HEC Paris Graduation 2026 | Finding Your Seat Buddy for Life – Jacqueline Eichenblatt

At the HEC Paris Graduation Ceremony 2026, MBA graduate Jacqueline Eichenblatt shares a moving reflection on friendship, resilience, and the relationships that shape our lives. Growing up in a family of four children, Jacqueline's parents created a simple "seat buddy" system during family road trips: each child was responsible for looking after another. What seemed like a childhood game became a powerful life lesson, that the people who shape us are often not the ones we choose, but the ones life places beside us. Drawing from personal experiences, including caring for her mother during her battle with cancer, Jacqueline reflects on the importance of showing up for others, investing in relationships, and finding strength in community. She shares how HEC Paris became much more than an academic journey. Through assigned classmates, dorm neighbors, student clubs, and unexpected friendships, she discovered that some of life's most meaningful connections begin by chance. From classmates who became lifelong friends to a friendship between an Israeli-American and a Palestinian that started with a game of chess, her story highlights the power of human connection across backgrounds and differences. Her message to the Class of 2026: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." #HECParis #Graduation2026 #MBA #Leadership #HECgrad26