Dear Class of 2022,

First of all, I would like to thank Claire Le Dorh, the BDE, and you all for giving me the opportunity to share some words with you today. As you know, I am the President of the Alumni Association of IMHI and as of today, since you have officially graduated, I would like to welcome you all to our fantastic group of engaged alumni!

Now, have a look at your peers next to you. 

Amongst them, you will find the nostalgic alumnus: just like you, he is now graduated and still fresh, he wants to participate as much as possible to keep the momentum and the great IMHI stories alive and he will join the association just to keep in touch with you and the past two years as much as possible. 

Next to him, you might see the advocate alumnus, the one who engages with everyone around, has a naturally outgoing personality and really likes to network; he does everything to encourage participation and inclusion of the entire group.

And on the other side, you will see the opportunist, the highly motivated future professional who is already looking for sales opportunities within the alumni network, the possible resources, and amazing connections to boost his career.

And …why not? 

No man is an island, and it needs a collective effort to achieve professional success. Anything good that happened to me personally and professionally happened because of the connections I made along the way.

The IMHI Alumni Association counts now almost 2.000 alumni around the world and is part of the entire ESSEC Alumni network, which counts over 60.000 alumni in all business sectors. 

The Best part of your academic success today is the network you gained. 

Being part of this community will help you make meaningful connections and get new ideas that will impact your perspective, help you grow as a person and as a professional. 

Stay connected with your network! 

It will:

Give you better ideas and opportunities

You will be successful in your career as you gather information or ideas along the way. Your network will foster an exchange of ideas that sustain relationships and trust. Giving and receiving ideas, career insights and best practices will always help you on your path. Being active in a network will open avenues for new opportunities, connecting with fellow alumni lead to impact and happenings. 

It will

Help you grow your intellectual confidence

Your intellectual ability in your career will be improved by your contacts. Likeminded people that share ideas foster growth and unleash their creative talent. Your network provides you with updated information and career trends that might be relevant to you. The more effectively you network, the more self-confidence you build. In addition to that, helping others builds kindness and leads compassion.

It will

Help you develop long-lasting relationships

Networking can help build your career and is a necessity in today’s world. Making it a two-way process of giving and taking will open possibilities for strong relationships. Good networking with alumni in the same industry can provide you support whenever you need. Alumni can help you manage your challenges effectively by giving you advice and support. Developing your career is a long-term process and the contacts you make influence your growth and pave the way for better opportunities. Start by reflecting on yourself, defining your goals and determine how and who you can help. Listen carefully to others and follow through. It will build confidence, trust, and a depth of your connections. 

An essential part of being an alumnus is finding possibilities to give back to the university, through small acts of showing support. Start by regularly updating your contact information on the platform, try to participate to the events that are organized by the board and search for any opportunities to volunteer. 

Having your diploma in your hands does not mean that your relationship with IMHI is over. 

Get involved, and give the same opportunity to the students that come after you.

To quote Denzel Washington: 

“At the end of the day, it is not about what you have, or even what you’ve accomplished, 

it is about who you lifted up, who you’ve made better, it’s about what you’ve given back.”

Thank you.