#Love Alumni Potential

Four corners of alumni potential - the what's in it for me?! 

Dear Friends,

A good title can keep you reading.

(Don't we wish we our alumni continued to read our content?) 

This week I read, along with several of my alumni professional colleagues, the article posted on LinkedIn by Ryan Catherwood entitled: The Alumni Engagement Reckoning: Adapt or Be Left Behind

Click! I read that in a hurry! It certainly mobilized many of us to respond too. 

The adaptations Ryan spoke about connected alumni engagement to wider institutional philanthropy (which I interpreted as others did as the philanthropy Ts of Time, Talent, Treasure, Ties - with the addition of Testimony and Trust). As I argue time and time again: engagement precedes support - we engage first for the WIFM factor- what's in it for me- then we can generate broad philanthropic support.

To me that's the essence of Alumni Potential. Generating that WIFM. I extend this to include a challenge of a wider WIFM - the what's in it for me for: 

Alumni: yes, mobilizing alumni to engage to enhance their own career/life; 

Institution: aligning alumni support to the mission (and reinforcing alumni relevance!);  

Students: support student ambition and offer relatable role models; 

Community: showcasing alumni impact that embody the institution's values. 

Your challenge this week:

Alumni professionals: which WIFM will you tackle this week? Are you offering a convincing WIFM to this group?

Alumni and students: what would mobilise YOU to engage?

As we continue to #LoveAlumni this month, let's celebrate the factors that continue to engage alumni. I discuss alumni potential in the Alumless World podcast here.

Yours with alumni potential, 

Maria 

Photo: Dr Lorraine Tansey and I reconnected this week. Lorraine and I have multiple alumni connections including the University of Galway, it was a great #LoveAlumni in-person celebration!

Do you have someone you can reconnect with on a future Alumni Friday?