Harvard Business School hosted its annual spring Alumni Board Meeting in late May, bringing together its members for a two-day event that included interactive sessions with faculty and HBS leadership on the School and its programs, updates on Board working groups, and time to engage with each other.

The HBS Alumni Board, whose members are selected from a pool of active and committed volunteer leaders, represents the global HBS alumni community. Members serve as a resources for the Dean, faculty, staff and students by providing input, expertise, and feedback on key initiatives and challenges and serve as ambassadors to the alumni community.

On Wednesday, May 29, Alumni Board President Andreas Stavropoulos (MBA 1997) welcomed attendees and kicked off the day's sessions. Jana Pompadur Kierstead, Executive Director, MBA and Doctoral and External Relations, shared her early thinking regarding her group’s new mandate and its new vision of an arc and engagement journey—from pre-admit through student to alumni; Professor Mitch Weiss reprised his highly successful session at the recent HBS AI conference, leading an interactive exercise titled “Storrowed,” which focused on using artificial intelligence to solve contemporary problems.

Kristen Fitzpatrick (MBA 2003), Managing Director, MBA Career & Professional Development, continued the programming with a look at how her department is supporting the changing employment landscape at HBS. At lunch, Stavropoulos and Mary Jane Keough, Managing Director, Alumni Relations, facilitated “Alumni Dialogues,” a participant-led session where members propose and engage with each other on topics of interest spanning professional and personal lives. The Board also experienced a “Sprint” led by Professor Michael Norton, author of The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions. (Sprints are short, faculty-led programs that the MBA program experimented with this year, building off the popular SIP—Short Intensive Programs—that bring MBA students back to campus in January.)

Day Two began with remarks from Dean Srikant Datar on the current priorities and initiatives at HBS, as well as his thanks to the Board for their service. “I look to this group as a key group to help us learn about how alumni are feeling and thinking,” he said. “We look to you for your support; we look to you for help.”

Attendees also heard updates from MBA Program Senior Associate Dean and Chair Matthew Weinzierl, highlighting the three priorities he and Executive Director Kierstead have focused on in the MBA program: Invigorate our sense of purpose, center the education, and attract the world's most promising young leaders.

Events concluded with a vote on the incoming Board class of 23 alumni leaders and the announcement of the new Board President, Paula Madoff (MBA 1994), and new Vice Presidents, Jan Gullett (MBA 1977), Kerin Maganzini Hempel (MBA 2007), Elaine MacDonald (MBA 1998), and Richard Steel (OPM 45, 2014).

If you would like to learn more about Alumni Board and its work, please visit the Alumni Board website.

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