Alumni came from 38 states and 54 countries to listen to panel discussions with faculty; a State of the School update from Dean Glenn Hubbard; and a Manhattanville campus overview by Joe Ienuso '01, Executive Vice President of Facilities at Columbia University.
Of course, alumni were also interested in catching up with old friends. "I wanted to see people from my class and find out how everybody's doing," said Jacob Navok '10, now senior vice president at Shinra Technologies, Inc. "All the people that I became friends with, without a doubt, has been my No. 1 benefit from Columbia Business School since I graduated."
An additional feature this year was the on-site presence of alumni startups such as Red Flower organic beauty products, Wandering Bear coffee, Thursday Boots shoe company, and Spinoza Eyewear, which showcased the entrepreneurial spirit of the School community and provided great networking opportunities. "The program has changed significantly since I was here," said Linda (Hess) Van Kesteren '95 (also A.B. '91), a New York City–based director and choreographer. "When I was here, Columbia Business School was primarily an institution for people interested in going into the financial industry. Now, there's a lot of nonprofit coursework and workshops and entrepreneurialism here. It's interesting to see where Columbia has shifted, which is more with the changing times."
Another new feature this year was the presence of Columbia Business School alumni clubs at the Saturday lunch. There are 70 of these clubs throughout the world, offering a way for alumni to stay connected with the School after graduation. "Reunion 2015 was a wonderful celebration of our diverse, dynamic, and thriving alumni network," said Kate Baxter, Executive Director of Alumni Relations at Columbia Business School. "The weekend offered robust academic content from industry and thought leaders; engaging social activities such as the Welcome Reception, Class Dinners, and a Family Brunch; and the opportunity for alumni to network with each other, reconnect with classmates, and learn about the latest happenings at the School."