It appears that Google is starting to prepare for the inevitable acceleration of pre-IPO employee departures and exodus as it has posted the role of Alumni Relations Program Manager. UPDATE: While I at first thought this was creating an employee alumni program from my quick read, it’s actually to create relationships with university alumni programs.
Many strategy consulting organizations with outstanding reputations have alumni relations programs including: McKinsey & Company, Booz Allen Hamilton, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), A.T. Kearney, Bain & Company, Katzenbach, ZS Associates, Marakon Associates, L.E.K. Consulting, The Parthenon Group, Oliver Wyman, Kurt Salmon Associates and Monitor. If it is n longer hyperlinked it mean the consulting firm changed the URL without a 301 redirect.
Some investment banking and institutional money managers have started to follow this trend of starting alumni relations groups that the consulting companies started such as: Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers. I’d be delighted if BlackRock joined this elite financial services thought leader club creating alumni networks shortly as I’d love to reconnect with many of my former BlackRock, reconnect with them, form and fund entrepreneurial ventures with them. There is amazing value that can be created for everyone that puts a common social network experience in the center of the conversation.
In all of those companies there is a diversified portfolio of services and business development that can be created from these interactions that is good for the company. In Google’s case, I’m struggling to see what value can immediately be created beyond selling Adwords to alumni’s new companies and facilitating funding or acquiring start up companies via Google’s corporate development department.
One thing is clear, Google is planning for a future that includes more former Googlers who have moved onward!
UPDATE: One word changes ALOT of meaning. I neglected to notice the word university. Apologies.
Ironically this makes this role even more unique. As I’m unaware of any companies that partner directly with either of my university alumni programs in this manner. Makes you wonder if they have plans to offer a service offering to this sector.
I read the job description. It is for coordinating with university alumni organizations, not with Google alumni.
Correct me if I am wrong, but it appears that this job is to touch base with alumni programs at universities. So that Google can find new talent within the alumni organizations at these universities and find new talent.
And I quote:
“The Google University Programs team is looking for a Programs Manager to build relationships with alumni organizations and university alumni offices. This individual will drive the strategy for engaging with alumni organizations, develop a program of activities and events for alumni and promote Google opportunities to graduates of our target universities. The Programs Manager will work closely with other people programs teams, recruiters and internal Google alumni groups.”
Am I missing something here?
Doesn’t seem to be about keeping those ex-Googler’s all united…
Colin/Barry,
You are both correct. I clearly locked in on the title.
Ironically, the creation of an alumni relations program is even more rare as I’m not aware of any companies having formal relations with either of my alumni relations offices at this time.
Apologies to all. Thanks for pointing out my mistake.