It's Never too Early to Be an Ambassador

THEY ARE GO BETWEENS, HELPING TO CREATE CHANNELS LINKING STUDENTS TO ALUMNI. THE MODEL IS THE THE TYPICAL AMERICAN UNIVERSITY


At first there were just a few of them, acting as a bridge between the student peers and the Bocconi Alumni Association (BAA). Today, there are thirty BAA student ambassadors on campus. The range of their activities has developed over the years, with a clear purpose: "To make it unnecessary to explain why it is important to enroll in the the alumni association when you are still a student. That would mean that it will become natural for them to do so, as it happens in U.S. universities," says one of them.
 
This is the goal which the ambassadors are pursuing with great determination under the leadership of the current BAA campus vice-president Bianca Maria Bettoli, currently in her second year her Bachelor in International Management. "When I started, several students were BAA members, but had little awareness of what the association could do for them, especially in terms networking. We have worked hard on this front and we have created several projects to bring students closer to the world of alumni." For example, "by establishing links with BAA chapter leaders around the world, to whom we provide the list of students staying for an exchange program in their cities, so that they can engage them in their chapter's activities. To date there are about 700 students who have benefited from these contacts."
 
Networking is one of the strengths on which ambassadors are battling, and at the same time one of the activities most left behind in their personal experience. "There are many ways to connect with business professionals, from dinner parties to the meetings with CFOs organized by the relevant BAA Topic Leader. These are very interesting opportunities for students," says Davide Paliaga, first-year student of the MSc in Management  in double-degree program with the University of St. Gallen, in Switzerland. "I have been an ambassador since November 2016, an experience that is teaching me so much about how the university works and is increasing my sense of belonging to it." This is because, he adds, "we are not just here to study, but to create a network as well." As an ambassador, Davide drafted a handbook to guide his future colleagues.
 
"When you are a student, you hear that you will not realize how important it is to create a network of contacts and keep the link with the Alma Mater until you need to do so," says Letizia Castellano, first-year student of the MSc in Economics and Management of Government and International Organizations. "And that's true, as I found out when I became ambassador last December. Above all, I understood how useful it is to be able to take advantage of all the benefits offered by the alum association without having to wait for graduation." In recent months, Letizia has been working to coordinate the participation of ambassadors to the Milano Marathon, in order to promote fundraising: "And so I've also started to learn how to do fundraising, an activity that I had never done before."
 
Caterina Laurenzi is one of the veterans of the group, having been an ambassador since the end of 2015: "I work in the communication division, and inform students not only about events but also about the values of the association," explains the young woman in the second year of the Bachelor in Management. "We have a Facebook page and we collaborate with media channels staffed by Bocconi students to cover the events." Catherine is also fascinated by the wealth of contacts the experience is leaving her with: "I'm into design and in recent months I have had the opportunity to have fruitful exchanges with senior and junior designers, who gave me useful industry tips."
 
What's most striking is the energy ambassadors put in their work. As Bianca confirms: "I see that they are excited about the goals we are pursuing. When my mandate ends, I will carry with me the satisfaction of having done something for the University, and not just as a student."
 

by Andrea Celauro
Translated by Alex Foti