Egyptian brothers value CMU education and small-town life

American degree boosts prospects

The Sultan brothers, Mahmoud and Ahmed, find life in Mount Pleasant quite different from their home in Cairo, but they are more than happy to put up with the cold weather for the sake of a business degree from Central Michigan University.

“Having a degree from a good U.S. university makes a big difference in Egypt. It will help me get a good job. It will boost my salary. And I will be considered a pioneer,” said Mahmoud, a management information systems major, who transferred from the Arab Academy for Science and Technology.

Ahmed, who is three years older than his brother, transferred to CMU from San Jose State University to complete his international business and economics majors, leaving behind the sunny skies of California for what he saw as a better academic climate.

“The people at CMU give you the big picture, and they are friendly and helpful. They observe you, see what you need, and make it happen for you,” Ahmed said.

Finding the freedom to think big

While Ahmed plans to join the marketing or operations department of a multinational company, Mahmoud has set his sights on Silicon Valley.

“After getting my postgraduate degree from Stanford, I would like to go up the corporate ladder to become a vice president in a Fortune 500 company,” Mahmoud said. “The great thing about America is you can do whatever you want. You have freedom, and no one tells you what to do.”

Over the summer, Mahmoud interned at Procter & Gamble in Egypt, working on the marketing for Ariel, a washing machine detergent. He developed a sampling plan for two new scents, helped launch a pilot test for a national road show, and conducted a retail audit summary.

“That experience gave me my first real insight into the real business world through a multinational company. I learned that you have to persist to reach what you want. It was truly an unforgettable experience,” Mahmoud said.

A CMU business degree is the ticket to success for Egyptian exchange students, brothers Mahmoud left, and Ahmed Sultan.