<p>how do you go from junioir member to membrer, post a lot of threads etc? what's next, moderator? super moderator?</p>
<p>Alexandre,</p>
<p>What is your job description at Dubai? I know that you were i-banking in Europe for a few years. What are you doing now? Do you plan on getting an MBA from a top school in the future?</p>
<p>just curious</p>
<p>I am now the Director of Human Resources for one of the 5 largest UAE-Based companies. That isn't saying much of course. The company only has 3,000 employees and annual revenues of roughly $250 million, but it is a lot of pioneering work, which I always welcome. </p>
<p>I have no interest in getting an MBA. I had the choice in 1999. I got into a couple of good MBA programs, including Kellogg and Columbia, but opted to get my master's degree in Industrial and Labor Relations instead because I was interested in the Human Resources field. So I opted for Cornell and pursued a graduate degree at their school of Industrial and Labor Relations.</p>
<p>As an engineer, I feel like the only way I can really be someone in life is to get an MBA from top business schools. It's common knowledge that engineers always go back to school to get their MBA so they can advance in the management ladder. But it seems that there are so many other options that are just as effective. </p>
<p>BTW, your job is fantastic. Why did you choose to go i-banking in Europe instead of America when you were a fresh out of college? I'm sure you could have gotten top jobs in this country if you wanted to. Was it for the thrill of change? The thrill and excitement of going to a whole new world? How was your social life there? Were people just as cool? Also, did you get your grad. degree from Cornell after your work experience in i-banking or before?</p>
<p>As far as Dubai is concerned, do you plan to live there for the next 15 years? Did you move there because you felt that you "fitted" better in their society since you were Arab? It just seems amazing to me that you would live in so many different places of the world. As far Dubai is concerned; is it just as exciting to you as America? I mean America has so much more diversity than other countries and its freedom is unparalleled (correct me if I'm wrong).</p>
<p>Sorry I'm asking you so many questions. Like you, I'm from Asia myself and just like you; I really enjoy change and new things.</p>
<p>Do not let yourself be led by the "next logical step". If you are interested in management, go for an MBA. But if your interest lies in a different field, customzie your future education (if needed) to best serve your purpose.</p>
<p>My job is indeed fun, but it is also frustrating. I spend most of my time trying to educate people and changing their corporate culture. It can be very tiring.</p>
<p>I could have worked in NYC. When I graduated, I had offers from Goldman Sachs in NYC and Lehman Brothers in London. I chose London because I always prefered Europe to the US. The quality of life in Europe is more in tune with my preferences and expectations.</p>
<p>Moving to Dubai was a logical step for me since it was closer to my family than most other countries and because I grew up in the UAE and have many friends still living in the area. Dubai itself is an interesting city. In some ways, it is very exciting, in other ways, it is a real pain! I see myself living in the UAE for another 5-10 years, but I intend to spend most of my life in Europe...preferably France. To me, no country offers a better overall quality of life than France.</p>
<p>hi alexandre -- i don't know much about the differences between different managerial and business jobs. what do you do specifically in industrial and human relations, and how does it differ from the jobs that an MBA would take up?</p>