A&O Shearman: Where Alumni and Innovation Fuse

Having the Right Conversation About Alumni: A View from the Boardroom

Senior leaders instinctively understand the power of relationships, trust, and shared history, but alumni programs are often still viewed as informal or peripheral initiatives. In this session, we explored how alumni land in the boardroom conversation, what executives actually care about, and how organizations can position alumni as a strategic asset that supports business development, culture, hiring, and long‑term reputation rather than a purely social network. Thank you to our guest speakers: Mark Astaire, Former Vice Chairman, Barclays and Merrill Lynch Bank of America, Board Member Sky News Ian Storrar, Chief Customer Officer, EnterpriseAlumni

From Vision to Impact: Building Alumni Network ROI in Professional Services

We’re joined by Melinda Wedding, Manager of Alumni Relations at Ryan, and Kyle Kraynick of Barnes and Thornburg LLP, who bring their perspectives of building and evolving alumni programs inside global professional services organizations. They share what it takes to build alumni networks that work in practice, not just in theory. Join us to learn: * How to position alumni programs to influence talent, business development, and culture * What your audience value from an alumni network, beyond jobs and discounts * Which early indicators signal progress, even before full ROI is visible * What are the assumptions about alumni engagement that firms need to rethink

A&O Shearman: Where Alumni and Innovation Fuse

In professional services, alumni programs are no longer just about keeping in touch. Leading firms are taking long-termapproach: building communities where relationships, referrals, and shared experiences continue to create value long after colleagues have left the firm. Today we’ll explore how A&O Shearman’s alumni network and its innovation hub Fuse are working together to sparkcollaboration. * Shruti Ajitsaria, Partner, Head of Fuse * Stella Ekkeshis, Global Alumni Network Co-Lead * David Howorth, Co-founder of Avvoka, part of Fuse’s first start-up cohort

The Case for a CAO: Why Everyone Needs a Chief Alumni Officer

Alumni networks are no longer just a “nice to have” – they’re a strategic asset. From boomerang hires and brand advocacy to client referrals and talent pipelines, alumni engagement is delivering measurable business value across industries. So why is the role of Chief Alumni Officer (CAO) still so rare in the corporate world? Thank you to our guest speakers: * Anna Moreno Damico, Global Director of Alumni Strategy & Engagement, Boston Consulting Group * Danya Ray, Alumni Relations Manager, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Community That Connects: How to Scale and Sustain Alumni Engagement

Alumni program leaders consistently face a challenge in sustaining participation, building meaningful relationships at scale, and proving impact with the right metrics – from activity levels to business outcomes. How to Scale and Sustain Alumni Engagement Thank you to our guest speakers: * Jono Bacon, Community Director and Author, Stateshift * Linda Triangolo, Alumni Programme Manager, Addleshaw Goddard