Alumni Network Engagement

Consulting firms don’t just advise the C-suite, they supply it. McKinsey & Company, Accenture, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have quietly become the most prolific breeding grounds for CEOs. It’s not a coincidence. These firms are structured to exit the majority of the talent they bring in, they systematically turn that attrition into an asset. Their model is built around hiring brilliant people, giving them a crash course in problem-solving at scale, and then watching them graduate into leadership roles across industry. When those alumni step into executive roles, they don’t forget where they came from. They bring with them the consulting playbook, the relationships, and often a deep loyalty to the firm that helped shape their thinking. In many cases, they become clients and the flywheel turns. McKinsey, in particular, has mastered this system. Its alumni famously sit on the leadership teams of the world’s largest organizations, across every sector. What’s striking is how easy they make it to leave, if you're going to the "right" place. Jumping ship to a direct competitor is a no-go. But stepping into an industry role, even at a Fortune 500, is often encouraged. Some firms even offer transition support or alumni programs. Why? Because every alum who lands well becomes a long-term asset: a client, a referrer, a brand advocate. So while most industries fight to retain top performers, Consulting firms quietly build pipelines of future clients and power brokers. It’s a long game and one that more organizations could learn from. After all, what better growth strategy than placing your DNA into the boardrooms of your future customers?

This one company’s alumni are DESTROYING India’s startup game & they’ve already launched 6 unicorns 🇮🇳🦄 I am talking about Flipkart’s alumni network Remember how the PayPal Mafia went on to launch companies like YouTube, Tesla, & LinkedIn, changing Silicon Valley forever? Well, Flipkart’s alumni are doing the exact same thing in India except with 44+ startups, 6 unicorns, and a combined valuation north of $25 billion (this started after their Walmart acquisition in 2018) 😲 And they’re not just building typical tech companies. These are India-specific, ops-intensive businesses. PhonePe → Fintech → $12B valuation Groww → WealthTech → $3B valuation Spinny → Used cars → $1.55B valuation udaan.com → B2B commerce → $1.75B valuation But what most people miss is 👉 how Flipkart is institutionalizing entrepreneurship. Rather than losing their best employees, Flipkart has turned attrition into an opportunity, Top executives don’t leave and vanish, they leave, and build their own unicorns. And the scale is big, these 44+ startups have created 32,000 jobs, and the top 10 alone account for 87% of that. I mean, if you think about it, Flipkart is creating this wild, self-sustaining ecosystem that’s only going to grow bigger and bigger. And now, if you’re Zomato, Ola, Zepto, or any other major player in the Indian startup ecosystem, you have to take notice. Truly remarkable to see these folks create a cycle of innovation, one that will only get bigger as this ecosystem continues to thrive 🙌

Your corporate alumnus is one of the easiest paths to net new meetings, but it's not who you worked with before, it's who you work with now. Here are two strategies - one for ICs, and one for corporate teams: IC: Set two searches in LinkedIn Sales Navigator: First: Current company: type in your co name and hit the "exclude" button Past company: your company Work flows: add in your account lists or CRM-integrated territory Seniority Level: Director+ RESULT: a repository of people who used to work for your company, who still have allegiance to them (most likely) and who are senior enough to help you with internal intros. Second: Just save that above search. That's it. Every time someone leaves your company and goes to your territory, you'll be notified. Then, go pounce with a killer Show Me You Know Me email or connection request OR just ask people you both know for an intro to up the odds they'll reply. Corporate: Create an alumni program. Any time a senior leader, top performer, 10+ year veteran, or hell, anyone with a few years of tenure leaves, offer them a referral agreement as part of their package. We do it with influencers, why don't we do it with alumni? If they opt in, you can lead route them to the correct seller/team upon their announcement of their new role, again, all with a simple Sales Navigator license, and presuming they don't go to a competitor. 😉 Even better, you can create a dashboard and have an SLA around outreach so you can measure the effectiveness of this program. Your leaders can manage to these metrics, too, just like they do for inbound leads. **************************************************************** As I said in yesterday's post, a lot of what's broken in our prospecting motion doesn't take millions of dollars in tech and consulting - it comes down to a few smarter ideas, to some better messaging, and to showing up to discovery calls like humans that want to solve, not to sell. #samsales #saas #SMYKM #linkedintips

I recently go asked "what is one thing that no one tells you about networking when you're an international student?" When I came to the U.S. 6 years ago to study Data Science, I had no idea how important networking would be for my career. Coming from Spain, I thought hard work and a good resume would be enough. Spoiler: it wasn’t. As an international student, job hunting comes with extra challenges: visas, sponsorships, and navigating a system that sometimes feels overwhelming. But here’s the truth: networking changed everything for me. Here’s what worked: 1️⃣ Reaching out to alumni: - I was at Suffolk University in Boston, and I used LinkedIn to connect with alumni in Data Science. At first, it felt awkward—what could I possibly say? But I learned this: people love sharing advice when you ask the right questions. Instead of asking for jobs, I asked about their journeys, challenges, and advice. Those conversations didn’t just lead to referrals; they gave me confidence and clarity. 2️⃣ Leveraging LinkedIn: - LinkedIn became more than just a job board. I posted about projects I was working on, shared my thoughts on the industry, and commented on others’ posts. Over time, recruiters and professionals in my field started noticing me. 3️⃣ Attending industry events: - From local meetups to webinars, I treated every event as a learning opportunity. The key wasn’t handing out resumes—it was making meaningful connections. One conversation at a career fair even led to an internship that shaped my path. Looking back, I realized networking isn’t just about getting a job—it’s about building relationships. As an international student, those connections helped me navigate a career system I didn’t grow up in, and they became my biggest advantage. What’s your go-to strategy for networking? Let’s share tips below—I’d love to hear what’s worked for you!

