I am not sure if all of you are aware of this, but Coca-Cola has new competition in the Arab World now. Sure Pepsi is a big thing, especially since it is distributed by the Royal Family here, but a newer brand by the name of Mecca Cola is making its mark felt in the Arab region and France. What do these two areas of the world have in common? If you thought anti-American government and anti-American corporation sentiments then you were correct (that and the only two places Eric has lived outside the US). Well anyways, this Cola is marketed as a charitable product to help out with relief in Palestine. Simultaneously it is marketed as the anti-Coke, inclusive of everything it stands for.
Another tidbit of background information, my position in Dubai is to coordinate the efforts of the Salaam Program, an initiative of AIESEC United States to help foster better relations between the US and the Arab world. I am here to find companies, create internship opportunities for US students here in the United Arab Emirates, find young talented UAE nationals, and prepare, send, and match them to a job in the US.
So today I was sitting in the office, doing some research when I happened upon the contact information for Mecca Cola. On my contact list I had Coke and Pepsi, but I had yet to contact either one. Coke was a strong partner of the Salaam Program in Egypt last year, but their influence is yet to spread to the UAE. So once I had found the name, nationality, and some brief background information on the CEO and founder of Mecca Cola, I turned to my colleagues at the national office of AIESEC here and said, "Hey, you wanna hear the funniest sales call of your life"?
They were intrigued to say the least. I prepped them on the company, political issues they stood for, etc. and told them to listen as I dialed away.
There was something about the odds of this being a success that eased my tensions. I never felt so comfortable cold calling a company in front of a crowd of colleagues before in my life.
When the receptionist answered the phone my tensions grew when I realized that I hadn't thought to practice saying the CEOs name. Spelled phonetically it sounds like, "Mr. Math-lou-thee." What came out of my mouth was, "pardon me, but could I please speak to Mr. Math-a li-...err sorry, Mr. Math-lou-ti?"
I can't say I blame the woman for not understanding what in the world I was trying to say, "Whoâ?
I snapped back with, "Your boss, CEO, founder of Mecca Cola, can I please speak with Mr. Matloti"?
Funny how you can set someone straight without first being straight yourself. Also funny how when on the defense from my quick remark she can't even remember the correct pronunciation of her own bosses name. She struggled through it and pretty much copied the terribly botchery of my previous attempt.
I then requested the next person on the scale of importance, a decision maker for the company, and told her who I was and what organization I was with (simply, and surely). She informed me that Mr. Haroun was at the time busy with something or another. I hung up and tried calling him back within a few minutes.
This time around she informed me he has just stepped out of the office. Great, so goes the run around which is to be expected from my first call (and the lack of info I provided on who I am, what AIESEC is, etc.).
Minutes later the phone rang and another member of our local committee answered the phone. She explained the basics of AIESEC and then told him to hold on and handed the phone directly to me. I flipped urgently through my notes and found his name and answered, "Hello Mr. Hairoun, how are you doing"? in typical American fashion.
"Good Eric, how are you"?
"Great, Mr. Hairoun, you see I am contacting you with regard to the organization I am working for called AIESEC. We are present in 89 different countries on over 800 campuses..." and I continued on about our organization for a few more seconds. I caught myself smiling when it came time to present the Salaam Program, "I am working in the UAE with an AIESEC US program called Salaam funded by the US department of State. What I am here to do is to create opportunities for US students in the UAE..." and I went on about my job. Of course, I still thought this was little more than a fun sales call, I was sure to chime in on the exchange process and the US relations, etc. Of course I gave equal consideration to the impact it will have on young Arabs, but still, my pay check starts from the US Department of State :) (or from taxes if you really want to go all the way back).
Amazingly, he was all ears and was intrigued by what AIESEC Salaam could have to offer. I closed with, "So Mr. Haroun, what I would like from you is to arrange for a meeting to discuss the possibilities of you taking an AIESEC intern to work for Mecca Cola."
His response was a simple, humble, "Sure, I canât wait to."
The office was filled with silent smiles. "So?"
According to my anxious, shocked, and at the time adrenaline induced memory, there was a slight roar from the office when they understood what a confused grin and a thumbs-up meant. I was quick to add, "He wants to have a meeting and is all about Salaam," so that no one was in the dark.
Now time to make Aesop proud. All I would like to say is that try, try, try again. Don't ever talk yourself out of doing something just because your mind thinks it is impossible. If an anti-American product, set out to disrupt the stronghold of the world's best known brand is willing to listen to and possibly sponsor an initiative started by an American organization funded by the American Government, trust me when I say that whatever you may be contemplating is possible.
That being said, only the future and a little more fate will tell what connection Salaam will have with Mecca Cola. Perhaps they will see the Coca-Cola name tagged onto Salaam and want nothing to do with us. Perhaps they will really appreciate what we are trying to do for young Arabs but won't have any need to work with us right now. Perhaps they will become a strong partner and help the cause. Perhaps they will even take a US student and change their life and in doing so change the company to be open to some forms of Americanism. If I've learned anything from what went down today...anything is possible.
-Eric
