The SMU community welcomed the 32nd Alumni Group to the alumni family at the launch of the SMU-Accenture on 8th March 2017. About 30 SMU alumni working in Accenture Singapore attended the launch for a cosy get-together and networking session at the University Lounge.
The SMU Alumni Groups are niche communities for alumni formed under the SMU Alumni Association (SMUAA) and supported by the Office of Alumni Relations (OAR). The groups are formed under school-based, interest-based, programme-based (or postgraduate) and affinity alumni groups. The SMU-Accenture Alumni Group is the first company-based alumni group formed under the category of Affinity Groups.
Every year, the individual alumni groups receive funding from SMUAA to conduct at least two engagement events. OAR facilitates the establishment of new alumni groups, spearheaded by either alumni or faculty. The idea of setting up the SMU-Accenture Alumni Group was first mooted by SMU alumna and President of the Group Michelle Leong (BSc (Econs), BBM, 2015) who is also a SMU Alumni Ambassador.
Vice President of SMU-Accenture Alumni Group Charmaine Leow (BBM, BSocSc, 2012) was the emcee for the launch event. Director of OAR Associate Professor Low Aik Meng gave thanks to Accenture Singapore for their tremendous support in the setting up of this Affinity Group which can be a powerful source for the company to recruit the best candidates from SMU. Membership to the Group is an automatic inclusion for all current SMU undergraduate and postgraduate alumni Accenture employees and contractors. SMU students that are current Accenture interns are also included as members.
Industry partner; ASEAN & Singapore Campus Lead from Accenture’s Human Resources, Daryl Boey addressed the audience and encouraged the building of relationships and connections across the firm and across the different generations through the Alumni Group. The Group’s first Executive Committee together with Assoc Prof Low and Daryl then opened a bottle of champage in celebration to signify the official launch of the Alumni Group. Following that, Michelle briefed the members with the Group’s vision and mission:
VISION
- A close-knit community of Alumni in Accenture that will feel connected to a larger group.
- A strong relationship fostered between Accenture and SMU.
MISSION
- A professional network for Alumni in Accenture to network and share insights internally and externally
- To be a bridge between Accenture and SMU
- Attract talent into Accenture and retain talent in Accenture
A lucky draw was carried out with prizes kindly sponsored by Desmond Wong, a Senior Manager with Accenture's Health & Public Service practice. Desmond has over nine years of professional technology consulting and business development experience and has led several project implementations and managed diverse client accounts in the public service. To end off the evening, the alumni and staff continued to interact and network with one another over food and drinks.
Visit the SMU-Accenture Alumni Group page for more information on the Group and its first Executive Committee. Click here for more photos from the event.