What does an Alumni mean to a B-school student?

Every institute or university consists of an actively engaged alumni network that contributes to the overall success of the establishment. Maintaining healthy relationships with alumni association not only help the graduates but also the present students in more ways than one. From building professional contacts to offering career advice to giving referrals at organizations, the alumni are a great network to seek help from.

Building a stronger community

As former students of the institution, alumni have a connection with the institute and thus, are likely to be its loyal supporters. Let it be any top PGDM institute in India, the engaged alumni network enables the college to benefit from the experience and skills of the alumni by offering support to the aspirants, institute, and each other. If alumni are kept appropriately informed and engaged, they become the best supporters and most loyal ambassadors, facilitating invaluable promotion and marketing across their personal and professional networks.

Mentorship and guidance- direct from the horse’s mouth

Among top PGDM institutes in India, one thing remains common- they all look up to their Alumni for guidance and information-exchange. What differentiates a top PGDM institute from an ordinary one is its engaged alumni network with talented and dedicated graduates supporting current students in building industry skills and establishing their careers. It’s when the alumni pay a visit to the institute to deliver their job experiences and knowledge sharing sessions, the students get to develop an understanding of how to cope up with the new corporate world.

Connected, forever

The biggest advantage of having an active alumni network is that it just not helps student to connect with them but also alumni to connect with prospective employers and fellow alumni in regard to references and job opportunities. This particularly helps those pursuing PGDM at best institutes in India because most professors are involved in some or the other industry research work. Alumni can also approach their professors and faculty members to gain relevant assistance or experience with their research work. Sharing one such instance- Mr. Nipun Sachdeva, Kotak Securities, PGDM 2011-13 batch, IMI mentions, “Back in those days, I’d understood the importance of staying connected with my professors for not just getting groomed or seeking knowledge but attaining first-hand knowledge of how the corporate world functions. Today, though I’m enjoying a fast-paced life at a good organization, I don’t think I would have been here without the guidance of my professors and alumni. And to carry forward this legacy, I advise my juniors at the institute to follow the same path.”     

Personal development

While having an alumni network is beneficial, the advantage to the alumni themselves must not be overseen. Their professional mentoring journey oftentimes proves to be very rewarding since they get to learn a lot about themselves and their own career trajectory. To this, Navneet Goel, Sr. Manager (Strategy Planning & MIS), PGDM 2011-13 batch, said, “Whether you are in the shoes of mentoring someone or getting mentored by someone else, the experience only adds up to your pool of knowledge. My longstanding association with the institute helped me develop both multitasking skills and entrepreneurial skills. The methodology of teaching and approach towards problem-solving I observed during those days come handy, now that I’m wearing the mentor hat. There’s a charm in learning back from the same place that shaped your entire career!”

Alumni associations can support students in fostering long-term association with their alma-mater by offering a range of career and job opportunities. At IMI, aspirants are connected to its alumni cell right from the first day when the students set foot on the campus till their final journey. Graduation isn’t goodbye! A connection with IMI – B, its faculty, staff, management, and alumni last a lifetime.