Alumni and current students from NUS Business School's three EMBA programs connected with staff and academia over Spanish wine and food at the NUS EMBA Networking Evening. Held on 24 May 2008 at Via Mar @ Esplanade, the evening saw a turnout of 150.

"It is very well organized," commented Mr Roland Wong (APEX MBA 2002), a financial consultant with Prudential. "I enjoyed interacting with the other alumni and current students."

In their speeches, Associate Professor Prem Shamdasani, Vice-Dean of Executive Education and Associate Professor Jochen Wirtz, Academic Director of UCLA-NUS MBA extended a warm welcome to all present while Ms Chua Nan Sze (IMBA 2005), Director of Graduate Studies, EMBA made a toast to the "EMBA family".

"This is the first time we've organized an event for all alumni and students from the three EMBA programs and I am encouraged by the turnout," said Ms Chua. "It's wonderful to have more than 16 countries represented at this event!"

The EMBA programs, which have been attracting quality students from around the world, recently welcomed students from Egypt and Denmark - both of whom were present.

The evening featured an appreciation session of Spanish wine conducted by Mr Umberto M. Vizcaino, a Spanish-born IT Entrepreneur-turned-Sommelier based in Singapore. For some, this was the first time they attended a wine appreciation cum networking event.

"I like the energy of the audience," said Mr Vizcaino. "It has a very international feel to it. And it's great to see the alumni return and to engage current students."

"It is a great opportunity for me to know more students and the alumni, and I get to learn more about wine. It is my first wine-tasting event, so I am most impressed," said Mr Ashish Agarwal, a current student of the UCLA-NUS MBA program.

"It's my first wine-tasting-networking-session," said Mr Mark Webb (APEX MBA 2007) of the aerospace industry and who comes from the United States. "It's brilliant!"

"I've had a great time," said Mr Dave Yang (UCLA-NUS MBA 2007) who is a Director with MTV. "I hope to see more of such events."