When Angela Wang joined her EMBA classmates in Nairobi this summer, it felt like stepping into both a new adventure and a familiar embrace. The new came in the form of Kenya itself, from the dynamism of local businesses to the awe of a safari in the Maasai Mara. The familiar was the humility, warmth, and openness of friends she has reunited with since graduation.
“Our class might be unique in that we have managed to keep in close contact for over 20 years; we are fortunate to have classmates who consistently stepped up to organize the reunions and enabled the class to meet regularly,” Wang reflected. “Since our graduation in 2002, we have had maybe nine reunions. We didn’t wait until five or 10 years; we’ve been meeting more often – almost every two years.”
Over several days, the classmates explored Kenya and connected with IMD’s local alumni community. Alongside company visits and shared experiences, the reunion offered space to reconnect more deeply with one another, underscoring both the strength of the global network and the enduring ties that keep the Class of 2002 together.
Unlike other alumni classes that meet only for milestone anniversaries, Wang’s cohort has made reunions a biennial tradition, interrupted only briefly by the pandemic. Each gathering is chosen not for convenience but for the opportunity to immerse themselves in a new context.
“We try to pick a place that allows us to learn about the country, people, business, and also the culture,” Wang explained. “We want to go somewhere that we probably would not have picked by ourselves as a common travel destination.”
From Beijing and São Paulo to Cape Town, Estonia, Iceland, Copenhagen, and Japan, the class has traveled widely together. For some classmates, it was the first time in Africa, and Kenya was inspiring in so many ways: the speed of development, warm and talented locals, the size of the country, and the huge growth potential.
Local ties, global connections
“The Nairobi reunion was made possible mainly through the efforts of our classmate, Hope, and her local ZEP-RE staff, Arnold and Belinda, who formed the organizing team. Over the last year and a half, we have had regular Zoom meetings to plan and coordinate the program and communicate with the class,” said Wang. “We wrapped up the program in Nairobi with a cocktail reception with the local IMD Alumni Club of East Africa hosted by ZEP-RE, with Moses playing a key role in gathering local alumni and inviting the keynote speaker of honor, Jimnah Mbaru, who was the first Kenyan student attending IMD (then IMEDE) in 1978.”
Wisdom from a trailblazer
Mbaru’s keynote address was one of the highlights of the reunion, said Wang. For her, his humility stood out as much as his achievements.
“He was very humble. I asked him: ‘What industry are you in?’ and said: ‘Oh, I’m just in finance.’ But in fact, he helped to create the first stock exchanges in Uganda and Kenya, chaired the Nairobi Stock Exchange, and heads one of the most successful investment banks in Nairobi,” she said.
Equally striking was his candor about setbacks. “He once ran for political office, but it just wasn’t meant to be. He told us he has no regrets because he didn’t want to live to regret not trying. That was very powerful.”
That connection to the local alumni club, Wang said, gave the gathering a special energy. “It was really nice to meet the local alumni, understanding their work and life in the city. It was definitely an enriching evening meeting,” she added. In conclusion, each visitor received a special gift organized by the local alumni club, a traditional woven fabric called kikoi, made by a local artisan.
As someone who serves on the committee of the IMD Alumni Club of Silicon Valley, Wang valued the chance to connect with peers on another continent and to see the network at work in a different setting. “It’s really about continuous learning,” she noted. “Every reunion is a chance to step into a different context, and we always come away with new insights.”
Lessons from business and beyond
Learning about the local business environment and key organizations formed another highlight of the reunion, something Wang and her classmates ensure they do at each reunion as a nod to the Discovery Expeditions they first experienced together during their EMBA days.
At the African Wildlife Foundation, alumni learned about the challenges of balancing conservation with economic development. “Their major mission is to balance development with conservation, because there’s so much focus on development that very often sustainability and environment are put aside. It was impressive to learn the foundation’s plans ahead to attract sustainable investments,” said Wang.
At M-PESA, Kenya’s pioneering mobile money platform, the class witnessed innovation with global relevance. “It was amazing. They handle over $300bn in value of transactions per year. Some of our classmates even downloaded the app and were paying with local currency on their phones,” she recalled. “It makes instant payment fast, cheap, and efficient. It reached millions and millions of people in the countryside who would otherwise have been unbankable.”
In addition, the group also learned from Louis and Sarah about the team at the IMD Capability Center based in Cape Town, where they work to support school programs.
The reunion balanced business insights with cultural discovery, culminating in a safari in the Maasai Mara, which left a lasting impression. “It was phenomenal – a totally different world. The game reserve was just so vast, with wildlife everywhere: rhinos, elephants, lions, cheetahs, and more. An African safari is an unforgettable experience that, if at all possible, everyone should have at least once in their lives.”
The enduring bond
For Wang, what makes these reunions extraordinary is not just the travel, but the close bond and trust her class has built over time. “It felt that we grew together and stepped into different chapters in our lives together, meaning we felt comfortable sharing personal experiences; things we might not otherwise discuss with someone we just met. That’s what makes our group unique and makes us look forward to the next reunion,” she explained.
“The special bond and closeness were also enhanced by the participation of our partners, sometimes even our kids,” she added. “That makes the experience even more meaningful; it feels like a family.”
That openness has endured as classmates moved through different life stages and career milestones. “While we have all evolved and progressed in different directions since graduation, we remain humble as a group. While some of us are retired and kept busy with new interests, some are still very active in the workplace. But we talk freely, from the current state of our world to our families. That’s what makes it special.”
The group is already discussing its next destination. For Wang, wherever they gather next, the essence of these reunions will remain the same. “I feel very grateful to still have them in my life,” she said.
“What brings us together is that mutual adventure, exploration mindset, and continuous learning,” she added. “It speaks for itself in terms of the trust and bond we share, and it’s something that will last a lifetime.”
