This reflection piece presents some of the lessons learned from an initiative at New York University (NYU) that could be used by other student affairs professionals in other parts of the world, including Africa. The vision and motivation to embark on such a path have been inspired, in part, by three major developments in higher education. The first, has been the growth of the university by expanding its reach outside its own confines, extending its borders, as has been done at New York University with the establishment of two branch campuses in Shanghai, China, and in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The second, is the push for international student enrolment at home institutions, through numerous agreements such as the establishment of the Pan African University as well as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Education and Training, and the third, that international student enrolment is indeed a source of revenue that remains hotly debated as a rationale for recruitment. The results of increasing revenue by way of an enrolment strategy devoid of strategic and shared outcomes for student affairs, campus stakeholders and, ultimately, the international student would be an opportunity lost by the institution. The "International Student Engagement Meeting Initiative" programme offered lessons described from 15 key areas. These areas provide a type of roadmap for the future of international student outreach and transition to college. The lessons reveal what mattered in the heart and mind of the international student, identified how Student Affairs should direct resources, enhance programme development, review policy, manage expectations, establish collaboration and improve the intercultural competence of staff, students, faculty and administrators.