The Fuqua MBA Association (MBAA) once again helped the first-year Daytime class strike networking gold with its Around the World Dinner. For the big event, both first-year and second-year Daytime students opened up their homes to others to sample cuisine from the host’s country or personal arsenal of culinary expertise.

With such a diverse student body, Fuqua participants were treated to dinner menus ranging from North Carolina-style Southern cooking to Haitian specialties and traditional Indian dishes.

MBAA Diversity and Integration Coordinator Ingrid Jacques worked hard to coordinate the evening. Her efforts paid off. Almost 100 Daytime MBA students participated and enjoyed networking with each other. The MBAA assigned students to each Around the World dinner to facilitate as many new student connections as possible.

The MBAA hosted a similar successful event during Fall Term 1, open to first-year students only. But as the first-year class became more cohesive, popularity and student demand for the event spread and the Around the World Dinner expanded to also include second-year students.

With Term 2 in full swing, the Around the World Dinner came at just the right time. Second-years shared their insights with first-years on core classes, swapped recruiting tips, chatted about life in Durham, and celebrated job offers, giving first-years a look at good things to come. Partners joined in on the fun, making this unique, intimate event yet another way for the Fuqua community to come together for support. The dinner was definitely a relaxing, easy way to take a break and expand your taste horizons with a spectacular meal. However, not surprisingly, the most memorable part of this Fuqua event was probably not the cuisine, but the company.