NYC Alumni Practice the Art of Giving & Receiving Advice

Pilot event paired younger and older Saints to discuss networking and how to successfully navigate the career search process

It’s a tough world out there for job seekers looking to establish themselves in their careers. According to a 2021 report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), for every early career position requiring 2 –3 years of experience, there are 8.8 job seekers vying for the role. Competition for new college equally treat successes and failures as opportunities to learn and grow.” graduates is even more fierce, with 20 job seekers for every professional entrylevel position. And, reinforcing the old business adage of “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” one survey of LinkedIn users in 2019 estimated 85% of positions are filled through networking. The importance of learning how to make and maintain professional relationships and gaining professional advice at the start of one’s career cannot be overstated.

With 4,700+ Saints worldwide representing all industries at all levels of seniority, this tough environment can be a lot friendlier. When the invitation went out to 1980’s alumni in New York City to help younger alumni learn how to better navigate this competitive job market, they enthusiastically said yes.

On Jan. 30, the School piloted an intimate event where five young alumni from the Classes of 2012 through 2016 met at the home of alumna Holly Stevenson Hunt ’86, an experienced real estate broker in Manhattan. They were joined by Ted Yarbrough ’86, who retired from a successful career as the global co-head of Institutional Credit Management at Citi, and Kari Browne ’84, retired global sector leader at Korn Ferry executive search firm. Rounding out the group were Head of School Autumn A. Graves and Assistant Head of School for Advancement Warren Buford.

Over dinner, Buford facilitated a discussion about lessons learned over the course of the alumni’s careers in real estate, finance, and executive search.

“There is such a vast wealth of experience and wisdom in our alumni community,” says Dr. Graves. “It was an incredible chance for everyone to connect and for the younger alums to gain insights that will hopefully serve them for years to come.”

Personal and professional resilience was a major theme throughout the evening. “Careers in the financial services, consulting, and asset management industries are defined by highs and lows,” Yarbrough counseled the attendees. “And it is critical for young professionals to equally treat successes and failures as opportunities to learn and grow.”

Attendees praised the opportunity to meet and connect with successful professionals in their fields. Several young expressed appreciation for the valuable advice and insights shared by the more experienced alumni, stating that it helped them gain a better understanding of how to differentiate themselves from other candidates, networking, being open to new experiences, and balancing home and work life.

“I was so impressed by the young alumni in attendance. They are intelligent, engaging, and already quite accomplished,” says Yarbrough. “More notably, they are gracious, humble, and eager to learn, which led to a great discussion that we all found valuable. All of them are tremendous representatives of our school.”

Recognizing the importance of providing opportunities to connect with successful professionals and gain valuable career advice, the School’s alumni office plans to continue hosting events like this one in the future. They also plan to offer additional resources to support young alumni as they navigate the job market and build their careers.