American University of Sharjah issued the following announcement on March 19.
An alumna of the design management program at the College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD), American University of Sharjah (AUS), Farah Sultan delivered an engaging talk on what it takes to conceive and create an international brand as a young entrepreneur.
Speaking to students and faculty members at her alma mater, Sultan reminisced about her time at CAAD and how the courses she took and the guidance of her faculty members helped her chart a course for herself as a designer and a businesswoman.
Speaking about the occasion, Dr. Varkki Pallathucheril, Dean of CAAD, said:
“Success stories like that of Farah Sultan show how our curriculum prepares our students for innovation, entrepreneurship and management of the creative process. It really reflects well on our design management program, which is the only one of its kind in the region. I am particularly touched by Ms. Sultan’s acknowledgment of the key role played by CAAD faculty in equipping her with tools for success. It was great to hear her story. I encourage alumni from all CAAD programs to return to AUS and share their inspiring stories with current students and faculty.”
Commenting on Sultan’s talk and its significance, Kathryn Best, Associate Professor of Art and Design, said:
“The design management graduate talks were initiated to provide current students of design, management, business, marketing and engineering an understanding of how classroom learning, academic theories, practical skills and cross-disciplinary thinking can be demonstrably relevant and critical to the outside world of industry and enterprise. We were delighted that Farah Sultan could join us to share her professional experiences.”
An entrepreneur, philanthropist and fashion investor, Farah Sultan is the founder of the luxury footwear brand ARNAA and the owner of and buyer for the multi-brand store GRAIN. She is one of the youngest serving patrons of the British Fashion Council Fashion Trust. In 2017, she won the Arab Women Award for Young Designer of the Year.
Sultan holds a BS in Design Management from AUS and has completed the London Business School Executive Leadership Program. She subsequently went to Italy to specialize in footwear at Milan’s Ars Sutoria under the apprenticeship of sought-after professors. As ARNAA’s founder, her mission is to create shoes that are one-of-a-kind style statements of the highest quality and comfort for distinguished women around the world.
Original source: https://www.aus.edu/media/news/successful-caad-alumna-delivers-talk-on-creating-international-brand
