09/05/2026
May 9, 2026: AUK College of Business Guest Speaker Series Builds Momentum with Global Experts and Strong Student Engagement
Following its launch on February 26, the College of Business (COB) Guest Speaker Series at the American University of Kurdistan has continued seminars on a monthly basis, bringing together academics and industry professionals from the Kurdistan Region, United Kingdom, and beyond.
As part of COB’s co-curricular approach, the series emphasizes experiential and interdisciplinary learning, particularly at the intersection of business, technology, and sustainability. Recent sessions have explored topics including ESG and global competitiveness, international market entry strategies, forensic accounting, and the role of artificial intelligence in business.
Speakers have included: Professor Constantinos Alexiou, Cranfield University, UK; Dr. Layal Isskandarani-FHEA, Teesside University, UK; Dr. Abdul Bashiru Jibril, University of Kurdistan Hewler, Kurdistan Region of Iraq; Erfan Ovee Nomaan, University of West London, UK; Enzo Graziano, EG Associates, Kenya; Sandeep Kaur, Product Strategy and Data Professional, UK; and Samatha Atanda, University of West London, UK.
As the Dean of the College of Business, Dr. Taimur Sharif noted, “The Guest Speaker Series is grounded in a simple belief: meaningful learning happens where academic rigor meets real-world practice. We are building a culture where curiosity is the norm and the boundary between classroom and practice is intentionally seamless.”
Upcoming sessions will continue to explore AI-related topics and their impact on the future of work.