Anna Schebsdat
Vice Chairman
Anna Schebsdat is a passionate education advocate and executive with a diverse international background. She has lived and worked in Moscow, London, New York, and Dubai, and is currently based in the UAE.
Schebsdat is dedicated to the field of global education management and executive education, which she has been focused on for the past 10 years. She currently holds a pivotal regional role at Cass Business School (part of the University of London), where she is responsible for their globally ranked Executive MBA program covering the MENA region.
In this role, Schebsdat consults with senior executives from various industries on their education, finding fulfillment in seeing the visible results of transformed and successful students. She is also involved as an Advisor to the Founder and Chairman's Office in the Private Office, which includes organizations like the Abu Dhabi Arts Society (ADAS) and the Al Suwaidi Foundation.
Previously, Schebsdat spearheaded the first international expansion for Harvard and Wharton by opening a GCC office in Dubai to act as their exclusive representative. She is currently working on her PhD proposal while also learning Arabic.
Schebsdat is a strong believer in the power of education, having been raised in a family that emphasized the importance of pursuing the best education possible. She is an alumna of Columbia Business School, graduating from their Executive Programme in Management in 2016.
In addition to her professional pursuits, Schebsdat serves as the President of the Columbia Business School UAE Chapter and as a Board Member of the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) UAE Chapter. She is working to bring wider networking opportunities for alumni of both CBS and CAA.
Schebsdat's international experiences have taught her the importance of cultural sensitivity and tolerance in relationships with others. She believes that Dubai and the UAE are unique places to make one's dreams come true, with a truly global vibe.