Rawia Abu Rabie

Hult International Business School

“A people’s person, highly driven and ambitious, hungry for innovation and knowledge, yet thirsty for social impact.”

Fun fact about yourself: I love eating chocolate chip cookie dough!

Hometown: Nablus, Palestine

High School: Pioneers Baccalaureate School

Major: Marketing

Favorite Business Course: My favorite course was Marketing Planning and Strategy. It was a very practical class that gave us the opportunity to apply our knowledge to the real world.  The project consisted of working hand-in-hand with a real estate startup called Zumper. The company faced a problem of low student leads to their platform and we should help them in looking for recommendations. The process included conducting market research in order to present marketing strategies to senior management. This experience gave me a better understanding of how consulting works and what it consists of. It was an experience that made me realize the path of business I want to follow.

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

• Hult Global Ambassador
• Hult’s Student’s Association (Head of Marketing and Communication)
• Vice President – Career and Professional Club
• Volunteer for Startup Grind- Global Startup Conference
• Volunteer for Hult Prize

Where have you interned during your college career?

• Sparxo, SF, CA Business Development and Marketing Intern.
• Mobydish- SF, CA, Junior Executive Intern.

Where will you be working after graduation? I’m still in talks with different companies, my goal is to work for a multinational corporation.

What company do you admire the most? The company I admire the most is Sephora. I love how they are constantly innovating using virtual and augmented reality. They are trying to give their customers the best customized and enjoyable experience. On top of that, they are considerate of animal testing and environmental impacts, two aspects that are quite relevant in the business world nowadays.

Who is your favorite professor? Professor Suzan Kane is one of my favorites.  She brings to the classroom all her previous experiences in the business world in order for us to have a better understanding of the various themes she covers in her lectures. Through her passion for teaching, she inspires students to give their best on every course, engage in class, and be a better teammate. On a personal level, as a marketing major, she shared her knowledge with me in and outside of the classroom. She has acted as a mentor on my career path in order for me to succeed.

What did you enjoy most about your business school?  The most enjoyable experience was having the opportunity to change campuses while studying in the same Business School. I have had classes in Dubai, Shanghai and Boston over the course of my time at Hult and I’ll be graduating from the campus in San Francisco. This gave me the opportunity to see how businesses work in other parts of the world and how culture and other aspects can play a huge role in making deals. Additionally, working with real clients for class projects was a very significant part of my experience.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? Studying business has shown me that it is possible to leave a mark in this world.  Social entrepreneurship is a fascinating business sector and it’s highly valued in today’s world. The idea of being able to sustain yourself while creating an impact is viable. It is a very rewarding feeling to know you are able to impact someone else’s life or the world for the better.

What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Don’t make money your main driver for studying business. Take into account what you want to do after graduation and how can a business degree help you reach your goals. Think about how can business help people and the world be a better place.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? I was mainly surprised by the number of case studies on companies that are not ethically running their businesses and how tolerant we are to their mistakes in our current society. As a volunteer to the Hult Prize, I understand that business should not be only focusing on making a profit, but should also be helping to shape a better future to our society. I was quite shocked to see that in the past few years this wasn’t a priority to the majority of existing businesses.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I’m most proud of being the VP of the Careers and Professional’s Club. Our main goal was to help students achieve their career goals. This was implemented by bringing professionals from different areas to campus to share their experiences, failures, and successes in their journeys. I’m so proud of this achievement because I believe I’m making an impact and helping students. I personally know how hard the decision can be in deciding either your major or the industry you want to work for. Moreover, giving students the chance to network with professionals on campus because sometimes it can be intimidating for students to put themselves out there.

Which classmate do you most admire? Gustavo Trigos: he is one of the most ambitious people in school and works very hard to reach his goals and dreams. Gustavo was one of my study partners and I haven’t’ seen anyone as dedicated as he is. He inspires me to take the extra mile and to keep moving forward. He is currently working for a startup along with being a student on the dean’s list. He is so thirsty for success and I have no doubt in him achieving it.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? y mother is definitely the person I thank for my success and will always do. She was there always supporting me in my good and bad days. She kept moving and motivating me to be the best version of myself.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? They are probably to move and work in Dubai for a multinational company and to open my own jewelry business.

What are your hobbies? My hobbies are cooking, running, and traveling.

What made Rawia such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2020?

“Rawia Abu Rabie is the essence of Hult International Business School. She is not only intelligent, inquisitive, and hard-working, but she is open to learning from her classmates to new ideas and new cultures. She asks hard questions and challenges her professors to strive higher. And most of all, she shares her ideas with others. If we don’t embrace the ability to be open-minded to controversial ideas and to share our own, then how do we grow?”

Susan Foley Kane
Professor of Practice, Marketing

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