16 September 2026 marks a special moment for us, alumni in Europe. For the first time (or at least since I joined BGU as a DTL student in 2019), we came together on Zoom for a BGU European Regional Ecosystems get-together, thanks to Dr. Bryan McCabe, who initiated the meet-up.

I say it was special because, for over seven years, I have only met up with two other alumni—Dr. Martine Audéoud and Dr. Krisztina Oláh. We informally call ourselves the European Office, and we meet in France, Hungary, and even Côte d’Ivoire to fellowship and passionately discuss BGU matters in Europe. So, it was really good to connect with several others during the meeting, both people I already knew and those I was meeting for the first time. We are united in our purpose: to scale BGU’s impact and strengthen its presence in the region.

It was a very fruitful time of discussion. Many ideas were raised, and some projects were given more concrete shape. We came away excited and energized to put our plans for the region into action.

As I reflect on the European Alumni Network, and indeed on BGU networks in other regions, I feel a deep sense of wonder at what these connections can make possible. BGU’s networks are places where minds and hearts meet. Somehow, being from the same region makes it easier for us to connect and resonate with one another’s ideas.

For me, this is especially meaningful because, as an Asian living in Europe, I belong to both the Asian and European Alumni Networks. This means I can also help create synergies across the networks. Even as I write, the Mandarin EMBA Program—an Asian initiative—is collaborating with our European alumnus, Dr. Krisztina, to develop a module for Chinese students. This is the magic of BGU indeed!

For those of you living in Europe, don’t wait any longer. Connect with any of us in the European Alumni Network and be part of this community working to transform lives across the region!

Dr. Debbie Yip

The Netherlands / Singapore