Because
the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) Bachelor in Business
Administration's concentration in accounting recently earned the IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants) endorsement, students are already using that honor
to open doors and explore new opportunities.
As
part of the IMA® endorsement benefits, accounting undergraduate student Zeina
Chidiac was selected to represent the MENA region at the organization’s annual
Student Leadership Conference in St. Louis, Missouri on November 1-3, 2018. The
conference featured industry tours, sessions on leadership, finance, and data
analytics, and roundtable discussions with corporate industry representatives. Participants
were able to build a professional network and learn directly from
industry-leading experts while gaining a better understanding of the in-demand
skills needed in the competitive career landscape.
This
year, IMA reformed the application process for the conference to make it more
exciting and competitive. Students submitted video applications answering why
they wanted to join the conference, which career path in accounting they are
interested in, and how they would share their acquired knowledge to the rest of
the students at their university.
“Attending
the conference has been a fruitful experience. It has shaped my future both on
a personal and professional level by showing me different paths an accounting
and/or finance major can take,” described Chidiac. Critical benefits she
garnered from the trip were the opportunities for “enhancing my interviewing
skills and opening my eyes to ethical dilemmas one might face in the workplace.
I also got the chance to apply the knowledge acquired during my first year at
AUB.