MENA Cultural Spotlight & Opportunities 

A Note for This Week

We hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend and is taking some time to relax as we settle into the first few weeks of the semester! With Spring officially underway, recruiting is ramping up, club events are in full swing, and there are plenty of opportunities to connect, learn, and make the most of your MBA experience.
For those in the middle of Spring recruiting, stay focused, keep pushing forward, and lean on your peers and mentors for guidance. The semester will bring new opportunities, leadership transitions, and exciting events, so stay engaged and take advantage of everything Stern has to offer.
Check out the key school events this week and our spotlight event: MENA x GEMS: Backgammon and Chess Night!

Professional and Social Events This Week
Please don’t forget to register or attend these exciting professional and social events this week:

Tuesday, February 18

• ESA Recruiting Best Practices Panel | 12:00 PM
• OPT Spring Workshop (MBA2) | 12:00 PM

Wednesday, February 19

• Freeze Frame - A Follies Writing Workshop! | 12:00 PM
• LABA Info Session | 12:00 PM
• SETA: The Nashton Company Presentation | 12:00 PM
• AHBBS Co-President Election | 12:00 PM
• ESA Election Town Hall 2025 | 12:00 PM
• Future of Work Bootcamps: Financial Calculator: HP 12C | 12:00 PM
• GEMS Chess Lunch & Learn | 12:00 PM
• MULTI-SCHOOL: MBA-Exchange: Taking Control of Your Professional Trajectory | 3:30 PM
• TASS: US Industrial Production | 4:30 PM
• ⭐ MENA x GEMS: Backgammon and Chess Night! | 4:30 PM (See Event Spotlight below!)
• CAREERS: IGNITE Uncovering Your Professional Brand | 4:30 PM
• Panel: Pivoting from IB to PE | 6:00 PM
• SWIB: Stern Women's Forum | 6:00 PM

Thursday, February 20

• LABA Elections | 12:00 PM
• GFA Presidential Election | 12:30 PM
• CAREERS: IGNITE Cover Letter Workshop | 4:30 PM
• GFA Happy Hour | 6:00 PM
• NYU x CBS Annual Black Out Party | 10:30 PM

Friday, February 21

• CAREERS: LinkedIn Photo Day | 9:00 AM
• ESA Pitch Competition 2025 | 9:30 AM
• Leadership Storytelling Summit | 10:00 AM
• MBA Entertainment & Sports Conference 2025 | 11:00 AM
• MULTI-SCHOOL: Musto Careers: Masters Business & Tech Virtual Career Fair | 11:00 AM
• "Living in the Shade" NYCHA Exhibit Tour - SREC x REUP | 3:30 PM

Saturday, February 22

• LSG Ski Trip | 6:30 AM
• Leadership Storytelling Summit | 10:00 AM

Sunday, February 23

• Future of Work Bootcamps: Excel Bootcamp Session 1 | 9:00 AM
• Future of Work Bootcamps: Excel Bootcamp Session 2 | 1:30 PM
• Spin Class: Black History Month Edition | 1:45 PM
• Pickleball with Stern Adventures | 4:00 PM

Event Spotlight

♟️ MENA x GEMS: Backgammon and Chess Night!
📅 Wednesday, February 19, 2025 | 🕟 4:30 – 6:00 PM
📍 KMC 3-130, 44 West 4th Street

Get ready for an exciting game night as MENA x GEMS presents our very first Backgammon and Chess Night! Whether you're an experienced player or completely new to the games, this is the perfect chance to unwind, meet new friends, and enjoy a bit of friendly competition.

🔹 Backgammon: A Game of Strategy and History
Backgammon is one of the world's oldest board games, tracing its origins back over 5,000 years to ancient Mesopotamia, present-day Iraq. It has been played across the Middle East for centuries, blending skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck. Traditionally played in coffeehouses and homes, Backgammon remains a cultural staple from the Levant to North Africa, symbolizing social connection and strategic thinking.

Whether you prefer the calculated moves of Chess or the dynamic play of Backgammon, this night is about celebrating history, culture, and community—see you there!