Last year, a university was struggling with their alumni events. Average attendance: 15 people Donor conversion: Near zero Staff morale: Rock bottom Their events team tried something different: • Instead of planning FOR alumni, they started planning WITH them • Created small committees of 3-4 graduates for each event • Let these committees choose themes, venues, and activities • Asked them to personally invite friends Results after 6 months: → Average attendance jumped to 85 → 35% of attendees made their first gift → Committee members upgraded their own giving by 3x → Staff now had a reliable volunteer pool But here's what nobody talks about: The biggest impact wasn't in the numbers. It was watching alumni transform from passive attendees into passionate advocates who said things like: "This is the first time I've felt truly connected to my alma mater since graduating." The lesson? When you give people ownership, they don't just participate. They invest. What's been your experience with volunteer committees? Have you seen similar transformations?

Public health programs are underusing their alumni—and it’s costing their students. There’s power in your people. But if your alumni network only shows up for fundraising, you’re doing it wrong. Here’s how universities can activate alumni for workforce readiness: 1️⃣Build a speaker series from your own grads Focus on career pivots, consulting, entrepreneurship, and how they got their first job. 2️⃣Create an alumni-led mentorship program Match grads with current students based on niche, identity, and goals. Not just who’s “available.” 3️⃣Host live Q&As with alumni consultants, analysts, and execs Let students hear how people actually landed roles—and what no one told them. 4️⃣Leverage alumni in job placement Turn your network into a talent pipeline for internships, contracts, and roles. When alumni are involved, students don’t just imagine what’s possible—they see it. Tag your MPH program and share some ideas that could help them utilize their alumni more! If any MPH program is interested in creating something like this then I'd love to partner to make it happen! Please send me a message and let's chat! #AlumniPower #MentorshipMatters #PublicHealthCareers #MPHNetwork #PHCConnections

The US unemployment rate just hit 4.3%, the highest since Oct 2021, almost 4 years ago.   And you know who feels it the most? 👉 Students. 👉 Recent grads. 👉 Early-career professionals.   I moved to the US 2 years ago when I had 0 connections in my industry. I’ve been there. I know how overwhelming it feels when rejection emails pile up and opportunities seem scarce.   I learned how important it is to build your network because your network is ultimately your prime resource when it comes to the job search.   Here are 3 tips to network effectively:   1️⃣ Reach out to alumni: Finding a common group with someone (your university, hometown, even a shared interest) makes connecting 10x easier. Alumni love helping students and grads but you have to take the first step.   2️⃣ Don’t jump straight to a referral: One of the biggest mistakes I see is when someone asks for a referral right away. Instead, start by building the relationship, ask about their role, their career path, or their advice for someone starting out. Referrals come naturally when trust is built.   3️⃣ Follow up (and add value): Relationships aren’t built in a single conversation. Keep in touch by following up, maybe share an article they’d find interesting, or update them on your progress. Networking is a long-term investment, not a one-time ask.   That’s exactly why we started a newsletter: to share the templates, strategies, and lessons that helped us land roles in consulting + tech (and now help hundreds of students do the same).   Subscribe here for weekly job postings across tech, consulting and finance and insider tips and strategies: https://lnkd.in/dMKTvb8w

“You have to network in the U.S.” My ears used to bleed every time I heard this. When I moved to the U.S., everyone kept repeating it: “Build relationships.” “Get referrals.” “It’s all about networking.” But no one ever explained how to do it. So I figured it out myself. — I started with my professors. They’re always willing to help, and they have incredible alumni networks — students who now work at top companies. Most people just don’t ask. — Then I used LinkedIn — properly. And that’s how I landed my role at Microsoft. Here’s what I learned: *Don’t start with recruiters.* They’re overwhelmed with resumes screenings, cold messages, and coordination tasks. Your message may never be seen or prioritized. Instead, reach out to people who: - Are already in your target role - Work as managers or above - Have been at the company longer - Are often involved in hiring decisions - Know the team, culture, and expectations These are the people who can offer real insight — and real support. In my case, the person I built a relationship with at Microsoft: - Referred me internally - Reached out to the Hiring Manager - Ended up being on my interview panel That changed everything. If you’re job searching: - Be intentional with your outreach - Ask meaningful, curious questions - Don’t lead with “Please refer me” — build trust first When the relationship builds, they’ll ask for your resume! P.S. I help international students and professionals land internships and full-time jobs in the U.S. Follow me for practical tips on #networking #resumes #interviews #careerstrategy. #ThatIndianCoach – From where you are, to where you want to be!

