Joining the Alumni network is easy. After your studies at LUSEM, you basically sign up and stay in touch for as long as you like. Some are really active and become mentors whereas most are happy just to stay informed and possibly coming to the occasional lecture or a mingle event.
"We’ve actually had a meetup for alumni at the Swedish embassy in Beijing this semester, and the latest international one was an alumni dinner in London. Still, most of our community is based in Skåne," says Maria.
What do you enjoy the most?
"The Alumni here are really enthusiastic, so connecting with them and finding new mentors or doing alumni portraits is really rewarding. Sure, I like doing events as well but the best is getting to know as many of them as possible."
"Also, I am an alumna from LUSEM myself, and I did my master’s in Marketing, so it was kind of neat to come back to where it all began. Things are both new and homey. Still, even before starting this position I wasn't all that far away since I've been working centrally at External Relations with alumni relations since 2016."
Describing the differences she explains that it is more student oriented at the faculty level. Her work seeks to benefit the students that are at LUSEM right now so they feel motivated to stay in touch after graduating as well. Centrally at the University she describes the alumni work as more general in nature, the target group can include everyone from 80 year old former doctors, to newly hatched accountants."
What is the biggest challenge ahead?
"Planning an event program that suits such a diverse community with varying ages and a fantastic geographic spread around the globe."
Anything you would like to ask of the colleagues here at LUSEM?
"I would love it if you reach out to me if you have anything planned that might be of interest for former students. Be it an open lecture, a mingle, a call for mentors or any alumni initiatives at the departments or programmes. And of course contact me if you want help with those things as well."
So who is Maria, when not coordinating alumni?
"I've got two small kids, one is 5 and the other is 9 years old, so between them, the cat and my partner it’s already pretty hectic. But sure, I like quizzes, painting, doing some photography, just try being creative when time allows it. I’m pretty awesome at making quizzes, much more so than taking them. And I’m a Smålänning born and raised, so economy is really close to my heart," says Maria Johansson.