The first things that struck Professor Eliane Karsaklian about Sasin’s students are their positive vibes, the warm friendships they cultivate, and how happy they are. “They know each other very well, there is a lot of collaboration, and they are extremely polite, very considerate, very welcoming, so this is very enjoyable,” said Professor Karsaklian. Visiting Professor Eliane Karsaklian, Clinical Professor of Marketing at the University of Illinois, traveled from Chicago to instruct Flexible MBA and Executive MBA students at Sasin School of Management on Marketing for the Digital Age and presented a talk on “International and Multicultural Marketing – Collaboration Integration” at the Sasin Research Seminar on December 15, 2023. Comparing MBA students to Executive MBA students, Professor Karsaklian said that MBA students tend to be younger and more self-oriented, while Executive MBA students have more field experience. Since the Executive MBA students run family businesses and big international companies, she finds it “extremely interesting, and everyone learns from everyone.” When she introduces a concept in an Executive MBA class, students bring pragmatic questions and conversations that apply to their businesses. Another remarkable thing about students at Sasin that Professor Karsaklian found was that they have a solid friendship, which contributes to the strong network they build at school. “They are cohorts that start together, attend the same courses together until the end, and graduate together,” said Professor Karsaklian, “This is not how the American system works.” She explained that students in American business schools take different courses, resulting in enrollment in separate classes, which makes it challenging to form lasting friendships or collaborate effectively. Sasin’s emphasis on camaraderie and collaboration enhances the overall student experience and contributes to a supportive and enduring network among its graduates. Professor Karsaklian’s observations underscore the importance of fostering connections and a collaborative spirit in the educational journey, providing a unique and enriching learning environment for Sasin’s students.