HBS Alumni Forums are transformational experiences that help members to become their best selves. They are small, intimate groups usually comprised of seven to ten alumni who meet regularly and discuss their personal and professional lives confidentially. The experience helps them to live more fulfilled lives and to be better leaders and humans. Forums often are described as a personal board of directors.

Forums use proven best practices in group composition, meeting agendas, customized exercises and group leadership approaches to encourage members to discuss what is most important to them in an open and safe environment. It is natural for HBS alumni forum members to discuss business and career issues, but just as common to discuss personal issues, which are often even more important in their lives.

Forum meetings generally occur monthly and are approximately 3 to 4 hours in length. Meetings are formatted to guarantee the deepest sharing and the best outcome for all participants. Meetings cover a range of topics: personal, family, and professional.

Forum members build exceptional relationships over years, often described as the most valuable connections members have ever had with fellow HBS alumni. The support they receive from each other helps guide them through their toughest challenges and helps foster their long -term success.

Interested in learning more about Forums?

 Click on the link for the club or SIG of interest to you and complete the club’s forum interest form or contact the club or SIG’s administrator. If you would like to participate in an area not listed below please complete this form. For any other questions, please contact anne@alumniforumservices.com.

Why choose Forums?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Return on Investment of participating in a forum?

The few hours and dollars invested in a forum directly impact the well-being of your business, your family, and yourself. Thousands of forum members in Young Presidents Organization, Entrepreneurs Organization, and Harvard Business School alumni clubs share that wisdom from their forums has benefitted their career choices, relationships, business results, and that forums have given them self-knowledge and clarity about challenging issues that has made them better leaders and better people.

I have a good network of personal and professional friends. Why should I also join a forum?

• The confidentiality and structure of forum ensures you can address important issues in a way that informal conversations may not allow.
• It thus affords you with new and fresh perspectives from exceptionally qualified peers.
• The discipline of forum ensures that you regularly reflect on where you’ve been and where you are going.

I'm really busy. Is now the right time to join a forum?

Ironically, this may be the best time to commit to forum. Members say their monthly forum experience helps them maintain priorities, focus, and balance so the rest of the month is more productive.

Is joining a forum right for me?

Forum is not for everyone, but it can be a transformative experience for those who are:

• Truly open to growth
• Willing and flexible to try new processes
• Able to be open and vulnerable, to build connections and trust
• Interested in meaningful relationships

What is the role of confidentiality?

Confidentiality is the foundation of forum. It leads to trust and makes it possible for forum members to discuss their most important issues.

How are HBS Alumni Forums organized and led?

HBS forums are offered by local HBS clubs and special interest groups, which provide expertise, experience, and best practices to help forums start and be vibrant. In each forum, a member serves as the moderator who prepares for and leads meetings. The moderator role rotates among the forum’s members, typically every six months to one year. Forums handle their own expenses, for example, for meals at meetings.

How does the HBS Alumni Forum placement process work?

Organizers in an alumni club or SIG assemble forums whose members have commonality and diversity both personally and professionally, and who do not have any possible conflicts of interest. (For example, alumni who are business competitors or have a customer/supplier cannot be in the same forum.)

All forum candidates have the opportunity to review the list of other members before meeting, and also check for any potential conflicts based on close business or personal relationships.

What are the time and cost commitments?

Each Forum sets its own schedule, typically meeting for about three to four hours monthly and holding an annual one- or two-day retreat. Each forum sets its own costs, for example, for shared meals or retreat facilitator fees.

Forum members must belong to a SIG or local alumni clubs, which have differing fees for forum participation, depending on their particular approaches to supporting forums, so please consult your club's forum administrator.

What happens during an HBS Alumni Forum orientation session?

The orientation provides the foundation for launching a forum. During this session, members learn the guiding principles of forum, build the foundation of the group dynamic, begin to get to know their fellow Forum members, participate in an actual forum meeting and set the groundwork and structure for the forum.

Are HBS forums open to people who are not HBS alumni?

HBS clubs and SIGS may, at their discretion, choose to apply a narrower definition of peer criteria (HBS alumni only) or a wider definition, accepting others who meet their peer criteria.

May the fees to join an HBS Alumni Forum be paid by my employer?

Yes, some employers cover forum expenses as a professional development, continuing education, or training expense.