The School of Business Administration at the American University in Dubai (AUD) welcomed Senior Executive from one of the most respected high-tech companies in the world, Mr. Shiv Shivakumar, Nokia’s Senior Vice President for India, Middle East and Africa as a guest lecturer for the International Marketing class.
 
Dr. Tarek Mady, Chair of the Department of Marketing and Marketing Communications at AUD, introduced Mr. Shivakumar to the students: “Nokia has always been at the forefront of the telecommunications industry and a key driver of the proliferation of mobile hand-held devices, even in the most remote of areas of the globe. One can argue that had it not been for Nokia, we would not have seen this seismic change in consumption habits and marketing strategies. Nokia has certainly been instrumental in bringing the world closer together.”
 
Mr. Shivakumar offered some real-life cases to AUD’s Senior Marketing Students related to best marketing practices in the international environment. Specific emphasis was given to the power of global branding in the world’s competitive business environment.  During his lecture, Mr. Shiv Shivakumar, explained how great brands are built though constant innovation and a drive to offer better value to consumers. He added: “The students were very passionate, very inquisitive as they had a good challenge mentality. I will always come back to AUD!”

Dr. Tarek Mady expressed his gratitude to Mr. Shivakumar for his great presentation and willingness to engage AUD students on a personal level despite his limited time and many responsibilities. Dr. Mady also noted “In international marketing, the old ways of doing business in bubbles represented by geographically-bound country markets no longer works. Consumer needs and tastes are becoming more homogenous and people are demanding global products. This so-called global consumer culture is the result of the increased connectively and mobility seen today,” explained Mady.
 
Guest speakers and lectures from top business leaders greatly enrich the educational experience for students and support AUD in the fulfillment of its mission of teaching excellence and holistic learning. At AUD, always prides itself on maintaining tight relationships with some of the best and well-known multinational corporations operating in Dubai and the region. “Students will never forget this valuable learning experience and will no doubt internalize Mr. Shivakumar’s many recommendations on how to become exceptional marketers and brand managers. We sincerely hope to have him back for many more lectures at AUD in the near future,” concluded Mady.