#LoveAlumni by celebrating alumni professionals!
It’s time to nominate the top 50!!
Dear Friends,
Working with alumni is a labour of love. It is often at a relentless pace, keeping up programming for alumni at different ages and stages.
It’s time to recognize and celebrate alumni and advancement professionals! I am delighted to be on the distinguished panel for the inaugural 50U50 by Almabase powered by Blackbaud.* As the first year of the 50U50, nominations are for professionals in the USA only, with expansion promised for the future - yippee!
Yes, I want to see incredible nominations from the alumni relations community, but I also wanted to highlight how I found myself as a 50U50 judge.
One word.
Networking.
Two years ago, Almabase included me on their 15 Alumni Relations Leaders you should follow on LinkedIn (if you aren’t following me yet)
You can read the full networking story in my new blog post here.
Here’s what I learned about networking from this experience:
Networking can be sparked from anywhere and anyone (and highlight a shared connection to be the extra-wide door opener!)
Show gratitude and follow-up
Find mutually beneficial collaborations
Dive in!
*Please note I hold no affiliation or affiliate marketing with Almabase or Blackbaud. I am giving my service as a volunteer judge to find alumni relations champions.
Your challenge:
For alumni and advancement professionals: Consider or encourage a 50U50 nomination. Consider other ways to thank or recognize the alumni relations professional in your life. Highlighting the champions in our sector with compelling stories is inspiring for all of us!
For students and alumni: be open this week to networking opportunities and connections. Be sure to add a note when connecting on LinkedIn (it’s a little extra kindness to your connection and reminds you later how/why you connected!)
Let’s #LoveAlumni and #LoveAlumniRelations too,
Maria
