takes interesting and unexpected turns, which makes it exciting, especially if you are willing to learn and open up to new opportunities,” said Kennedy.

She added: “The skills I gained from AUS gave me the most value. Strong research skills, verification of data, business English and writing, working with statistics, how to work under pressure and meet deadlines, teamwork and more. It provided a foundation upon which I built and progressed in my work.”

Kennedy’s decision to pursue a degree in economics at AUS came when she was in grade 10 after taking a trip from her hometown, Almaty, in Kazakhstan to the UAE.

“At the time, my family and I decided that UAE would be a great choice to pursue my higher education since it is a safe country, close to Almaty, and was a country that was close to my heart after spending numerous holidays here and joining my parents on their business trips. So, while I was in grade 10, we toured the many universities in the UAE and visited AUS during Global Day, which left a very strong impression on me in relation to its diversity, inclusivity and its interesting student life,” she said.

Kennedy was the first student to graduate from the economics program at AUS and the first ever student to study abroad through the International Study and Exchange (IXO) office at AUS. In 2009, Kennedy studied abroad at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada, which she described as “life-changing.”

“I met so many wonderful people and experienced different cultures, explored the city that had so much to offer and, most importantly, learned more about myself and grew in so many aspects through that journey. From an academic perspective, I loved the Economics Department at Simon Fraser University. Since the program was well established and renowned both within Canada and abroad, it was very popular with students. At AUS, I was the first and only student to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Economics) in 2012, so it was refreshing to be able to meet and mingle with so many like-minded students! Courses such as Econometrics and World Economy laid very strong foundations for my passion and love for the subject,” she said.  

Reflecting on her educational and professional experience, Kennedy offered one piece of advice to university students: “To all students who are doubtful whether to try an exchange program or not, my advice is to just try it! Dare yourself and push boundaries since life starts outside of your comfort zone!”

As one of the top programs of its kind in the Gulf, the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Major in Economics prepares students for the competitive and ever-changing business and corporate environment. With a well-planned curriculum in tune with the demands of the global marketplace and a multinational and experienced faculty with terminal degrees from some of the most prestigious universities in the world, the program is designed to provide students with the best blend of both theoretical as well as practical instruction.

For more information about the program, visit www.aus.edu/sba/bae.