We invite you to download ISM's 2012 Newsletter highlighting many accomplishments over the past year in the ISM Community.

Click here to download : ISM 2012 Newsletter

The two-day event hosted over 250 C-level business women and men predominantly from the GCC region. The objective of the forum was to inspire and influence future women leaders and to recognize the achievements of some of the leading women in the region through the WIL Achievement Awards. The event was held in conjunction with the Shamsa Bint Suhail Award for Creative Women, hosted and attended by Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa Bint Suhail, the first lady of the UAE.

The WIL Forum was organized in partnership with some of the biggest businesses in the world and the region. These include, but are not exclusive to, the following: The National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, TAQA, Barclays, Coca-Cola, Du, MONSTER.COM, Etihad, and CNN just to mention a few. Furthermore, representatives from these businesses attended and took part in the two-day discussions, panels, and keynote speeches which the event featured.

The event featured several keynote speakers from different parts of the world as well as dynamic panels and discussion workshops. In the forum, Ms. Kyriakos underscored the importance of solidarity among women to improve their status as well as men's role in empowering women. Naturally, Ms. Kyriakos stressed the importance of education for women of all ages and at different stages of their development. Education is instrumental in empowering women and providing them with the ability to succeed in the workplace as well as at home. Furthermore, Ms. Kyriakos referred to the centrality of networking and expanding relationships in the pursuit of a better status for women.

Ms. Kyriakos also discussed the detriments to women's improvement in the Arab society which are not only a result of the male-oriented cultural mind-set, but also the result of lack of enough job opportunities for both males and females. Women in the workplace thus have to work doubly hard to prove themselves. In such an environment other women become competitors rather than fellows in the same cause. Another factor is that some women find it easier to accept the status quo then do all the work necessary to improve their status. However, this leads to squandering human resources that the society badly needs.

Finally, women's participation in government still lags behind her fellow Western counterparts. Thus, women are not in a position to suggest legislation to improve the status of women in general. One needs to always remember that hidden discrimination is a far worse barrier to improvement than any other factor.

The event was widely covered by the media and Ms. Kyriakos' contribution was referred to in the Al-Etihad Emirati newspaper. 

AFDG is a non-profit organization comprised of businesspeople and academicians whose goals are the development and consolidation of good governance in Arab countries. Furthermore, AFDG is an independent NGO which allows each of the members of its trustees to form an affiliate in any Arab country of his own. AFDG aims at improving and developing the community by utilizing the latest technologies and tools to meet its goals. AFDG also plans to work on fostering democratic anti-discrimination practices in the Arab world, just to mention a few of its goals.

Christophe Legrenzi, ISM PhD Candidate has recently published, Best Practices Revues et Corrigées.

To read more about Christophe's book, please view the following link: http://www.bestpractices-si.fr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1455&Itemid=33

Don's contributions to Monmouth have been significant and many. As a successful California entrepreneur who founded Above the Rim and helped start Netcentives, Inc , he brought real-world experience to the classroom, establishing a strong entrepreneurism program within our business department. The vibrancy of that program has been enhanced by the impressive array of guest lecturers who regularly speak to his students. Having lived and worked in Japan, he has also been instrumental in helping us develop overseas programs, particularly in that region.

From a personal standpoint, Don's recent service as a member of my cabinet has been particularly appreciated. He has been the ultimate utility player, cheerfully taking on a diverse series of critical assignments that needed to be completed quickly and thoroughly. They were always completed on schedule and with attention to detail. He has also helped lay the foundation for our new but rapidly growing institutional marketing efforts.

Please join me in congratulating Don on what will be a well-deserved and natural next step in his academic career."

Derval, founder and President of the research firm "DervalResearch", received this nomination based on her recently published research entitled "The Right Sensory Mix: Targeting Consumer Product Development Scientifically" which has been resonating quite loudly not only in the world of neuroscience, but also in the marketing world since its publication in 2010. Her investigations have uncovered startling evidence of the profound and lasting influence of prenatal exposure to hormones-particularly sex hormones-on people's likes and dislikes, their sensory reactions to the world around them, and the decisions they make.

To learn more about Derval's research or more about the Berry-AMA Award, please visit DervalReasearch's website at http://www.derval-research.com/

Mr. Emenike was nominated for the award on account of his invaluable contributions to national, social, and economic transformation and growth which include employment creation, creating youth empowerment programs, aiding in rural development, and promoting excellence in the educational sector. Also noted was Mr. Emenikes assistance in health care. His company, "Neros Pharmaceuticals" introduced the first registered artemisinin-based antimalaria drug in Nigeria that was quite crucial in tackling the malaria scourge. The company has continued to partner with the Federal and State government for the effective execution of public healthcare delivery programs.

Mr. Emenike will be recognized as an astute industrialist/entrepreneur and philanthropist by the Federal Government of Nigeria, as well as making him a recipient of the national Order of the Niger (MON) award.