Executive Masterclass: Strategic career positioning in a changing market

23 May 2026

10:30am – 1:00pm

Curtin University Dubai, DIAC

Join our complimentary Executive Masterclass, designed for ambitious graduates and professionals looking to upskill, stay competitive, and better understand how to align their expertise with what the market demands next.

This session is ideal for:

  • Working professionals looking to upskill in line with market demand or pivot into new opportunities
  • Mid-level managers and team leads preparing for strategic and senior roles
  • Entrepreneurs aiming to align their business direction with emerging market trends
  • Recent graduates exploring postgraduate pathways to strengthen their career positioning

Get in touch

Please contact us if you have any further questions:

 
[email protected]

This Executive Masterclass is a focused forum designed to help you navigate a rapidly evolving job market.

Through industry-informed insights, each discussion will reflect on how applied teaching approach and active engagement plays a role in upskilling that can help you stay ahead of the competition.

If you are considering investing in yourself through a postgraduate degree, this is the place to start.

View full agenda below

Program schedule

Time Event Description
10:30am – 11:00am Welcome and networking
11:00am – 12:00pm Industry insights on ‘Strategic career positioning in a changing market’
12:00pm – 12:30pm Interactive Q&A with industry experts and Curtin postgraduate students
12:30pm onwards Networking

What you will gain?

  • Insights into how market demand is shaping career opportunities across industries
  • Understanding of how to better align your skills with evolving industry needs
  • Perspectives on upskilling and its role in long-term career growth
  • Exposure to how postgraduate study can support career progression and specialisation
  • Opportunities to connect with faculty, professionals, and peers

Why attend the Executive Masterclass?

  • Sessions led by Curtin Dubai’s experienced faculty
  • Industry-informed discussions and practical takeaways

Why a Curtin master degree?

  • Learn through real-world assignments and practical applications
  • Flexible evening classes designed for working professionals
  • Complete in as little as 8 months with the fast-track study mode*
  • Globally recognised degree from the highest ranked Australian university in the region
  • Accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR).

*Check eligibility for fast-track pathway. T&C Apply

About the facilitators

Dr Nidhi Sehgal 
Dr Nidhi Sehgal is the Head of School of the School of Business and Humanities at Curtin University Dubai. She completed her PhD in Business Administration and is also a fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK. She holds two master’s degrees: one in the area of Business Administration with a specialisation in Human Resource Management and another in Philosophy with a concentration on Management. She was the university topper and secured a gold medal for outstanding performance in her MBA. She has also completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration.
 
She qualified with the National Eligibility Test for Lectureship conducted by the University Grants Commission, India. She has worked with prestigious government and private international universities in the UAE and India and has a rich teaching experience of over a decade. Prior to academia, Dr Sehgal has significant industry experience. She regularly presents her research papers at conferences and publishes her research in reputed journals. She has published research papers in the areas of teaching and learning, human resource management, and marketing.
Mark Churaman
Digital Portfolio Head, ADNOC Distribution

Mark is an executive transformation leader with over 35 years of experience across telecom, banking, energy, and retail. His work spans digital portfolio governance, AI, cloud transformation, and organisational leadership.

As a PhD researcher, his focus explores the intersection of AI maturity and leadership readiness, particularly within the UAE and GCC context. He is also the creator of the 4×4 Multi-Zone AI Leadership Matrix, a framework designed to align technology investment with organisational capability and decision-making.

Yousef Odeh
Regional Key Account Manager, Danfoss

Yousef Odeh is a Regional Key Account Manager at Danfoss, driving HVAC-R innovation across the UAE, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. He works closely with OEMs to deliver energy-efficient cooling solutions, translating complex technical challenges into practical, cost-effective strategies.

Prior to joining Danfoss, Yousef held key roles at Positive Zero and Trane Technologies, where he contributed to energy optimisation projects and long-term client value creation. At VTS Group, he led major HVAC projects supporting landmark developments including Expo 2020 Dubai and Yas Island.

Yousef began his career at ASSA ABLOY Group and holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from The University of Jordan, alongside a Postgraduate Fellowship in Entrepreneurship from SE Forum, Sweden. He is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM®) and holds additional certifications in energy efficiency and ISO 50001.

His expertise spans sales strategy, energy economics, and sustainable growth.

Salman T Jaffrey
Managing Director, Stryve
Salman is an experienced venture capital investor and a passionate supporter of the regional startup ecosystem. In a career spanning over 20 years, Salman has been investing in early and growth-stage startups, and consulting on strategy and corporate development. He has held leadership positions at several corporate venturing funds, helping to accelerate entrepreneurship and economic development through innovative enterprise and consumer technologies. Salman has also led initiatives across startup incubation, digital innovation, impact investing, and venture growth.
 
At Curtin, Salman engages students at the Innovation Hub and incubator program, and across academics covering entrepreneurship, finance, and accounting. He is an avid mentor for several technology-driven startups, guiding innovators emerging from universities and corporates on their entrepreneurial journey.
 
Salman holds an MBA from Imperial College London, a master’s degree in accounting (focusing on business forensics) from the University of Melbourne, and a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Bond University, Australia. He has qualified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and completed executive programs from UC Berkeley, Oxford, and Stanford.