High-potential Abu Dhabi officials groomed by top consultancies

Launched in 2020 by the Abu Dhabi School of Government, the Abu Dhabi Public Exchange Program aims to upskill government employees from across the emirate.

Following a selection process, high-potential employees are selected to follow a professional development track which builds their capabilities across three disciplines: consultancy, technical and digital expertise. Part of the learning journey comprises the application of these skills at private sector businesses.

“The Abu Dhabi Public Exchange Program gives government employees exposure to different multi-cultural environments, across a wide array of industries. The program provides government employees exposure to international businesses and projects, while getting the chance to work closely with experts and senior-level executives on hands-on assignments,” said Sumaya AbdulAziz Al Hosani, Dean of the Abu Dhabi School of Government.

The program’s participants were trained and gained their practical experience in the world of management consulting. PwC, one of the so-called Big Four in the industry, received a dozen participants, and facilitated secondments across its departments. They were staffed on consulting projects for clients including the Department of Energy, Abu Dhabi Municipality, Department of Economic Development, among others.

“This program is strategic for us and for our consulting business as it speaks to our commitment to Abu Dhabi government and national talent development,” said Randa Bahsoun from PwC.

PwC’s strategy consulting outfit, Strategy& (formerly Booz & Company), also partners with the program.

The two other consulting industry representatives were Oliver Wyman, a global consultancy which recently beefed up its Middle East business with the acquisition of Booz Allen Hamilton’s regional unit, and Capadev, a consultancy specialised in capability building.

Anshu Vats, a Senior Partner and Abu Dhabi Office Lead at Oliver Wyman, said: “Our partnership with the Abu Dhabi School of Government is a reiteration of our commitment to develop and upskill leadership talent not only in Abu Dhabi but the region as a whole. We are proud to be working with some of the best talent that Abu Dhabi has to offer.

Oliver Wyman, PwC and Strategy& all feature highly in ConsultancyME’s ‘Leading consulting firms in the Middle East 2022’ ranking.

Back to work

With “greater insights and valuable experiences”, the class of graduates have now returned to their government entities where they are putting these skills to action. Meanwhile, the second cohort of participants have kicked off their journey.

“We are extremely proud to celebrate the success of this batch of exceptional graduates. This program is a testament to our continuous efforts to provide Abu Dhabi government employees with valuable opportunities and experiences to promote their ongoing professional development,” said Al Hosani.