One of the top priorities for MBA students is to maximize networking opportunities to gain a career advantage or facilitate a career change post-graduation. The need for such opportunities has become even more pronounced after the pandemic as human connections have become increasingly digital and may work from home, at least partly. Beyond interactions with the industry through guest speakers, company days, visits, and career fairs, the potential of peer-to-peer networking among students and alumni remains underexplored. To address this, the MBA International program organized a Networking Event for the five classes that are simultaneously studying in the program starting from Saturday, October 21st, 2023.
Structured around various functional areas and industries, with active alumni participation, the Annual i-MBA 5-Classes Networking Event, brought together current i-MBA students and graduates for an enriching networking experience.
The event was organized into two key parts. The first part focused on preparing students for effective networking, while the second part was dedicated to the actual networking activities.
Part One: Mastering the Art of Communication (09:30-13:00)
The event kicked-off with an Interactive Seminar on the topic “Mastering the Art of Communication: Build Rapport, Read People, and Influence Situations”, open exclusively to i-MBA students and Alumni.
The seminar was conducted by Mrs. Evy Poumpouras, Former U.S Secret Service Agent, National Security Journalist (CNN, NBC, MSNBC and other), Corporate Trainer, International Speaker, and Best-Selling Author. Her book “Becoming Bulletproof: Protect Yourself, Read People, Influence Situations, Live Fearlessly”, has been translated into five languages. She is awarded with the Secret Service Medal of Valor: Bestowed for heroic acts on 9/11.
AGENDA
09:30 Arrivals
10:00 – 10:50 Principle 1: The Ethos of Communication: Building Trust – It’s not about you. It’s about them.
10:50 – 11:00 Break
11:00 – 11:50 Principle 2: Reading People and How People Read You – Body Language, Verbal Communication, and Paralinguistics
11:50 – 12:00 Break
12:00 – 1300 Principle 3: The Art of Influence: Motivational Communication. How to Get to Yes and Minimize Challenges.
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
Part Two: Structured Networking Sessions (14:00 – 17:00)
The networking sessions were divided into functional areas and industries, with alumni supporting the event as Station Leaders. The event was thoroughly organized to maximize networking opportunities and provide valuable insights from experienced professionals.
Functional Areas:
- General Management, Human Resources, Communication & Legal
- Engineering, Project Management
- Finance & Accounting, Consulting
- Marketing A, Product or Brand Management, Customer Service, Sales, Business Development
- Operations, Production, Quality, Sustainability
- Technology / IT-IS-AI, Procurement, Purchasing, Supply Chain
Industries:
- Consumer Services
- Financial Services & Banking
- Industrials / Materials / Energy / Construction
- Consumer Goods, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals
- Consulting
- IT & Telecoms
- Shipping & Transport
Networking Sessions Breakdown
Session 1: Functional Area Networking (40 minutes)
Participants were divided into six stations corresponding to their functional areas. Alumni coordinators facilitated discussions, provided insights, and ensured inclusive participation. Students engaged in speed-dating pitches and roundtable discussions, focusing on challenges, knowledge acquisition, and career aspirations within their functional areas.
Sessions 2-4: Cross-Functional Area Networking (90 minutes)
Students rotated through three stations of different functional areas, exploring potential career paths and networking with peers from various backgrounds. Alumni remained at their initial stations, offering expertise and insights. This rotation maximized networking opportunities and broadened students’ understanding of different functional areas.
Between Sessions 4 and 5, a break allowed for open networking, enabling deeper conversations and connections.
Session 5: Industry Networking (45 minutes)
Participants engaged in industry-specific networking at seven stations. Alumni coordinators led discussions on pressing trends and challenges within each industry. Similar to the functional area sessions, speed dating pitches and roundtable discussions facilitated in-depth exchanges of experiences and insights.
The i-MBA 5-Classes Networking Event attracted over 100 participants, who engaged in structured and informal networking activities. This event provided a valuable platform for students to expand their professional networks, gain industry perspectives, and explore potential career paths through meaningful conversations with seasoned professionals.
The event aimed to foster professional growth, facilitate knowledge exchange, and provide students with invaluable networking opportunities. By bringing together students and alumni from various disciplines, the event created a supportive environment for personal and professional development.
Feedback from both students and alumni after the event was overwhelmingly positive. There was a clear demand from both groups for an annual networking event, highlighting the value of functional, industry and cross-functional networking opportunities.
