In a bid to continue learning about the ever-changing international publishing landscape, a three-member delegation from Sharjah’s leading publishing and literary institutions spent a week with international experts and industry professionals who are shaping the future of publishing at the “Leadership Strategies in Book Publishing” programme at Yale School of Management in Connecticut, USA.

Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY); Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of Emirates Publishers Association (EPA); and Noura bin Hadiya, Manager of Knowledge without Borders (KwB), attended the week-long programme at the prestigious Ivy League school, where they were exposed to the pragmatic wisdom of publishing experts combined with a wealth of research and management techniques given out by Yale’s management professors.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the EPA, under whose directives this course was undertaken. We bring back knowledge and experiences that will go a long way in widening the horizons of Sharjah’s and the UAE’s publishing industry, and bring us closer to our collective goal of being recognised among the global community of leaders in promoting books and reading,” said Marwa Al Aqroubi.

Rashid Al Kous echoed the appreciation for Bodour Al Qasimi who gave them this unique opportunity, and said: “As professionals in the field, we are sometimes more occupied with the micros of everyday deliverables and objectives. The course was an opportunity to step back and see the big picture in the publishing industry. I appreciated being in the open, interactive environment of the programme, which added more value to the overall experience.”

“Ripe with examples of how best-in-class publishers handle every aspect of their business, from editorial, marketing and business strategies to digital transformation, the week at Yale was no less than an eyeopener,” said Noura bin Hadiya explaining that programme’s curriculum gave valuable insights into leadership skills, consumer-driven marketing, and techniques for digital innovation in publishing.

Topics like how to build a brand in a digital era and the next step in evolution for digital books were scrutinised, and managerial aspects of publishing like effective team decision-making, problem framing and its solutions, and challenges in leadership were discussed.

All three appreciated the time they spent interacting and sharing experiences with scholars and industry experts from around the world, and said that when applied, the expertise that they gained from the course, will be transformational for the publishing industry’s growth in the UAE.

They were also taken on a tour of the Yale Campus, during which the delegation visited the many campus libraries.