This is how you establish an entrepreneurship culture at university. 👇🚀 European governments are spending more and more money to boost their university #innovation and #startup ecosystems. 💸 And I am all for it. Now is the time to invest. But it is important to invest this money as impactfully as possible. Increasing the students' exposure to the topic of entrepreneurship on campus is definitely crucial. 📣 And that also includes creating new #entrepreneurship courses, hiring new staff at entrepreneurship centers, etc. But the marginal value of one extra course goes down dramatically at some point. And you can hire only so many (highly qualified) people as full-timers with a typical university budget (and salary structures). 😔 The question is also, how much will students actually take with them if they are forced to work on a certain assignment or attend some super low entry barrier (event) formats? My experience is that students often stop appreciating offers when they become too ubiquitous or too easy to access, leading to problematic adverse selection. So, how do you make the limited resources for entrepreneurship cultures at university go as far as humanly possible? ✅ You make sure the #students own the culture. Let the students organize their own events. Let the most motivated of them tell you what is hot right now. At WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, we have a long culture of student clubs. 🙌 We don't tell them how to run their #conferences, #bootcamps, or #hackathons. They find their own sponsors, speakers, and participants. We are only providing them with guidelines and infrastructure. As the Entrepreneurship Center, we purely act as service providers: We give the students our perspective on the market, try to preserve knowledge across generations, and, most importantly, act as a bridge between the student organizers and our #alums. Not a single student initiative at WHU operates without alumni involvement—whether it’s as participants, mentors, or investors. This collaboration is so embedded in our culture. 🦉 One of our alums, Jannes Fischer 💪, even approached us to create a regularly updated overview of all the ways alums can get involved on campus (the picture is the overview slide). The truth is that our Entrepreneurship Center has less budget than most of our peers in Germany. 😉 Yet, we have more entrepreneurial formats than many universities 10 times our size. This is one very good reason WHU was ranked the most efficient startup university in Europe by Redstone. No other university produces as many startups per 100m university budget in Europe 🥖💂♂️🥐🍕. Our success is not #magic. And it is obviously not because we invest so much money. It’s about positioning ourselves as a platform and empowering our community to thrive within it. That is why we want to share our best practices. 👋 What student clubs at other universities are you a big fan of?

Some of the buzziest startups in Silicon Valley share something in common: their founders once worked at Palantir Technologies. The founders lean on other ex-Palantir executives and engineers for support and financing, tapping the network for hiring and funding. VC firms have sprung up whose mission is to invest in companies founded by people with Palantir experience.  Now, here’s the crazy stat: According to The Wall Street Journal, Palantir alumni have either started or are leading more than 350 tech companies, and at least a dozen have been valued at over $1 billion, says Luba Lesiva, who was head of investor relations at Palantir from 2014 to 2016. Here’s a list of the ones I could find: 🏆 Prominent Startups Anduril Industries – Defense tech; founded by Palmer Luckey and other Palantir alumni. Addepar – Fintech platform; founded by Joe Lonsdale (Palantir co-founder). 8VC – Venture capital fund; founded by Joe Lonsdale. Ironclad – Legal tech; founded by Jason Boehmig (former Palantir lawyer). ElevenLabs – AI voice synthesis; co-founded by Piotr Dąbkowski (former Palantir engineer). Sourcegraph – Developer tools; founded by ex-Palantir employees. Explo – Data analytics; founded by Palantir data engineers. Partiful – Social event platform; built by a former Palantir designer. Affirm – Fintech; Nathan Gettings (Palantir co-founder) helped found Affirm alongside others. 🌍 New Global and European Startups Fern Labs – AI agents for automating processes; Ash Edwards, Taylor Young, Alex Goddijn. Ferry – Digital manufacturing data platform; Ethan Waldie. Wondercraft – AI audio creation; Dimitris Nikolaou, Youssef Rizk. Ameba – Supply chain data platform; Craig Massie. DataLinks – Data integration for enterprise reports; Francisco Ferreira, Andrzej Grzesik. Arondite – Defense tech; Will Blyth, Rob Underhill. Bastion – Security compliance; Arnaud Drizard, Robin Costé, Sebastien Duc. Ankar AI – R&D AI patent research; Wiem Gharbi, Tamar Gomez. 💸 Even more... Chapter – Medicare advisory; Cobi B.. Kalshi – Event trading; Tarek Mansour. Thread AI – Infrastructure for AI-powered workflows; Angela McNeal, Mayada Gonimah. Mural Pay – Cross-border payments; Sinclair Toffa. Cape – Privacy-first mobile network; John Doyle. Outtake – Content intelligence, cybersecurity; Alex Arjun Dhillon. Boulevard Recruiting – Recruitment; Anneli Scopazzi Overstand Labs (YC W25) Labs – AI platform; Mihir P.. Hence Technologies – Legal risk management; Steve Heitkamp. Peregrine – Real-time data integration for public safety; Nick Noone. Archetype Labs – AI-driven no-code software builder; Shaun Springer WSJ article >> https://lnkd.in/eJq_zsuM