It was not love at first sight, but Kate Milliken admits she noticed Mark Binns “right away” during orientation week for their full-time MBA programme.

That was in August 2002, at the Richard Ivey School of Business, London, Canada. Ms Milliken, then 25, had a psychology degree and four years’ work experience in real estate. She was a highly motivated student and not intending to rush into any relationship that might upset her studies.