When You Speak, This Group Listens
SHIRAZI
Photo by Tom Fitzsimmons
A question that Alumni Board members are often asked is, “What exactly is the HBS Alumni Board, and what do you do?” Ironically, although the board isn’t widely known, many of the HBS services alumni use and value came about through its work. Lifelong Learning programs, Alumni Career Services, and the School’s amazing global conferences are just some of the initiatives the Alumni Board has helped bring about.
Simply put, the Alumni Board represents the collective voice of HBS alumni. Our job is to be both an idea generator and a sounding board. We work with HBS to ensure the finest level of programs and services for alumni worldwide. At our meetings three times each year, we are also kept informed of major issues and opportunities facing HBS, and we provide feedback on those that affect alumni.
The 44 hard-working board members represent many decades, six continents, and a cross-section of MBA, Executive Education, and Doctoral alumni. Before joining the board for three-year terms, each of us had volunteered in a variety of capacities, including serving in key roles in HBS clubs and associations, mentoring current students, planning reunions, assisting with fundraising among our classmates, and serving as Class Notes secretaries.
We do this because we care passionately about the School. We appreciate the transformative experience that HBS provided us and believe it’s our responsibility to support the mission of the School. We also find it a distinctive honor to serve. The Alumni Board gives us a unique opportunity to interact with highly committed alumni as well as faculty and staff at the School. Plus, we have a lot of fun in the process!
The Alumni Board is one small part of the enormous collective activity that represents volunteerism by HBS alumni, not only what we do for the School but also, importantly, for the many causes we care about, including those in our home communities. Truly, we are a global community, a fact brought home to us countless times in our meetings, and this year, in the many inspiring Centennial celebrations that HBS clubs and associations have organized around the world.
Many of us have had great experiences at these events, which offered both stimulating faculty presentations as well as a chance to network with local alumni. The Business Summit at HBS in October will be the capstone for this Centennial celebration. It will deliver thought-provoking presentations and promote connecting in ways that are not always available at traditional alumni events. This is an exciting time to be involved at HBS. I hope you will join us!
Board Nominations: Every year the Alumni Board seeks nominations for new members who will succeed those whose three-year terms have expired. For information on nominations, visit the board’s Web site: www.alumni.hbs.edu/volunteers/alumniboard.html.
— Saquib Shirazi (MBA ’95) is CEO of Atlas Honda in Karachi, Pakistan, where he lives with his wife and daughter. A member of the board since 2002, Shirazi makes the 22-hour flight to Boston three times a year. He can be reached at sshirazi@mba1995.hbs.edu.
