The International Relations and Accreditation Office at  the College of Management held the third English Corner session of the semester on November 27, inviting IBMBA alumna Svetlana Boldina as the guest speaker. Originally from Russia, Svetlana has lived in Taiwan for 13 years and brings extensive experience in market development and cross-cultural communication. In her talk, she explained the purpose and core principles of Coffee Chats, guiding students to understand how this informal yet valuable communication method can help them expand career networks and build meaningful connections.

【Understanding Coffee Chats and Preparing Effectively】

Svetlana introduced Coffee Chats as a relaxed but efficient 15–30 minute conversation widely used in career exploration, cross-departmental collaboration, and networking. Before the conversation begins, she encouraged students to research the other person’s background through platforms such as LinkedIn or Instagram to identify common ground and plan relevant questions. This preparation not only helps conversations flow naturally but also shows professionalism and sincerity.

【Conversation Structure: From Icebreakers to Professional Topics】

Using Carnegie’s “Conversation Stack” framework, Svetlana demonstrated how to structure a Coffee Chat. After a brief self-introduction, students can start with casual topics such as travel, reading, or sports to create a friendly atmosphere. The conversation can then transition to deeper career-related questions, supported by the information gathered beforehand. She reminded students to stay humble, remain curious, and avoid sensitive subjects so the dialogue can develop naturally and productively.

【Six Principles and Follow-Up: Building Long-Term Connections】

Since Coffee Chats focus on interpersonal interaction, communication and listening skills are essential. Svetlana highlighted Carnegie’s six principles: smiling, remembering names, sincere listening, avoiding conversation dominance, focusing on the other person’s interests, and helping them feel valued.

She also emphasized the importance of timely follow-up—such as sending a thank-you message or sharing helpful resources within 24 hours—to extend the connection and strengthen the relationship.

【Practical Training: Role-Play and Question Crafting】

During the hands-on session, students searched for Svetlana’s public information online and practiced asking relevant questions to simulate a real Coffee Chat. Topics ranged from travel experiences to career transitions, showing thoughtful preparation. Students then conducted short Coffee Chat exercises in groups, learning from both peer interaction and feedback.

【Conclusion: Building Cross-Cultural Confidence Through Coffee Chats】

This session helped students gain a deeper understanding of Coffee Chat strategies, effective questioning, and trust-building techniques. Drawing from her cross-cultural experience, Svetlana demonstrated how to present professionalism, extend conversations, and create meaningful exchanges in a short time. With practical exercises, students are now better prepared to use Coffee Chats to expand their networks, explore career paths, and strengthen their confidence in international communication.

Please refer to the English Corner activity schedule for this semester: https://reurl.cc/dqXQNz

(Written by Master of Business Administration Hsin-Ni Chang, Department of Financial Management Yu-Shan Huang / Edited by College of Management Media Team)