The Alumni Way

"Your alumni affiliation is one of the most powerful forms of social proof you possess. In this timely new book, Maria Gallo shows you how to leverage your investment in order to build connections, deepen relationships, and harness lasting professional credibility." Dorie Clark, author of 'Stand Out' and Executive Education Faculty, The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University

"'The Alumni Way' presents a powerful new way to look at your alumni network, and an equally powerful plan to leverage that network to transform not just your life and career, but the community around you as well." David Burkus, author of 'Friend of a Friend'

"In her guide for how to reap benefits beyond the degree, Gallo asserts we can’t be passive investors. Our alumni status is something we can mine throughout our lives." Barbara Dick, Assistant Vice-President, Alumni Relations at the University of Toronto

“Maria’s book is a practical guide for those of us invested in developing and leading vibrant alumni networks” Jihad Hajjouji, African Leadership Academy

“Impressively international, thoroughly researched and easily readable, this book is valuable whether you are a new graduate or twenty years into your professional advancement career.” Nathalie Trott, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, Queen's University Belfast

"Maria's book will be useful to any college graduate seeking to understand how to leverage their alumni identity towards personal and career growth and equally to higher education professionals charged with deepening alumni and donor engagement." Jay Le Roux Dillon, Executive Director, Alumni Relations, University of California Berkeley

Maria L. Gallo is the founder of Keep in Touch Education and The Alumni Way Academy. An internationally renowned alumni scholar, Maria has held higher-education leadership positions in Canada and Europe. She is currently Visiting Research Fellow with the Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin.

Introduction: We are all alumni

PART 1: Charting the course of the Alumni Way

1. Starting at the finish line

2. The compass: Introducing alumni capital

3. Summary: Stepping forward by stepping back on campus

PART 2: The Alumni Way trait: Reflection

4. Reflecting on the ‘keep in touch’ call

5. Reflection signpost: Recognize the university is a city

6. Reflection signpost: Advance ourselves as alumni citizens

7. Reflection trait summary: Alum from Day One, revisited

PART 3: The Alumni Way trait: Curiosity

8. Our career, our alumni capital, and our curiosity

9. Curiosity signpost: Build our alumni hypernetwork

10. Curiosity signpost: Leverage alumni capital for business

11. Curiosity trait summary: Shining a light

PART 4: The Alumni Way trait: Passion

12. Immersing in our passions: The alumni dimension

13. Passion signpost: Nourish our wellness through our alumni capital

14. Passion signpost: Watch our alumni-self flourish

15. Passion trait summary: Our lives, our alma mater

PART 5: The Alumni Way trait: Generosity

16. When giving back has new meaning

17. Generosity signpost: Recognize we are all philanthropists

18. Generosity signpost: Understand the power of giving

19. Generosity trait summary: Our generosity as service

PART 6: Alumni: Bringing it into our lives

20. Our potential: Building our Alumni Way

21. Our alumni call to action