10:00 – 12:00

Content: what should be in your content plan?
What are your alumni interested in hearing from their business school?

With a diverse global alumni community with wide-ranging professional experience and interests, how do you achieve a good balance of content to engage your audience across various segments? In a year of so much disruption, what has worked best to engage alumni during and after global lockdowns as businesses and communities changed dramatically?

And as you work virtually or in a hybrid environment, how do you create and manage a flow of relevant and interesting content? Review your content plan for 2022 as the group shares experiences, insights and ideas.

• Chelsea Steensen, Alumni Relations Manager, ESMT Berlin, DE

• Moderated by: Sarah Seedsman, Executive Director, Engagement, Insights & Consulting, Media Minds Global, UK (formerly Director, Alumni Relations at London Business School and Associate Dean, External Relations, Melbourne Business School)

10:00 – 12:00

Channels: where do you reach your alumni?
2020/21 saw a significant increase in time spent online by audiences worldwide, across websites, social platforms, news channels, videos, podcasts and virtual event spaces. How do you ensure your content is seen by your alumni as you compete for their attention?

Which channels worked most effectively for you to communicate with alumni, and for alumni to communicate with each other? As budgets and staff time are often limited, hear advice and tips on how to communicate efficiently in a multi-channel world.

Where will you focus your attention and effort moving forwards?

• Sue Martin, Director Corporate and Alumni Relations, Rotterdam School of Management and Director Alumni Relations, Erasmus University Rotterdam, NL

• Moderated by: Sarah Seedsman, Executive Director, Engagement, Insights & Consulting, Media Minds Global, UK (formerly Director, Alumni Relations at London Business School and Associate Dean, External Relations, Melbourne Business School)

10:00 – 12:00

Community: how do you facilitate conversations and build relationships?

Broadcasting business school news ‘one-way’ may ensure your alumni are well-informed and still in touch with the school. Online networking, meetings and events became a ‘new normal ‘to help sustain some sense of involvement and community during lockdowns.

Meanwhile debate continued about the effectiveness of alumni groups on platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook. A plethora of dedicated alumni platforms are available on the market but are not a silver bullet to create active online communities. Every alumni team has grappled with the decision: do we buy, build, or leverage existing online networks?

How do you best use the channels and platforms available to you in 2022 to increase conversation, participation and a strong sense of belonging to an active community?

• Erin Hallett, Director of Alumni and External Engagement, Cambridge Judge Business School, UK

• Penka Bergmann, Director, Alumni Relations, EMEA & APAC, The University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, UK

• Viola Polakowska, Associate Director of Alumni, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, UK

• Moderated by: Sarah Seedsman, Executive Director, Engagement, Insights & Consulting, Media Minds Global, UK (formerly Director, Alumni Relations at London Business School and Associate Dean, External Relations, Melbourne Business School)