When the wildfire ravaged Fort McMurray last summer, the nation watched helplessly as the harrowing story unfolded. It was especially scary for those of us with friends in the area. The connections I made in Fort Mac, where I was on secondment a few years ago, were never so real to me. Everyone, from the president of the University of Waterloo to casual acquaintances, emailed or stopped me on campus to ask after my friends in Fort McMurray. Colleagues whose friends and family were directly impacted by the wildfire connected with me, and I was comforted by our shared concern for this brave community.
As an Arts alum, a part-time master's student, and having recently celebrated 10 years on staff at this University, I took some time to reflect on how being a part of the UW community has enriched my life. A great period of growth was during that Fort McMurray secondment, where I learned about social innovation, including the value of networks in building personal resilience and reaching one's full potential.
My experiences have taught me that good relationships are reciprocal, where both parties have something to give and to receive. In today’s globally interconnected world, social capital is a powerful asset. It matters who you know.
Our current students may not yet realize how critical maintaining connections and building strong professional networks will be to their future career success. This is where alumni can make a meaningful impact.
Marjory Kerr, PhD '91 and MASc '87 Psychology, recently told me about how she discovered the value of her UWaterloo alumni network in her professional life: "I was seeking information on best practices and contacting a number of organizations across Canada. Some of the individuals I contacted were former Waterloo students — people I had never met but knew of through my former professor Patricia Rowe. When I phoned and introduced myself as Marjory Kerr from the Municipality of Metro Toronto, I received a pleasant but guarded response. When I added that I had just completed my MASc with Pat Rowe at Waterloo, the doors of information were opened wide. I didn’t even know I had a network until I experienced it."
One of our best-attended alumni-student events in the Faculty of Arts is our Conversations Café Speed Networking evening, which pairs alumni with third- and fourth-year students. “The event gives students an opportunity to interview alumni, to make connections and to build a professional network,” says organizer Patti Cook, senior alumni development officer.
Alum Michael Robson, BA'13 Speech Communication, talks with students at a recent Arts Speed Networking event.
“The students learn valuable tips about jobs, employer’s needs and how to market themselves. The smart ones gather business cards and follow up afterwards, learning all they can from alumni who are only too happy to share their experience, and perhaps gaining a mentor for life.”
Why is this event so popular? It offers a window into the real world, a reciprocal opportunity for students to ask questions and gain insights they won’t find on a website, while alumni are able to share information they didn’t realize was so valuable.
Dr. Liane Davey, PhD '99, co-founder and principal of 3COze Inc., explains what she gained from the Conversations Café Speed Networking experience:
As an alum and a business owner, I really value the opportunity to interact with the Arts students at the Speed Networking event. Throughout the course of the evening, I learned about what the next generation in the workforce is paying attention to, what they value (and what they dread) and what unique talents and perspectives they will bring. The infusion of energy I got from interacting with such smart and eager people was a fringe benefit.
In conversations I have had with aspiring Arts entrepreneurs, they tell me that they don’t want to just jump on the tech start-up bandwagon. Instead, many Arts entrepreneurs want to solve societal problems and find niche markets where they can create value or spearhead change. However, one of the key resources that Arts students may lack is a strong network. They need mentors and access to practitioners who understand problem areas in need of solutions. Arts alumni can (and do!) fill this knowledge gap, sharing their experience and expertise to help spark new ideas. What could (and do) they get out of it? Alumni might find their relationships with students are indeed reciprocal, reinvigorating their own efforts to contribute to a better world.
I didn't fully appreciate the power of my network until friends and colleagues responded to the terrible wildfire. Such realizations can happen when you least expect it. But it’s now clear to me that nurturing many relationships is absolutely worth the time and effort.
As UWaterloo moves into the next 60 years, let’s continue to build relationships and harness the collective power of our alumni network.
Nancy Mattes, BA '89 (left) with Stephanie Massel, BA '87 (right) co-organized the 2016 Cultural Management Reunion.
Banner photo: Arts Orientation Week, where the connections begin.
Join the LinkedIn UW Arts Alumni-Student Network.
