Can the academic community perform well and bring benefits when it focuses only on its members committed to the current student-teacher administrative duties and tasks?
Absolutely. However, there is a simple method to increase the opportunities and advantages of being its member. This method consists in an active and permanent expansion of the community by inviting graduates to it. The student-alumni community can play a significant role not only in academic life but also later in professional life.
By creating a bridge between current students and those who have already graduated, we aim to build an extensive network of support and cooperation. Thanks to it, it becomes possible not only to share knowledge and experience but also to build long-term relationships that can be helpful at different stages of professional life.
To implement this assumption, a number of integrating activities are needed such as meetings and events (e.g. seminars, workshops), mentoring programmes; nowadays online platforms and social media cannot be overestimated. Such activities are also undertaken by SGH, including the Career and Alumni Relations Centre.
Currently, social media are an indispensable tool supporting the creation and sustaining of the student and graduate community. Therefore, in July 2024, we launched the SGH Alumni profile on LinkedIn, which has so far attracted over 2.6 thousand followers. We hope that as it develops, it will become a space for their active involvement as creators and inspirers of the content posted, not only as observers.
The events we organise as part of the SGH Alumni Club have been creating an opportunity to expand knowledge and networking for years. This combination is possible primarily during onsite meetings, which after the COVID-19 pandemic have become less frequent – in accordance with the preferences of graduates. However, when they do take place at SGH, they create a nice common space for students and graduates to facilitate networking. As was the case during the meeting co-organised with the Global Learning Community on April 16 (academic year 2023/24). During “Alumni Insights: Navigating Careers and Company Cultures”, the guests – international graduates of the SGH Warsaw School of Economics, who have been present on the labour market for several years – shared their experiences and practical tips on entering the labour market and moving on it efficiently in order to maximise professional development and satisfaction. The students participating in the meeting could not only listen to the tips of their older colleagues; some of them took the opportunity to ask for references, highlighting the practical benefits of such meetings. Silva Nazaryan, then a student at the Warsaw School of Economics and chairwoman of the GLC (Global Learning Community) Student Club, summed up: “The cooperation between GLC and the SGH Alumni Club was very successful, with the club’s unwavering support from start to finish. We are deeply grateful for your help in bringing alumni and students together, fostering meaningful connections and enriching the experiences of everyone involved.”
There was a slightly different character of the meeting co-organised also as part of the SGH Alumni Club within the Student Marketing Society, on 5 March (academic year 2023/24) LinkedIn (not) for students? Facts and Myths. The expert-guest was Marcin Malec, an SGH graduate, who shared his practical knowledge in the field of building a personal brand on LinkedIn. His profile was followed by over 20 thousand people at that time and the content was displayed over 5.5 million times a year (data from the day of the meeting). He explained why it is worth taking care of a personal brand already during your studies, what to write about and focus on, and how the LinkedIn algorithm works. The subject of the meeting was so inateresting that the students talked to the guest long after the official part ended. The meeting was followed by a short video course Professional LinkedIn account. Foundations, which Marcin prepared for students and young graduates.
On a larger scale, the task of bringing former and present students together, exchanging knowledge, building meaningful contacts and enriching the experience of the parties involved is carried out by the SGH Mentoring Programme. It not only provides the opportunity for individual work in the mentor (graduate) – mentee (student) pair but also creates opportunities for all participating students and alumni to meet during joint events. This is one of our flagship initiatives, which for years has brought many positive results everybody involved and the entire community. The eighth edition of the programme began in December 2024 with a record number of 149 mentoring pairs. We hope that, like in the previous editions, it will provide participants with valuable experience.
The opportunity for alumni and students to meet also occurs during substantive and networking events, which we want to organise more often. We are prompted to do so by really positive opinions of people participating in “AI in finance and management. New Year’s Networking Meeting” on15 January 2025, which gathered over 100 people. It took place in the new building of the SGH Center for Innovative Space. The event was honoured by the presence of Rector Piotr Wachowiak and Vice Rector for Development Dorota Niedziółka. After the substantive part, they talked, reminisced, made new contacts and refreshed old acquaintances until late.
Encouraged by the success of the New Year’s event, on 10 March 2025, we organised another discussion and networking meeting under the motto: Leaders – leadership without schemes. Distinguished guests shared their experiences and thoughts during the panel moderated by Dorota Haller, Forbes Women Podcast Co-host & Co-creator, Client Solutions Director RAS and SGH graduate. Most of them were, of course, SGH graduates as for example: Monika Brzózka – CFO, Board Member VML, Monika Jezierska – partner, Consulting, Risk & Compliance EY, Adrian Kaim – Vice-President of TFI mBank, Piotr Pajda – co-founder of Simpl.rent, Magdalena Proga-Stępień – Member of the Management Board of Santander Bank Polska S.A. and Łukasz Szymula – General Manager Poland & CEE.
An inspiring life story of two leaders living together as a married couple was shared by Barbara Mierzwińska – Vice President & Member of the Board at GdziePoLek and Maciej Mierzwiński – owner of CEE Energy Group. The topics discussed during the event caused intense discussions, which moved to the backstage zone. Ladies could also take advantage of image consultation in the formal fashion zone prepared by MB Marta Banaszek. Among the participants, there was a group of students and young graduates, and the whole meeting was conducive to establishing new contacts and refreshing relationships, gave space for conversations and exchange of opinions. We will certainly create more opportunities like this, and one of the most important of them will be the SGH Celebration in June, to which we always invite graduates.
What are the specific benefits of these activities? Students gain access to the knowledge and experience of graduates, as well as support in career planning. And graduates have the opportunity to maintain ties with the university and get closer to the young generation entering the market, where they will become their colleagues. Both parties are developing a network of professional contacts. Building relationships between the current students and graduates can lead to new career opportunities.
Building a community of students and graduates is an indispensable task in long-term thinking about the success of the University and its community. It benefits all stakeholders, and a supportive environment maximises the potential for professional and personal growth. The University creates space and stimulates the process, but it is the commitment of both students and alumni that allows them to fully benefit from this unique support.
JUSTYNA KOZERA, Director of Career and Alumni Centre, SGH
