Alumni Corporate Networks

Hokies are known for lots of things, but there’s one particular word that underpins every facet of their identity — community. From communities created on campus to connections made long after graduation, Hokies are renowned for creating magic when they come together.

This shared connection has fueled the growth of the Alumni Corporate Network program, which creates unique opportunities for alumni to find each other in the workplace, extending the campus community that alumni remember so fondly. The first official alumni corporate network was established at Freddie Mac, followed by groups at Capital One and Deloitte shortly thereafter. Since then, the Virginia Tech Alumni Corporate Network Program has spread to 14 companies, representing a range of industries and geographical footprints.

Whether they are corporate newcomers or veteran employees, alumni find opportunities for connection and fellowship thanks to these programs. Meanwhile, the university views the networks as a way to broaden and enhance Hokie Spirit, and companies welcome the networks as a way to strengthen retention and recruitment.

Vishal Ranjan ’04, senior vice president for consulting services at CGI, played a key role in establishing the alumni corporate network at his company. His goal was to strengthen recruiting efforts from Virginia Tech while also fostering engagement and retention among Hokies already working at CGI.

“As a result of building our CGI VT alumni network, those CGI partners have been more engaged with their alma mater and current students looking for careers in IT services and consulting,” Ranjan said.

Over the past year fostering Virginia Tech connections at CGI, Ranjan was pleasantly surprised to learn he shared an alma mater with several longtime colleagues he had not known were Hokies.

“Realizing several colleagues I had known for years had also gone to VT was enlightening,” Ranjan said. “It’s really cool, honestly. Many times in the professional world, you spend more time during your week with colleagues probably than you do with your family, but at the same time, you focus on work and don’t really dive into backgrounds or where you went to college. With fellow alumni, there is automatically a level of connection and respect and understanding, having been in Blacksburg. That shared experience connects us.”

Capital One’s network hosted From Finance to Education: Responsibly Building the Future of AI, a virtual event attended by more than 200 people. During the event, Capital One Chief Scientist and Head of Enterprise AI Prem Natarajan and Pamplin College of Business Dean Saonee Sarker held an engaging conversation around the inherent risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI) while also discussing AI’s impact on the higher education and corporate environments.

The alumni network at Boeing arranged an event focused on career journeys and the power of mentorship, which featured former CEO of Boeing Defense, Space, and Security Leanne Caret, among others. More than 180 people participated in the event, which was presented live through group viewings at eight Boeing offices nationwide and virtually to ensure it was available to the company’s hundreds of Hokie employees. The Boeing event also kicked off a summer internship program featuring 27 mentoring “pods,” through which 58 alumni connected with 191 students.

Graduate alumnus Greg Fitch ’05, ’09, and undergraduate alumna Katie O’Malley ’16 championed the launch of an alumni corporate network at Google. Driven by a desire to bring the magic of Blacksburg to their Hokie colleagues, they pulled together alumni from across the U.S. for a hybrid gathering and celebration.

“The room was overflowing—I was surprised and delighted to see how many Hokies are here at Google.” O’Malley said, adding that she was particularly eager to get involved because “a lot of Google’s values are aligned with Virginia Tech’s values in terms of both technical innovation and giving back through service and philanthropy.”

Fitch said alumni networks are an important way the university can stay connected to industry and help ensure students are ready for changing workplace demands.

“Future Hokies are likely going to need skills, connections, and something more than is being offered right now,” he said. “It’s not always exactly clear what that will be. So we need to bring Virginia Tech leaders and industry leaders together to speed up the feedback loop. The sooner this is done, the better the students’ futures can be.”

With the surge of the Alumni Corporate Network program, the powerful connection once felt only on campus is now energizing workplaces nationwide, allowing Hokies to succeed and thrive as they carry their unbreakable Virginia Tech bond into their professional lives.

As the newest addition to the Virginia Tech Alumni Corporate Network Program, Google was a generous host for the more than 180 alumni who gathered at its headquarters in Mountain View, California, for Hokies at Work: Silicon Valley. The event was an evening of meaningful connections and inspiring conversations as alumni from various industries came together to share insights, exchange ideas, and strengthen the bonds of the Virginia Tech network.

The event highlighted the spirit of innovation and collaboration that defines Hokies, with powerful stories of career journeys and bold ideas sparking new connections.

Google’s hosting and the many alumni who attended and participated made the evening a memorable success. The event, and others like it, show that no matter where life takes them, Hokies are always stronger together.

“Bringing value to Hokies working with industry partners is among our team’s most important strategic activities,” said Gwen Harrington, director of strategic engagement and partnerships for Virginia Tech Innovation and Partnerships.“With initiatives like our alumni corporate network program, and events like Hokies at Work, we deepen connections among alumni within their organizations to support their professional goals while creating more opportunities to engage with Virginia Tech. As a Hokie, I could not be more excited by the great work underway.”