Your alumni network transcends cross-cultural barriers.

During my college years, alumni networking seemed straightforward—a means to secure future career opportunities. If an alum worked at a company that interested you, you would reach out, hoping for an interview. Even though my college alumni network is the largest in the world, I have never found it easy to make professional connections. Asking for a favor just because you went to the same school seemed pushy and insincere.

However, working cross-culturally, I realized it's more than getting your foot in the door.

As an organizational transformation consultant in Tokyo, I support Japanese companies and their international counterparts in reforming their structures, systems, and processes. Late-night Zoom calls are standard to accommodate teams spread across multiple time zones. Miscommunications are inevitable in cross-cultural environments. Small talk can be impersonal when twenty people are in the same virtual meeting. It can be challenging to connect with someone on the other side of the screen in these settings, let alone from a different culture. But when I discover that someone overseas shares something in common with me, such as having attended the same college, it feels like finding a familiar face in a crowd. We step ahead of everyone else because trust already exists between us. Our pleasantries are not "Where are you from?" but "Which dorm did you live in?" and "What was your favorite ice cream flavor at the Creamery?"

More than twenty years after graduation, I finally understood the value of alumni networking, not conceptually but through experience. Trust based on commonalities creates a sense of familiarity and belonging, allowing for smoother communication and stronger relationships. This trust can be especially invaluable in navigating cross-cultural environments and challenges, providing a solid foundation for effective collaboration and successful outcomes.

We Are!!!