Buffett lunch and talk ‘unforgettable’

AUS students relish the chance to meet US business leader

SHARJAH // A group of budding young finance executives met business leader Warren Buffett in the US last week for an “unforgettable experience”.

Students from the American University of Sharjah were extended the invitation from Berkshire Hathaway, the only UAE or Mena institution to receive the honour.

Twenty finance students from the school of business administration met the business magnate, investor and philanthropist in Omaha.

Student Rishabh Bafna said meeting Buffett was an “unforgettable experience” which “will be etched in my memory for many more years”.

“I was amazed by Mr Buffett’s energy and humour at the age of 85, his humility and simplicity in thought, even though he is one of the richest men in the world. His analogy of making good friendships to going long on a financial market instrument was a strong thought for me and has provided me with a different perspective of living a good life.” Even the 30- hour trip was “worth it to witness and talk to the ‘Oracle of Omaha’”, Mr Bafna said.

The students attended a question-and-answer session, as well as lunch with Mr Buffett as part of a trip that began on March 31 and will end tomorrow. AUS students were the first to be selected from the Mena region to make the trip, which included visits to Mr Buffett’s companies.

It aimed to give the undergraduates the chance to gain insight from one of the greatest investors of all time in addition to visiting top institutions in New York, the financial capital of the world, including Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange and the Federal Reserve Bank.

The students, one of several groups invited each year from universities and business schools to meet the world’s third richest man on the 2016 Forbes list, were also given guided tours of three of Berkshire Hathaway’s subsidiaries: Nebraska Furniture Mart, Borsheims and Oriental Trading Company.

Head of finance at AUS, Dr Narjess Boubakri, said the trip had been beneficial on professional and personal levels for the students. “While preparing for the trip, we had heard how such a visit has been a life-changing experience for those who already had a chance to meet Mr Buffett.”