September’s – ‘The Power Issue’ – Download Now
Anna Schebsdat is multifaceted, challenge-oriented and currently working for one of the world’s top business schools as part of City, University of London. With global experience across different continents, Schebsdat has a unique and inspiring path in the world of business. She is also President of Columbia Business School’s UAE Alumni Chapter, Board Member on Columbia Alumni Association UAE and an Advisor for the Al Suwaidi Foundation and the Abu Dhabi Arts Society. She discusses her career, triumphs and challenges with Emirates Woman
Why did you choose a career in the executive education sector and who inspired you?
Education lit up the path to many beautiful things that happened to me in life. My passion and expertise are in global education management, to which I dedicated the past ten years. It has given me a sense of purpose throughout my career as I help shape candidates’ development by matching their needs with the appropriate solution. The education sector plays a crucial role in economic growth through reskilling and upskilling. I thoroughly enjoy advising and bringing empowerment to executives when it comes to the refining of their skillsets.
What does it take to pursue a global career?
You need to get out of the comfort zone and for that you need self-confidence. Confidence, in my view, comes from self-awareness and appreciating oneself. Success is the result of hard, passionate work and being courageous to move countries.
What exciting ventures have you been involved with in the past months?
Alongside my full-time work for a business school where I had many challenges as the Education industry underwent rapid changes towards e-learning, I have joined Columbia UAE Alumni Association as a Board Member, led Columbia’s Business School UAE Chapter, received a Harvard online certificate, continued taking Arabic lessons and moved forward with a non-profit project, which combines art and education under an intercultural exchange umbrella. I have also started to work on a PhD research proposal and writing a chapter for a book, which I never thought I would pursue.
What has been your proudest moment to date?
I always had to prove myself adjusting to new cultures – from embarking on an international career by moving to different countries to being part of challenging projects from scratch and building success stories. One of them was opening and building the Middle East office for my previous employer. It was the brand’s first international expansion and, at the age of 28, I was working within the executive education industry for the world’s top schools such as MIT, Wharton and Harvard. I also took on an additional challenge of the Executive Programme in Management at Columbia Business School in New York to upskill myself despite juggling the challenges of a first-time mother. Later I was appointed to lead the Columbia Alumni UAE Chapter, where we built on the success story alongside our eighty-three alumni clubs worldwide.
How has COVID-19 changed learning and how do you see it continuing to change?
The education sector is surely even more competitive and there is a drive for institutions to deliver an attractive value proposition without diminishing the experience for students. Investment in an effective IT infrastructure is no longer a choice or added value, it became a must overnight. Blended learning, accommodating international students, growing the youth in particular in the Middle East – COVID-19 has exacerbated the need for innovation in education. With these changes, additional challenges arise. Such as, privacy and security of studying online and decreased socialising impacting learning soft skills with limited human interaction.
Did you have a mentor and if so what knowledge did they impart?
I am blessed to be surrounded by my family and friends who inspire me. My family always encouraged me to be the best version of myself, work hard and get the best education possible. I had some very inspiring mentors who advised me on how I can approach my career, for example, never to come with a problem, but approach with solutions. It is great advice I was given at the start of my career.
This is ‘The Power Issue’ – what does power mean to you?
Being compassionate, graceful, well-rounded and a socially intelligent person. Making an impact and to be able to inspire others to do better. For women, it also means being both, strong and soft. As well, the outer beauty should not outweigh the inner beauty. A woman’s power is also in her being filled with goals, self-innovation, values and drive. Being modest yet charismatic, refined and put together is what a woman should cultivate. I do believe that our power as a woman is our natural ability to bring love, beauty and nurturing that matters the most and is my daily calling as a woman. However, it should not stop me from achieving my other aspirations. This all is the power in my opinion.
