SDSB Welcomes MBA Class of 2028 Through Summer Immersion Programme

The Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB) welcomed the MBA Class of 2028 through its Summer Immersion Programme (SIM), held from August 10 to 27, 2026. The three-week programme prepared incoming students for the academic rigour of the two-year MBA while introducing them to the people, resources and wider community at LUMS. SIM provided an academic bridge into the MBA. Students strengthened key academic foundations, developed leadership and interpersonal skills, and became familiar with the learning environment they would experience over the next two years. The programme also created opportunities to engage with faculty, current students, alumni and teams from across the University.

A strong start to the MBA experience

The programme began with a welcome from Dr. Moeen Naseer Butt, Associate Professor and Director MBA Program, who introduced the incoming cohort to the MBA and the experience ahead. Dr. Adeel Zaffar, Dean, SDSB, welcomed the Class of 2028 to the School and the wider SDSB community. Students also attended a session with the Disciplinary Committee, which introduced the standards and responsibilities associated with graduate study at LUMS. A session with Information Technology Services familiarised the cohort with university systems and resources, while a campus tour helped students find their way around LUMS and learn more about the facilities available to them. Academic preparation formed a substantial part of the three-week programme. Through the SIM modules, students strengthened the quantitative, analytical and business foundations required for the MBA. They also developed skills in leadership, teamwork, critical thinking and communication. The programme prepared students for SDSB's participant-centred learning environment and the case-based approach they would encounter throughout the MBA. Students learned to work through business problems, examine different perspectives, contribute to classroom discussions and defend their decisions. This early preparation established the expectations for a rigorous MBA experience built around active participation and learning from peers.

Learning from the MBA community

As SIM progressed, the incoming cohort met alumni whose careers reflected the range of paths available after the MBA. The MBA Alumni Session featured Suneel Sarfraz Munj, CEO, PakWheels; Mehrukh Burki, Head Corporate Banking, HBL; Ahsan Umar, CEO and Country Manager, Bata Pakistan; and Sidra Umar, Head of Marketing, MG Motors Pakistan. The discussion brought senior leadership perspectives from banking, technology, consumer business and the automotive sector into the orientation experience. Recent graduates also joined the conversation. Kashaan Masroor, Trade Marketeer, BAT GBS; Dania Khan, Assistant Brand Manager, Samsung; and Asma Faizan Ahad, IT Business Partner, Packages, shared perspectives from the early stages of their post-MBA careers. Together, the alumni gave incoming students access to experiences spanning the transition from business school to senior organisational leadership. The Class of 2028 also met students from MBA 2027. This interaction connected the incoming cohort with peers who had recently experienced the same transition into the programme and were already progressing through their MBA journey. Career development was introduced early in SIM. The Student Placement Office familiarised students with the career support and resources available during their time at SDSB.

Experiencing the wider LUMS community

The second half of SIM broadened the cohort's introduction to life at LUMS. Sessions with LUMS Sports Facilities and the Sports Club introduced students to opportunities beyond the classroom and encouraged them to participate in the wider university community. Students also attended a session focused on creating a safe and respectful campus environment, followed by an interaction with the Communications team. These engagements helped students understand the responsibilities and resources associated with being part of the LUMS community. A dedicated Student Exchange session later introduced the cohort to opportunities for international academic exposure during their MBA. Across these interactions, students became familiar with the different dimensions of the MBA experience. They entered SIM as a new cohort and spent three weeks learning together, meeting members of the SDSB community and building relationships with the peers who would share their MBA experience.

Closing with a message on leadership and impact

SIM concluded with a session and hi-tea with the LUMS Management Committee. The incoming cohort engaged with Mr. Abdul Razak Dawood, Pro-Chancellor, LUMS; Mr. Shahid Hussain, Rector, LUMS; Dr. Adeel Zaffar, Dean, SDSB; and Dr. Moeen Naseer Butt, Associate Professor and Director MBA Program. The closing conversation brought the three-week experience back to the purpose of the MBA. The leadership spoke about the rigour and high expectations of the programme, the development of strong leaders, and the responsibility graduates would carry as they moved into positions of greater influence. Students were encouraged to make the most of the opportunities ahead and to use their education to contribute to their organisations, industries and Pakistan. By the end of SIM, the MBA Class of 2028 had strengthened its academic foundations, experienced the expectations of SDSB's learning environment, connected with the MBA community and gained a broader understanding of life at LUMS.

The Summer Immersion Programme marked the first step in a demanding two-year MBA experience, one designed to strengthen students' judgement, broaden their perspectives and prepare them for greater leadership responsibility.