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How To Become a Learning Alliance Partner and Collaborate with Women@Work
Branding Strategies for Returning Professionals
“Branding Strategies for Returning Professionals” is a program that runs for two hours and thirty minutes. The first 90 minutes are devoted to networking among alumnae, an alumnae panel and remarks from college/university representatives—and Women@Work leads an interactive discussion on branding strategies for the final hour. Some schools capitalize on the opportunity to meet informally with alumnae by organizing a luncheon or dinner that follows the program. This is totally optional and an expense that the alumnae or the school incurs.
Many colleges and universities choose to offer their alumnae the shorter “Branding” program as a first step. This is a virtually “turn-key” program that is very easy to implement. You simply choose a date, write an invitation letter, invite three area alumnae to speak about their “back to work” experiences, customize the program (we provide templates), mail the letter and program to alumnae, and show up on the day of the event!
Women@Work handles all the advance logistical details—response tracking, advance questionnaires, all attendee materials (nametags, program folders, etc.), set-up at the event venue—and best of all your cost is only in the mailing to alumnae and your travel to the event. Programs can be held on campus at colleges and universities in the New York or Boston metropolitan areas. We suggest that both your alumni and career planning offices have representation.
At the end of the event, we are certain that you will have a strong new connection with many alumnae in an important fundraising demographic and a foundation for creating many other career planning programs and services that will emphasize your institution's commitment to lifelong learning and exploration. As one Boston college alumna said:
“I just wanted to thank you so much for encouraging me to come to the Branding event today. It really helped to hear that fear of returning to the work force is something that others feel too. I have built a tight cocoon around myself over the last few years and it's really intimidating to even think about leaving it. Somewhere inside me, I know my kids will be fine, I know I will do a good job and I know that I will figure out a good--not just workable--balance. Assembling the components of me and making sense to some hiring manager out there will definitely take some commitment, but after today I feel more able to tackle that challenge.”
Alumnae “Re-Connect” Programs
Women@Work's "Alumnae “Re-Connect” Series" is a suite of programs designed for alumnae in roughly the late 30s to mid 50s age bracket who are looking to return to the work force or transition within their current professions. We created the “Re-Connect” series because we know that it can be difficult for colleges and universities to maintain connections with alumnae who are not recent graduates, and many are looking for ways to deepen relationships with older alumnae. Alumni in this age demographic are most often in the major donor category—but few are motivated to give unless they feel a more recent connection with the college. Older alumni are less interested in the wine tastings, baseball outings and “favorite professor” visits that are so often a draw for younger alumni in various cities.
What does attract women in the older age bracket is help as they begin to navigate second careers. Clearly, most campus career planning programs are largely focused on recent alumni--and few older alumni consider their alma maters a career resource. Women@Work can open the door to tremendous resources—a variety of programs that can be co-branded for older alumnae facing the “back to work”or transitional challenge.
Get Started
As you well know, no better bonds are formed than those that inspire confidence and motivation. To date Women@Work has held programs in conjunction with Babson, Bates, Boston College, Colby, Connecticut College, Duke, Georgetown, Hamilton, MIT, Sarah Lawrence, Trinity College, Trinity University, Wesleyan (CT) and Wheaton College (MA). We hope that you will take this opportunity for Women@Work to help you help your alumnae. To get started, contact Valerie von Koschembahr.