Your Alumni is Key to Your Success

Your Alumni is Key to Your Success

Are you engaged with your secondary school and university alumni associations? Are you leveraging the myriad benefits they offer? In my book, “The Critical Pillars of Making Quality Contacts and Connections” I listed the unparalleled gateway alumni associations provide to a network of opportunities.

Firstly, the beauty of alumni associations lies in their inclusivity. Unlike many other clubs or organizations with stringent membership criteria, the only prerequisite for joining your alma mater’s association is that you graduated from there. It’s that simple.

Furthermore, the friendships forged during our formative years hold a special place in our lives. These are the friendships formed without pretence, where authenticity was taken for granted. From measuring “things” in the bathroom to shared experiences in school corridors and innocent pranks, these are the friends who know you at your core, understanding your strengths and vulnerabilities.

Moreover, individuals from your school or childhood circle are more inclined to offer valuable insights or engage in business ventures with you. They’ve witnessed your growth from the early days, fostering a sense of trust and familiarity that can be invaluable in professional endeavours.

Yet, it’s disheartening to see many alumni underutilising the potential of these associations. I once had an office adjacent to the alumni secretariat of a prestigious Nigerian secondary school. Witnessing the caliber of individuals convening to plan the institution’s centenary anniversary was truly inspiring.
However, don’t be surprised that you will find many alumni who are disengaged from their associations. Some cite trivial reasons like wanting to buy a car before attending meetings. Little do they realise that active participation in alumni gatherings can open doors to invaluable connections that could lead to lucrative opportunities.

Your secondary school alumni association isn’t the only avenue worth exploring; your university alumni network is equally valuable. They provide access to invaluable resources, connections, and ideas. Let me illustrate this with a compelling anecdote.

A gentleman struggled for years to secure a meeting with a key decision maker at a multinational company, despite numerous attempts. Repeatedly turned away by security and met with bureaucratic hurdles, his efforts seemed futile. However, after joining his secondary and university alumni associations, fate intervened. At a university alumni meeting, he discovered not one, but two individuals affiliated with the very company he had been trying to penetrate.

One of them happened to be the personal assistant to the elusive decision maker. The rest, as they say, is history. In essence, your alumni associations are treasure troves of opportunities waiting to be unearthed. Embrace them, engage with them, and watch as they pave the way for your professional success.

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