Broad Business Networks
Creating alumni connections, building business events
Dan Mathews and Sparty
A good business person knows that networking can be a key to success — the more people you know the better. People network to advance their careers, to build their business, to increase their impact on the world and to improve their social lives.
No one knows this better than a business school graduate; and after graduation, Broad School alumni go off to find their niche in cities that span the globe from Chicago to China. In many of these cities, alumni can find Michigan State University Alumni Association (MSUAA) regional clubs, which can help make an unfamiliar place seem familiar and can connect people back to their alma mater.
“MSUAA regional clubs promote social and professional networking and pride in the university,” says Keith McGorisk (BA Financial Administration ’91), president of the MSU Alumni Club of Chicago and program manager at ExtendMed. “They give people a sense of camaraderie… we have a lot of fun.”
About three years ago, Broad School staff approached the MSUAA with an idea to partner with these regional clubs in offering business-focused events for all MSU alumni. The Broad School agreed to act as an “independent committee” within the regional clubs using alumni volunteers and resources of the Broad School to offer more business-specific activities in the club community.
“Most major business schools have well-connected alumni who help each other achieve goals and find success in their careers,” says Dan Mathews (BA Hotel & Restaurant Management ’66), National Automatic Merchandising Association senior vice president and past Broad Alumni Association board member. “Alumni consider career networking important and typically show willingness to attend business seminars and workshops.”
Mathews says Broad Business Networks are a win-win for everyone involved — alumni get active and reacquainted while taking advantage of continuing educational opportunities; the college forms connections with alumni that can help with recruiting students, placement and fundraising; and the MSUAA can reap benefits from an increase in membership, since alumni who want to get involved with the networks are also encouraged to become members of MSUAA.
Eli and Edythe L. Broad Dean Robert Duncan can see only positive outcomes for the college from this network initiative. “Alumni satisfaction and perceived degree value strongly influence b-school rankings and endowments,” he says. “We’ve had really positive feedback from alumni involved in our networks.”
The drive for networking activities came from the Alumni Networking Committee of the Broad School Alumni Association board, headed by Mathews. After several meetings, the group created the following Broad Business Network goals:
- Establish business networks among alumni in key areas of alumni concentration;
- Increase the value of the business degree and connections for Broad School alumni;
- Engage the alumni in support of recruitment and placement at the Broad School;
- Support development of an expanded volunteer and donor base among Broad School alumni.
“We held several brainstorming sessions and developed a plan of action to publicize Broad Business Networks,” Mathews says. “We contacted regional alumni groups and organized initial meetings to explain the concept. We also conducted an alumni survey to determine what alumni want.”
For the full story, which appears in the new 2007 Broad Business magazine, click here.
For more information about the Broad School’s network initiative and about networks that are currently hosting events, visit www.bus.msu.edu/alumni/regional/.