Gather with Purpose

Belonging unlocks discretionary effort

I graduated from Virginia Tech in 1991. I hadn't been very involved with the college as an alum until the last five or so years (perfectly timed with my own kids heading away to college and me having more time). I helped establish a chapter of the Alumni Corporate Network¹ between Microsoft and Virginia Tech. These networks are designed to create partnerships with Virginia Tech and companies through the alumni at those companies. These networks are helping Virginia Tech create more meaningful connections with the corporate world.

When I exited Microsoft, I reached out to my alma mater to say, "Just because I'm leaving Microsoft and have to leave this Alumni Corporate Network, this isn't the end of our relationship. I have more time on my hands now and would like to collaborate more with the school." We have continued to build our relationship since then, but still entirely virtually. In March, I sent them an email saying, "I'm finally coming back to Blacksburg. I'm going to be in town for a week, and I'm all yours. Help me fill up my calendar."

It was a terrific week where I did a deep dive with the school, focused mainly on the Computer Science Department. It was very educational, and I made many more connections with faculty, administration, and students. The biggest win of the week was that I was finally getting to sit down in-person and connect with these people that I had only ever worked with through a computer screen. And then, to add even more in-person appeal, on my last day there, Christine (head of the CS department) and I made pancakes for the CS students.

That week spent with Virginia Tech had a deepening effect on our relationship. I have since joined the CS department's advisory board, and I am partnering with more of the CS student organizations. Quality in-person time together has been a vital energy injection into our relationship.