Emirates, along with its academic partner, the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) held a graduation ceremony at the carrier’s headquarters on June 14, 2024, for the first cohort of 32 Emirati outstation managers from the airline who have just participated in a bespoke Commercial Ambassador Leadership Programme, led by the Dubai-based airline’s Training and Development team.
The Commercial Ambassador Leadership Programme ran in two phases. Phase one, hosted in 2023 over five days, provided participants with curated training in International Protocol and Etiquette, Global Trends & Issues, Negotiation & Influencing, UAE Economics and Commercial Diplomacy, Media Handling, and Communication and Intercultural Awareness.
According to an Emirates statement, these training sessions “aimed to equip Emirati managers stationed around the world with the necessary skills to represent the Emirates brand, while building and managing relations with local stakeholders and government bodies, as well as the wider aviation ecosystem, including airports and trade partners in various markets.”
Phase one received an 88% satisfaction rate for its relevance, training materials, and content from the participants in the first cohort. Phase two of the program, hosted in 2024 over three days, provided country managers with intensive, practical training in Media Skills and Etiquette Practices.
The objective of these training sessions was to further build confidence and provide managers with a deeper understanding of how the media works, while also enhancing their communication skills and ability to formulate key messages in line with Emirates’ commercial and brand objectives.
The graduation ceremony was attended by Adnan Kazim (Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer), Nabil Sultan (Emirates’ Executive Vice President, Passenger Sales and Country Management), Oliver Grohmann (Emirates’ Executive Vice President Human Resources), Amira Al Falasi (Emirates’ Vice President Training & Development), and Dr Mohammed Al Dhaheri (Deputy Director General of Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy). Several other senior executives and managers from the airline and the Academy were also present.
“Today’s graduation ceremony demonstrates our commitment to strengthening our UAE cadre of country managers who have skilfully honed their international relations, leadership, negotiation, and diplomatic knowledge over the last year,” said Adnan Kazim. “I’m proud to see 32 capable Emirati managers celebrate the culmination of all their efforts developed in partnership with the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy to represent the UAE and Emirates with distinction across our network.”
“We are immensely proud to congratulate the graduates of the Commercial Ambassador Leadership Programme,” said Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Dhaheri. “This milestone reflects the successful collaboration between the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and Emirates Group. By equipping these talented managers with essential diplomatic and leadership skills, we are preparing them to be exemplary representatives of both Emirates and the UAE on the global stage.”
“Their achievements underscore our shared vision of fostering a generation of leaders who will drive the UAE’s strategic objectives and strengthen our nation’s international presence,” he added.
Emirates announced its collaboration with AGDA in January 2023 to launch a training program for the airline’s Emirati Country Managers to enhance their diplomatic skills. This initiative is part of the carrier’s Commercial Ambassador Leadership Program and supports Emiratis who have joined Emirates Group’s National Commercial Outstation Program, which “places ambitious and talented UAE Nationals in strategic roles across the Group’s global markets,” the airline says.
This allows them to “gain broader exposure, expand their network connections, and become more accomplished leaders,” the carrier adds.