BLOG: The NEP Experience

From December 5 through 8, Module 2 shifted emphasis to the Analytical Mindset with coursework devoted to innovation and strategic thinking. 

The cohort first sharpened their business acumen with day-long workshops on Strategic Innovation, presented by Dr. Corey Phelps, and Financial Success, with Prof. Sujata Madan, both of McGill University. On day 3, Karim Al-Abbas of Enlighten Education led an unforgettable workshop designed to transform participants’ ability to think on their feet, learn quickly, and remember more. 

“Empowered with revolutionary techniques to help them question, analyze and collaborate more effectively, this year's participants in the brilliant National Experts Program are going to go far!” - Karim Al-Abbas

Talal Al Kaissi, CEO of G42 Cloud brought the cohort into the data-driven future with his installment of the NEP Speaker Series. He discussed his vision of leveraging the UAE’s AI and cloud computing capabilities to develop a commercial space ecosystem and invited participants to imagine what AI can make possible for their sectors.

“Geospatial analytics is a great way to apply AI brain power and digital infrastructure muscle power, fueled by the food that is data, to produce actionable insights across a variety of industries.” - Talal Al Kaissi

Cementing a focus on the future, Module 2 closed with two days at Mohamed bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in Masdar City, where Dr. Mohammad Yaqub and Dr. Martin Takac introduced the cohort to the applications, implications, and innovations of AI.

These two sessions marked the beginning of the NEP 3.0 AI Journey, a program-long learning journey designed to help participants understand how AI is likely to disrupt their sectors. Each participant will develop a report on the impact of and potential for AI in their sector, supported by NEP partners MBZUAI, NYUAD, McKinsey, and the Harvard Business Review.

Watch session highlights from the four days of Module 2 here!