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In the Spotlight
In the Spotlight
Q: Brad, tell us more about your
role at the Al Habtoor Group...
A:
I am working in the Internal
Audit Department at the Head
Office under the guidance at Mr.
Ram and Mr. Subhro where I have
a rotational focus. Since I joined
the company in April of this year,
I have worked with several units,
including EIS, DiamondLease,
Habtoor Hospitality, and the Group’s
Procurement Department aiding in
financial, operational, and information
technology audits while getting to
know the business and building
rapport with the people responsible
for our success. I hope to continue
to build a strong foundation of
knowledge about the Group, add
value to the organisation, and
ultimately move into a strategic,
proactive leadership role.
Q: You have your own blog -
Building Bridges Between the East and the West.Tell us more about
the project.
A:
Since I moved with my family to
Dubai, I began the blog as a platform
to share my experiences relative to
Eastern and Western norms. Most
Americans have a very skewed
perspective of the Middle East and I
have also found that many in Dubai
have misconceptions about the United
States. I believe that ignorance is one
of the greatest evils in this world and
that knowledge and understanding
are key to society’s success. My
posts are designed to build bridges
of understanding between the two
areas of the world, helping debunk
some of the misnomers and show our
commonalities; hopefully leading to a
more peaceful and harmonious world.
This blog is actually an extension of
an essay I wrote as an undergraduate
student. The Chairman, Khalaf Al
Habtoor visited the campus of Illinois
College with his friend Congressman,
the Honourable Paul Findley when
I was attending and announced he
would sponsor an essay contest; the
topic, Building Bridges Between the
East and the West. It was through
the Chairman’s motivation and my
research that I resolved to encourage
more of the good in the world, leading
a life of leadership and service. The
full story can be found in the ‘About’
section of my
Building Bridges Blog.
Q: You’re fascinated with learning
about new cultures. What is a
distinct feature of the UAE culture
that you have written about?
Meet Brad Regul,
Audit Officer Internal Audit
A:
The central theme of the blog is
understanding and harmony. I have
found Dubai and the UAE to be a
tremendous example of harmony.
Although the country is relatively
small, it draws people from all ends
of the Earth to visit, work, and raise
a family. His Highness Sheikh Zayed
and His Highness Sheikh Rashid
(may God rest their souls) deserve
much credit for cultivating such a
vision for a welcoming and safe place
where diversity flourishes whilst still
maintaining true to traditional culture.
This vision of harmony, success, and
prosperity is thriving under the current
rulership and is the essence of my
aspirations for the rest of the world
through my blog.
Q: What do you do for fun with
family and friends?
A:
For fun, I enjoy finding creative
ways to better myself and stay active.
This includes physical activities like
playing team sports with friends,
spending time with my wife Heidi, or
taking our dog for a walk. My wife and
I also look for new experiences and to
gain cultural understandings. We enjoy
traveling, exploring, and socializing
with others to learn about their point
of view and cultural history.
Brad with his wife, Heidi Regul
Enjoying a Mexican meal
Visiting a Hindu
Temple in 2016