Though graduates of the Executive MBA at Florida International University (FIU) often maintain close relationships with their classmates, a reunion across all the EMBA groups, brought approximately 100 EMBA alumni together for a full day of activities. The event, which took place on Homecoming Weekend, began with a networking lunch at which Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam presented a leadership session focused on Marshall Goldsmith’s book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.
“Her talk got our intellectual juices flowing, like when we were in school,” Alberto Padron (EMBA ’09) said.
Another reminder of their days as graduate students: Operation Explore.
“Operation Explore, the teambuilding company we have used for every EMBA class, ran an “EMBA Challenge,”—a scavenger hunt with randomly assigned teams,” said Sarah Perez, director, Executive MBA, who had the idea for the reunion.
“The team structure made it possible for us to make new friends outside our own group,” said Padron, who also helped provide direction for a College of Business Administration tailgate party, held in the College of Business Complex courtyard.
At the tailgate party—an event made even more festive because it was Homecoming and the campus was bustling—a raffle that further showcased EMBA graduates’ accomplishments, took place.
“We had incredible prizes from EMBA entrepreneurs,” Perez said. “Cybele Chamas (EMBA ’04 ), Corpo Yoga Studio, donated yoga classes; Ken Ninomya (EMBA 03), ekn Links, contributed a strategic management session and marketing plan assistance as well as two sets of signed children’s books: Rusty’s Lemonade Stand and Suki’s Short Summer; and Jorge Murillo (EMBA ’08), Blue Water Journeys, donated a cruise for two aboard the 62-passenger Sea Voyager in Colombia.”
FIU Business alumni participate in Homecoming.
The same day, the FIU Alumni Association hosted its fifth annual Silver Pride reunion for graduates from the class of 1985 and earlier at the FIU Stadium Club. Ten alumni of the college were inducted into Silver Pride, and along with their guests, participated in a lively array of activities including brunch, a campus tour, the Homecoming parade, a visit to the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum and the Homecoming game itself.
“The college hosted a tailgate tent in the Panther Pit,” said Michelle Joubert (MBA ’10) assistant director, advancement and alumni relations. “This was the first time we had the event, but we plan to make it a tradition.”
