AUS student excels in Bentley mentorship program for Extraordinary Women

From working on business projects and formulating communication plans, to participating in a shadowing program at the Bentley Headquarters Crewe, American University of Sharjah (AUS) student Sara Almarzooqi has learnt much through the first Extraordinary Women Mentorship Program. The program, which sees participants mentored by prominent entrepreneurs, was launched by Middle East Bentley early this year.

The program is designed to inspire the next generation of female talent and engage female students in the areas of technology, engineering, design and business at universities in the Middle East and UK. It sees the participation of select university students who are mentored by leading entrepreneurs from different sectors, alongside academics and Bentley experts. The initiative aims to inspire young women about the broad range of career opportunities available in the luxury automotive sector.

The Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (OAAA) at AUS spearheaded the engagement opportunity with Bentley, leading to the participation of AUS students in this valuable initiative.

“I applied to the Bentley mentorship program because I have always been passionate about cars, and I wanted to explore the field prior to joining it fully after graduation. This program allowed me to build a strong network of connections that will help me evolve in my career. Being part of this mentorship program was a privilege and I cannot think of a better way to have immersed myself in the brand whilst also learning about engineering and technology from the many successful women in the team at Bentley Motors,” said Almarzooqi.

During the mentorship program, the third-year computer science major worked directly with her mentor Al Anoud Al Hashmi, an Emirati thought leader and serial entrepreneur with a digital, technology transformation futuristic focus. Al Hashimi has more than 15 years of experience where she held an array of strategic leadership positions contributing to the UAE’s media, business and creative production scene.

“I had multiple one-on-one meetings with my mentor allowing us to discuss many topics, from engineering to business and entrepreneurship, which enriched me further and expanded my horizons,” explained Almarzooqi.

She also participated in a week-long visit where she traveled to explore various aspects of Bentley’s manufacturing operations in Crewe, learned more about products and business strategy, joined panel talks with senior leaders and trainees from Bentley’s early careers cohort and pitched her project ideas to Bentley’s sales and marketing team. 

“Each of the seven participating students in the program had individual projects where we had to create a communications plan (for car and non-car products) to raise brand awareness using digital and non-digital platforms. Also, during our Bentley Headquarters visit, we had the opportunity to learn about the business and shadow several Bentley employees. I worked with the digitalization team. We also worked alongside experienced engineers and designers and engaged with female team members and learned more about their career paths and their experience with Bentley,” said Almarzooqi.

Reflecting on her experience, Almarzooqi said that her education at AUS has helped her navigate this mentorship program successfully.

“The presentation and public speaking skills I gained from studying at AUS helped me a lot during this mentorship program. I was able to express my ideas clearly and with confidence. Additionally, all the skills I gained from my computer science major helped me because I shadowed people working at the digitalization department at Bentley. We were able to speak the same technical language and discuss processes,” said Almarzooqi.

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at AUS is committed to providing students with a rich and well-rounded educational experience to help them achieve their long-term goals. The hands-on experience in its state-of-the-art laboratories have been central in graduating global thinkers, innovators and entrepreneurs who have already made their mark in the world. AUS is ranked among the top three in the UAE and top ​500 universities globally for ​computer science and information systems, according to QS World University Subject Rankings (202​2​). AUS engineering graduates have also been ranked as the top choice for employers in the UAE, according to QS World University Subject Rankings (2022).  

For more information about CSE, visit www.aus.edu/cen/department-of-computer-science-and-engineering.