HBS Alumni Association Board of Directors: President's Report
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| Luick Good Photo by Rick Friedman |
It's been a busy autumn at HBS. In September, the School successfully launched its first-ever capital campaign (see coverage). A few weeks later, the fall reunions were very well attended. The Alumni Board then held a productive meeting on October 18 and 19, and a record number of alumni returned to campus for the Volunteer Conference in early November. The latter was a wonderful event that included updates on School initiatives and hands-on, practical sessions. The highlight was an extraordinary multimedia presentation, narrated by Professor Nancy Koehn, which incorporated stories of people whose lives have been affected by HBS and its alumni. This moving production was developed for the capital campaign, which will be rolled out across the country and abroad over the coming months. I hope you will have an opportunity to see the presentation, as it does a remarkable job of capturing the unique impact of the School in the world.
As in past years, the Alumni Board's working committees will continue to focus on three areas of particular interest to alumni. Over the course of the year, the board will seek to address the challenges and opportunities presented by these topics and to suggest ways in which the School and the larger alumni community might work together to provide maximum value to HBS graduates.
The Alumni Communications Committee is chaired by Byron Carlock (MBA '88). Communication is the key to keeping the alumni network vital and meaningful, and it is incumbent upon the School to keep alumni up-to-date on its latest initiatives. Given the recent explosion of technological advances, there are many new ways to share this information. This committee will look at the mix of print and electronic media and address how best to keep alumni informed and in touch. In addition, it will examine marketing strategies for existing programs and services and evaluate their effectiveness relative to the alumni audience they are targeting. The committee will serve as a resource to the School as the capital campaign is inaugurated and a comprehensive communications strategy is developed.
The Lifelong Learning Committee is chaired by Richard Decker (98th AMP). Recognizing that one's education doesn't end with graduation from HBS, this committee will address the numerous ways alumni can extend and enrich the learning experience through various vehicles, such as reunions and the educational programs offered through Executive Education. It will also focus on improving the usage of HBS's excellent online educational products such as Working Knowledge and e-Baker. This committee will evaluate current alumni programs with regard to available resources, audience needs, and demographics, and make recommendations for existing and potentially new programs.
The Committee to Support Clubs and Associations is chaired by Kathleen Jackson (MBA '86). Regional clubs and affinity-based associations are often the major contact that alumni have with the School, and they play a critical role in engaging alumni. In order for these volunteer- based groups to continue as sustainable entities, they require scalable support. This committee is dedicated to enhancing their viability and effectiveness by assessing their needs on four important levels: programs, communication, membership, and data management. It will work with clubs and associations to understand their needs in these areas and to recommend manageable options.
In addition to these working committees, the board has three ad hoc committees, namely, the Global Alumni Conferences Committee, led by Bob Shaw (MBA '84); the Nominating Committee, led by Ed Hajim (MBA '64); and the Community Standards Committee. The first group provides valuable guidance for the annual Global Alumni Conferences, the second works to identify a slate of twelve new board members each year, and the third committee is a sounding board to the School with regard to leadership and values on campus.
The 2003 Global Alumni Conference will be held in Shanghai on June 17–20. I hope you have made plans to attend this unique gathering. Shanghai is exploding with activity and cultural energy, and the city will serve as a magnificent backdrop for this important conference. Register now, as space is limited and filling quickly. I look forward to seeing you there! As I mentioned in my reports to you last year, I feel very honored to lead this remarkable and hard-working group. The Alumni Board exists to represent you and your interests, and I encourage you to contact any of us to share your thoughts and ideas.
Susan Luick Good (MBA '71)
November 2002
