SI3 Student + Alumni Speed Networking
By Loren Sass (MPA 2025) and the SIIA Board
On December 1, 2023, the Social Innovation & Investment Alliance (SIIA) graduate student group, co-hosted its first Student + Alumni Speed Networking event! Think speed dating, but with a professional twist. The incredible night of connection, reunion, advice, and joy was generously supported by Wagner's Office of Student and Alumni Engagement and the NYU Impact Investing Alumni Club (NIIAC).
Photo credit: Adam Fontana (@fontana_fotography)
Over 30 students and 20 alumni gathered at the Puck Building to connect and enjoy dinner and dessert from Taim and Levain. Alumni represented graduation years dating back to 2018! Following opening remarks from the SIIA board, alumna Julia Cedarholm (MPA 2021) spoke about NIIAC and the alumni organization’s interest in supporting current students.
Attendees also had the opportunity to meet and hear from Andrea Armeni, the new Director of the Social Impact, Innovation, and Investment (SI3) specialization, and Katja Kurz, the Director of Alumni and Student Engagement.
Photo credit: Adam Fontana (@fontana_fotography)
Over the next hour, students and alumni were led through two rounds of speed networking, allowing them to formally make fourteen new connections in addition to countless more informally. Sample prompt questions included: What most excites you about social impact, innovation, and investment? What is/was your favorite class at Wagner? What are your professional goals for the next 3-5 years?
Photo credit: Adam Fontana (@fontana_fotography)
Current Wagner student, Kayla Foster, enjoyed participating in the event: "The opportunity to learn about what alumni have done with their SI3 knowledge and all the amazing work they are doing was inspiring!”
Alumna Helen Sacco (MPA 2019), who hadn't attended alumni events in a while, felt that this was the perfect opportunity to connect with the Wagner community again. "It was energizing to be back and such a joy to catch up with old friends from my graduating class, while networking with current Wagner students," she shared. Helen was able to connect with a few students after the event and is excited to deepen these ties.
Alumnus Michael Cox (MPA 2018) feels strongly that the SI3 specialization "is training the leaders our world wants to have." He is honored to be a member of the growing SI3 community and "supporting each other to drive the meaningful change we so desperately need.”
The evening concluded with optional drinks at a bar around the corner, La Botanica. Following the event, SIIA received enthusiastic feedback from many attendees, and is currently planning office visits, skill shares, and potential capstone projects with multiple alumni.
Photo credit: Adam Fontana (@fontana_fotography)
To keep up to date on all things SIIA, please check out our website and Instagram. Lastly, we would love to see you at our next student and alumni networking event on May 3, 2024. Save the date!
Written by the SIIA Board and Loren Sass, a member of SIIA’s executive board and a second-year MPA-PNP student at NYU Wagner.