du's Agent 055 initiative reveals its first batch of 10 aspiring entrepreneurs

Ambitious, entrepreneurially-driven university students selected to earn while they learn with du

UAE, Dubai, 7 January 2016 – Following a fiercely competitive application process that attracted over 200 candidates, ten aspiring entrepreneurs have been chosen by du as the first-ever students to partake in the Agent 055 Network Initiative. The university students underwent a multi-phase grueling application process comprising a slew of aptitude and personality assessments before being given this unique opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial skills.  

Ten ambitious students secured their place on the scheme to begin earning while they learn with du. Participants include the Emirati Alyazah Al Neyadi from UAE University with the other candidates hailing from countries including India, the USA and Palestine, offering their talents to the UAE.  Yash Dowlani and Samreen Mazhar of University of Woolongong, Vinayak Dhingra of BITS Pilani and Luv Mahajan of Institute of Management Technology all join du as expatriate students in Dubai from India, whilst Mohammed Rizwan of Times Institute joins the team from Abu Dhabi - also studying away from his home in India. From Palestine, du welcomes Ahmad M. Telbani of UAE University and Gabriella Leila BouSaid, Middlesex University has joined the scheme as an expatriate all the way from her home in the USA. 

For these expatriate students in the UAE, the Agent 055 Initiative represents a unique opportunity to gain in-depth industry knowledge and vast workplace experience during their time at university. This in turn will help them excel in their respective fields and better navigate today’s increasingly competitive job market after University, equipped with the skills they need to continue their entrepreneurial futures.

As part of the comprehensive program, the students will receive in-depth training from the company in both sales and marketing, arming them with the knowledge and tools that they need to succeed in the industry. Following this training period, the students will be asked to meet monthly sales Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The candidates will also be equipped with tablets so that they can effectively conduct sales and take customer information. In conjunction with this, they will be supervised by specifically assigned store managers tasked with providing them with advice and mentorship throughout the project.

Unlike regular sales staff, however, these students will be able to conduct sales in their own time, giving them the flexibility that they need to also focus on their academic schedules.

“Since its founding, du has staunchly spearheaded sustainability efforts in the UAE,” said Hala Badri, Executive Vice President, Brand and Communications, du. “In line with this, we have long made it our mission to provide a powerful platform for aspiring entrepreneurs. du’s unprecedented Agent 055 Network Initiative serves as a strong testament to that commitment. During the lengthy application process, each of these selected candidates demonstrated leadership prowess, passion for innovation and a genuine desire to move the needle of influence. In short, they each have all the makings of a budding, promising entrepreneur – which is what helped set them starkly apart from the rest.”

Badri also added, “We are thrilled to be empowering these students to succeed and contributing to their professional growth story. More importantly, we are confident in their abilities to become the UAE’s future movers and shakers.”