Keep an open mind and be ready to problem solve.

This is a small world, and your reputation travels with you, so build it with authenticity, empathy, grace, and lots of humor.

Look for any and every opportunity to learn and try new things.

‍

Lead with curiosity and empathy, listen deeply, and tell meaningful stories. Philanthropy grows strongest when it’s rooted in human connection.

It's ok to be afraid and anxious. There are lots of aspects to fundraising and alumni engagement. Develop relationships and teams that complement what you do know and succeed together.

This field is always evolving. You don’t have to know everything - just be humble enough to ask for help and confident enough to share credit.

Learn the institution, but don’t lose your outside perspective. Advancement needs people who can read the room and question the script.

Advancement work sits at the intersection of relationships, values, and vision; it’s not just about raising money, but about understanding what matters to people and why.

Alumni are our greatest marketing tool and the greatest resource for advancement. Give them opportunities to tell their stories and share their experiences.

Don't just look at data points or giving histories. Go out there and have real conversations and listen to their stories.

As Walt Disney said, "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious... and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

Be authentic, and bring your full self to the work! This field is evolving, and the most impactful alumni engagement happens when we lead with empathy.

Passion is the most important thing to have; every technical aspect you can achieve with time. But your passion... that is something that you have, it is not created.

Apart from your qualifications, develop empathy, it’s the key to real success in alumni or any kind of relationship building.

‍