In this episode of Alumless World, Ryan and Nicole welcome Emily Robin, Associate Dean for Advancement at London Business School, for a conversation about leading advancement in a global context. With experience spanning the U.S., France, and the UK, Emily shares insights into philanthropic cultures across different regions, strategies for building high-performing advancement teams, and how LBS is leveraging the “Forever Learning” approach to engage a diverse alumni base worldwide.

The discussion explores how institutions can balance global and local engagement, the role of digital transformation in advancement, and the emerging trends shaping the field of alumni and donor relations. Emily reflects on her leadership journey, her work with CASE, and the skills advancement professionals need to thrive in an international environment.

Subscribe to Alumless World to hear the extended podcast conversation. Special thanks to Protopia for sponsoring this episode. Visit protopia.co/alumless for more details about the technology everyone is talking about.

In this episode of Alumless World, hosts Ryan Catherwood and Nicole Kempton welcome Prince Louis Omolayo Adekola, Founder and CEO of Edvant Edge Africa, for a conversation about the evolving landscape of alumni engagement in West Africa. As a leader in international education and advancement, Louis brings unique insights from his work as a Regional Officer for the University of Sussex, his experience as a Chevening Scholar, and his leadership of The International Education Africa Summit & Awards.

The discussion explores how international student recruitment influences long-term alumni engagement, the key differences between Nigerian and UK university alumni networks, and the emerging trends shaping alumni relations across Africa. Louis also shares strategies for building alumni loyalty in globally dispersed communities, the role of social media in professional networking, and how cultural perspectives impact philanthropy and alumni giving patterns in West African institutions.

This episode provides valuable insights for institutions looking to engage alumni in international contexts and learn from the innovative approaches emerging across Africa. Subscribe to Alumless World to hear the extended podcast conversation. Special thanks to AlumniQ for sponsoring this episode. Visit alumniq.com for more details about their events-and-all technology that makes managing signature programs simple.

In our next episode of Alumless World, Ryan and Nicole welcome Jo Gardner, Director of Alumni Engagement at Imperial College London, for a conversation about how global universities can effectively engage their alumni in institutional priorities.

Our discussion explores the role of Imperial’s leadership and new strategic direction. Jo reflects on the unique challenges and opportunities of leading engagement for a highly dispersed alumni body and discusses how Imperial adapts its approach to different cultural expectations.

Ryan and Nicole also dive into the UK's state of advancement, highlighting emerging trends and concerns. Jo shares her insights on measuring success in alumni relations, how institutions can professionalize engagement strategies, and the importance of being nimble in adapting to generational shifts in alumni expectations.

Thanks to Protopia for sponsoring this episode. Visit protopia.co/alumless for more details on their revolutionary technology that’s got everyone talking.