Voices from the Alumni Advisory Board

Current Chair of the Board Martin MacConnol (Magdalene 1987) has been running the content marketing agency, Wardour, for 30 years.

Martin wants to preserve Cambridge’s distinctive education for generations to come. “I benefited so much from one-to-one supervisions with incredible academics.

"I want to work with Cambridge to make sure that people in the future receive this same outstanding education.”

Through the Advisory Board, Martin is working to share this message globally. “Alumni voices are ambassadors of the University. We take the message of what Cambridge is into the outside world.”

For Martin, both impact and insight make volunteering feel meaningful. “You get to go under the ‘bonnet of the organisation’, to get into places that perhaps you wouldn't see normally, to talk to new people, and to help influence the future of Cambridge.”

Currently Co-founder, General Counsel and Head of Growth at Lodgeur, a Houston-based hospitality company, Brooke (Clare 2016) is also a member of Cambridge Judge Business School Alumni Advisory Council.

From her home in Houston, Texas, she helps offer holders based in the US get a feel for Cambridge. “They often come with big questions, about Cambridge and whether it will be the right fit for them.”

She is already seeing the longer-term effect of her efforts. “Students I’ve spoken to have thanked me for helping them to make such a big decision, and several of them have already had their five-year reunion dinners!”

This individual and collective impact spurs her on. “It’s really powerful to know you made a difference, not just for the University, but for yourself.”

Even from Texas, Brooke feels connected to Cambridge. “When you live so far away, it can feel tricky to stay involved. I love that I'm able to contribute from home and still visit Cambridge a couple of times a year.”

For those unsure of where to start, Brooke says...don’t wait to be asked. “It's surprisingly easy to reach out to your College or your department and just say, ‘How can I help?’”

Matt (Queens’ 1998) is a Chief Strategy Officer at the advertising agency, House 337. His work focuses on behaviour change through communications, helping to tackle underrepresentation by reaching new audiences.

Applying these insights to his volunteering role helps the University and has taught him more about his own work. “I have learnt new ways of discussing topics, seen how my expertise can benefit various groups, and gained a better understanding about what I do by working with different people.”

His main advice is to find a type of volunteering that works for you. “When considering volunteering, you have got to think about the pattern of commitment that is required and how you would fit that into your life.”

“I work better in volunteering positions with fixed schedules; that’s what attracted me to the Alumni Advisory Board.

“I can put key events in my calendar and plan out my year, which matches my professional life. I work in consulting, so my work life is already built around key moments during the year.

"There is no single way to volunteer; it is whatever works for you. It doesn’t have to be an ongoing relationship; you can fit in different ways to use your skills and support the University."

Michelle (PACE 2019) works in data-driven engagement strategies and is committed to widening access to entrepreneurial and technology skills, mentoring students and start-up founders.

An important step in Michelle’s journey to the Board was realising that she is truly a part of the alumni community. “I graduated with an advanced diploma in Research and Theory from PACE, so I wasn't sure if I would be classed as an alumna!”

After being reassured she belonged, volunteering opened a world of connections and learning after Cambridge. “I've met so many wonderful people and learned so many useful skills, and the most surprising part is that I have had something to contribute as well!”

For those who are unsure as to what they can offer, getting in touch is a solid start: “Take the first step and reach out to somebody.

"I had so many hesitations about whether I could contribute, and the department and volunteering community helped to ease my doubts.”

Ellen (Fitzwilliam 2001) is Director of Bradley REACH, a telehealth programme for adolescent mental health, based in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. She also volunteers for several Brooklyn, New York-based charities, helping older people access healthcare and improving childhood literacy.

Although based in New York, volunteering has kept Ellen in the loop with Cambridge’s developments. “I love that as a volunteer I get to come back to Cambridge and to see how the city is changing.

"It’s impressive how much is happening here and how Cambridge is driving forward innovation locally, nationally, and globally. And it’s fun to be part of that change.”

She has also seen how the Board has evolved along with this. “I’ve been on the Alumni Advisory Board for 2 years now, and it’s great to see how it’s changed and grown.

"It’s such a global group that comprises a variety of people who have come to Cambridge and want to stay involved with the University.”