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The Thanksgiving holiday is an annual national holiday in both the United States and Canada in which family and friends gather for a traditional meal, a meal in which can actually last the ENTIRE day, with lots of second helpings throughout the day! The holiday is on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, and is usually on the second Monday in October in Canada. Thanksgiving is traditionally a time when family and friends come together. During the MBA, it can be difficult to be away from all of the special people in our lives. As the IESE MBA is comprised of international students from all over the world, these students are often very far away from home as well. Therefore, IESE’s Thanksgiving Event offers students a chance to be with their “IESE family”, and be their home away from home.

Thanksgiving at IESE has been a major event at the school for over 30 years. Professor Mike Rosenberg, who is also IESE MBA alum was one of the first people to organize a Thanksgiving dinner event at IESE. Every year during the event, he always tells the story of Thanksgiving and how many immigrants traveled to Canada and the United States to start a new life.

The North American Business Club hosts Thanksgiving every year and it is our largest event. This year we had close to 300 attendees! The Club works hard to ensure that it is a special event for everyone, no matter where you are from. Both the US and Canada are very welcoming societies, and we encourage people from other countries to take part in our traditions and festivities. The event consists of a televised American football match with drinks and snacks, followed by a buffet Thanksgiving dinner. During the dinner IESE students, professors, and guests participate in our live auction.

Students watching an American football game

A typical Thanksgiving meal varies depending on where a person is from in North America. The IESE Kitchen and Catering Staff always does a phenomenal job hosting the event at our North Campus, the food is made to match traditional Thanksgiving flavors and food. The basics are turkey, stuffing that can be made a million different ways, a variety of potatoes, green beans, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce! However, the most important thing is just being together and sharing stories of what people are thankful for, and what they are looking forward to in the year ahead!

During the auction, we raise money for several charities that operate in Spain, as well as in other parts of the world. The auction consists of items to bid on from everything from yachting tours, wine tastings, FC Barcelona jerseys, to whiskey tasting and rock climbing events with the professors. Last, but certainly not least, is the highly sought after annual paintball event against the professors!

We had an AMAZING Auction this year, thanks to our auction MC’s Peter Causey (MBA Class of 2018) and Stacey Robison (MBA Class of 2019), our NABC team, and all of the students who helped us raise over 14,000 Euros which went to charities Mary’s Meals, Soñar Despiertos, and Paralosvalientes.

Special thanks to my North American Business Club Leadership Team: Danielle Bailey, Matthew McCabe and Derek Nelson, and our first year directors: Talal Rojas, Ryan Fritsch, and Stacey Robison. We had an incredible event this year, and look forward to passing on the tradition for next year!

IESE MBA students from around the world

Season’s greetings and a very happy holiday season to all! 

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