The Alliance

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Corporate Alumni Networks

Three Levels of Investment

in Alumni Networks

The investment a company makes in its alumni net-

work runs along a continuum from low to high. The

level that’s right for your company will depend on its

specifi c c i r c u m s t a n c e s .

1. IGNORE. If your worldwide corporate headquar-

ters is also the place where your spouse parks his or her

Prius at night, it’s probably too early in your start-up’s

lifespan to start cultivating an alumni network. But

once your company’s alumni base numbers in the dozens

and hundreds, ignoring it means the fi rm is missing a

great opportunity. Remember, an informal group is run

for the benefi t of its moderators— the company has no

control over or impact on the return ...