Audencia Around the World is all set to become a year-long event

On 11 March, Audencia Around the World began its 8-day alumni journey in London. What began as as a global initiative bringing alumni together on all 5 continents, was rapidly overtaken by the global health situation that we are currently facing. Many, if not most of the gatherings were postponed but will be rescheduled. A huge high-five to London, Brussels, Algiers, Toronto and Vancouver who got together in their respective cities while it was still reasonable to do so. We look forward to seeing what the other communities around the world will do later on in the year!
 

In a few numbers, Audencia Around the World this year was due to include

• 36 events scheduled on all 5 continents
• 51 alumni from all programmes involved in the organisation (a special mention to Archita Praladhka, a former exchange student and friend of Audencia in Mumbai!)
• 18 Audencia staff mobilised to join events
• 1 backstage visit of the Philharmonic in Luxembourg
• 1 gathering in a social incubator in royal company in Casablanca

But also, a definite theme for foodies with:

• 40 cupcakes due to be baked in New York
• 2 cookery workshops in Montreal and Brussels
• 1 brewery visit (and live jazz evening) in Amsterdam
• 1 presentation of a new locally-sourced e-supermarket in Geneva

And not forgetting 6 inaugural alumni gatherings planned in Auckland, Baku, Guadalajara, Lagos, Phnom Penh, Reunion Island.

There are some great stories to tell; a huge thank you to all those Audencians - alumni, interns, students and staff - who contributed to collective effort that will continue until the end of the year. Wherever you are, from Munich to Sydney and from Sao Paulo to Tokyo, our thoughts go out to alumni and their families around the world. We hope you all stay safe and well.
 

Audencia Around the World held its inaugural event in London at The Driver pub in the heart of King’s Cross. Fifty Audencians past and present answered the invitation from Tristan Pelloux (GE 15), London ambassador, to celebrate the School's 120th anniversary and enjoyed an evening of networking and refreshments in fine company, including staff from Audencia:

• Beatrice du Mesnil, professor and director of the MCI specialised master
• Patricia Munoz-King, international corporate relations manager
• Karyn Mikkelsen-Tillet, fundraising manager

 

Photo gallery available here - London

 

  
 
For its second participation in the Around the World festivities, Torontonians made the cut on Saturday 14 March. With the city preparing to stay at home for a while, alumni and friends held a small and friendly gathering which was full of laughter. Organisers Siddharth Akolkar (IMM 10) and Hélène Niyonzima (GE 14) were delighted to re-connect with the lively and dynamic group of alumni.

Photo gallery available here - Toronto
 
 
Vancouver's small but perfect gathering brought together 75% of the alumni community in the city. Karl-Stéphane Coyault (GE 98) has only recently arrived in Vancouver and, after attending last year's Around the World in Hong Kong, was eager to connect with alumni there. "We made it!" says Karl, "and we had a great evening!" Brendan Maher (IMM 11), Mathilde Fourcade (EIBM 12) and Karl-Stéphane Coyault (GE 98), met on the Harbour in front of the snow-capped peaks. "The after work drink turned into a dinner and went on late into the night.... we will do it again soon, we have so much still to share about this fabulous city and the opportunities it offers!"

Photo gallery available here - Vancouver
   
 
A group of 15 Audencians gathered in Brussels at 'La Cuisine de Flore', owned by alumna Flore Pincemin (GE 04) for a cookery workshop. Giacomo Nocera explains "In the first part of the evening, after a welcome cocktail, we were divided into two groups. The purpose was to work separately on the menu and to be engaged in a sort of challenge: each group was supposed to prepare the same food, but also to prove their food knowledge through a quiz, a food testing contest, and a cream whipping challenge).  During these activities, each group participant had the chance to start knowing each other, learn various things (from – apparently – simple, like how to grip and use a big kitchen knife, to more complicated ones, like filling a sac à poche with delicious chocolate), and have a lot of fun. In the second part of the soirée we all sat around the table, ate (and compare) the two groups’ food, drink a good wine, discuss, and celebrate the School."
Alumna Berengère Tripon (GE 98) added "Thank you Flore for your warm welcome and to your team for their ability to teach and inform and to all the participants for their good humour and the discussions we had during the evening. À une prochaine !!"

Photo gallery available here - Brussels