MENA Cultural Spotlight & Opportunities 

A Note for This Week

Dear MENA Community,

It’s hard to believe, but we’re officially in the final week of classes! As exams begin and group projects wrap up, we’re also taking a moment to celebrate all the memories, milestones, and momentum we’ve built together this semester.

To our graduating MBA2s—congratulations! 🎓 Your leadership, support, and energy have helped shape MENA into the vibrant community it is today. We’ll miss you dearly and can’t wait to see the impact you’ll continue to make beyond Stern.

🌍 Event Recap: MENA Meets — Navigating the Trump Era

📍 NYU Stern | April 30, 2025

Last Wednesday, we proudly hosted MENA Meets, our biggest professional event of the year, focused on the evolving intersection of U.S. foreign policy and Middle East & North Africa markets.

With tariffs, trade dynamics, and shifting alliances dominating headlines, we brought together an exceptional panel of thought leaders to unpack what Trump’s return to office could mean for the region.

A heartfelt thank you to our speakers:
• John Darsie, CEO of SALT and Partner at SkyBridge Capital
• Winston Ma, Executive Director of the Global Public Investment Funds Forum and NYU Law Adjunct Professor
• Adam Vigh, Director at Wafra and NYU Stern MBA alum
• Ehab Elsonbaty, Partner at DLA Piper and Chair of the U.S./Middle East Initiative

And to our moderator, David Hamod, President & CEO of the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce, for guiding such a timely and thought-provoking discussion.

We ended the evening with an engaging networking mixer over a delicious Lebanese dinner catered by ilili, where conversations continued and connections deepened.

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this event such a success!

Professional and Social Events This Week

Please don’t forget to register or attend these exciting professional and social events this week:

Monday, May 5
• CAREERS: IGNITE Pitch Practice | 5:00 – 6:00pm

Tuesday, May 6
• Stern Speaks: MBA2 Farewell | 12:00 – 1:20pm
• Future of Work Bootcamp: Coping with Stress | 12:00 – 1:00pm
• Senior Week: Last Lecture for the Class of 2025 | 4:20 – 6:00pm
• Focused MBAs x ABS: KBBQ Meat-Up | 7:00 – 9:00pm
• STA Karaoke Night 🎤 | 7:30 – 9:30pm

Wednesday, May 7
• Senior Week: Orangetheory Fitness Class | 2:00 – 3:30pm
• Senior Week: Yankees Game ⚾ | 7:00 – 10:00pm

Thursday, May 8
• Senior Week: MBA2 Block Olympics | 11:00am – 3:00pm
• Cellar’s First Sip of Summer: Alsace x Austria | 6:00 – 8:00pm
• Hail and Farewell | 6:30 – 9:30pm

Friday, May 9
• Senior Week Party 🎉 | 9:00pm – 3:00am (May 10)