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A robust professional network is pivotal for sustained career growth. At HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, an active and expansive alumni community is a key resource for its graduates, offering active mentorship from highly engaged alumni, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a strong international preference.
Located in the vibrant city of Leipzig, Germany, HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management offers a cutting-edge business education. The school’s full-time MBA program provides a rich, personalized learning and development experience. Students also benefit from HHL’s connections with industry leaders, both domestically and internationally. Yet, it’s perhaps the HHL global alumni network that makes it a true outlier.
HHL has an active alumni network of more than 4,000 graduates worldwide. Many are based in the school’s regional German chapters in Munich, Berlin, Leipzig, Cologne, Stuttgart, Hamburg, and Frankfurt. Beyond Germany, the HHL alumni network spans more than 70 countries across major industries.
As Director of Career and Alumni Relations at HHL, Sigrid Fischer helps drive the school’s alumni engagement. She explains the role of the alumni network in mentoring MBA students and what makes HHL’s approach to lifelong career support distinct.
Back in 2022, HHL decided to make a strategic merger. Both the Alumni Relations Department and the Career Development Team were key. Yet, by merging them, the school believed it could strengthen the ties between the two.
For Sigrid, it was a very smart move. “We realized that there are so many synergies between our network and what the network can give back to students and alumni, and the other way around,” she says. “We merged [the two departments] to have more of an overlap between students and alumni very early on. (10:37)
“We get a lot more feedback from both ends of the lifecycle,” she adds. “And it helps us organize events on a more focused and explicit basis … we [also] get feedback that students and alumni feel better addressed.” (10:56)
With this merger, HHL was able to align its resources and foster a cohesive student-alumni community.
HHL’s ‘pay it forward’ spirit connects its community across cohorts and industries. Events, mentorship programs, and communication platforms enable ongoing interaction.
The HHL alumni network hosts regular events and regional chapter meetings. These take place in 31 different locations across 16 countries.
“We have Germany, we have Switzerland, Austria, the U.K., the Czech Republic … Thailand, Japan … we also have [chapters in] South America, North America,” explains Sigrid. (02:09)
Each event captures the most pressing topics of the times, engaging students in key industry trends and global themes. This acts to strengthen bonds between alumni, institutions, and current students.
HHL facilitates personalized mentoring, connecting students with experienced alumni across the international network. This creates a space where students can receive one-to-one guidance, tailored to their specific needs.
HHL’s mentorship programs provide valuable insights into the MBA program and career opportunities, while helping students to reflect on their personal and professional development.
HHL leverages digital platforms to allow alumni to connect, share opportunities, and maintain visibility within the network.
“We’re using LinkedIn a lot, as I would say 90 to 99% of our alumni have a LinkedIn profile set up,” says Sigrid. “We have a particular HHL Career and Alumni Relations LinkedIn group set up and [we invite] everybody who is joining HHL into this group.” (05:15)
The school also uses digital platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp, together with email newsletters, to keep students and alumni informed and engaged.
Many HHL MBA graduates have benefited from the school’s global alumni network. An impressive 92% of international graduates launch careers in Germany, with many finding career success further afield.
The 4000-strong HHL alumni network epitomizes the school’s spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. The HHL experience empowers them to become influential leaders who drive innovation across Europe and beyond.
HHL alumni have founded more than 530 startups over the years while creating over 40,000 jobs worldwide. Many others have secured senior leadership positions at major companies.
The school’s career opportunities and support also help graduates to successfully switch industries and roles. “They can reach out to me at any point in their careers,” explains Sigrid. “So, say they are wanting to do a career pivot … we’ll go into one-on-one conversations on where they’re at, what they’ve done in the past, and how [we] can potentially support them with their particular career pivot.” (07:34)
These HHL success stories are a further testament to the power of the HHL global alumni network and the entrepreneurial mindset instilled in HHL graduates.
HHL’s global alumni network functions as a lifelong, continuous support system that extends far beyond the MBA experience. With over 4,000 members across more than 70 countries worldwide, it’s a network that opens doors, giving you the best chance of professional and personal development.
As Sigrid explains, dedicated career services keep HHL alumni connected to the school for life.
“At any time in their career, they can get in touch with me and can receive the same individualized career support as many times as they like,” she says. (01:28) “We’re offering career support on a lifelong basis, on a free-of-charge basis as well,” she adds. “I think that is quite unique.” (09:57)
This distinct offering ensures that the HHL spirit and the mutually beneficial professional relationships formed through its network are available throughout your entire career.
Learn more about what jobs you can pursue with an MBA on our Careers page.
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