©2019 The William Davidson Institute 9 “It was a great experience to learn how to navigate through cultural differences and come together as a team to create a product. This program also gave me the platform to practice the business acumen learned from the classroom and apply it to something tangible. I was able to go through the entrepreneurial process, working on each aspect of the product, from the revenue streams to the customer base to the resources we would need to utilize. I now understand how to create a business, especially one with a social impact focus, something I hope to explore more in the future.” —Isha Kenkare, U-M student “I am passionate about working on social issues and peace-building, especially in the MENA region. M²GATE was one of the greatest opportunities I had ever seen. It is the perfect opportunity to make a difference, to join a varied network from the MENA region and the U.S., and to work in a multicultural environment to build a social entrepreneurship project and make an impact.” —Chaima Jahouri, Moroccan student “There were a lot of unknowns that made me a little worried if this program was right for me. But I was given great guidance by our leaders as to what the program was all about. The mentors made me excited to go forward working with my team. I also enjoyed meeting my team for the first time. We learned a lot about each other in such a short period and it really opened my eyes.” —Brett Ritter, U-M student (Right) Two U-M students greet their MENA-based teammates at the launch event for the M²GATE program. (Below) A U-M student speaks with her MENA- based team during the launch event for the M²GATE program. IN THEIR OWN WORDS