An MBA is about more than just earning a degree—the knowledge, network, and support business school provides can continue to make an impact well into your career. 

As an alum with access to continued learning opportunities and career resources, MBAs can continue to engage within their community after their studies. With the continually changing business landscape, it’s increasingly important for MBAs to carry on learning and developing.

Today, almost half (46%) of business school alumni seek lifelong learning opportunities to further advance their careers, according to a recent Carrington Crisp survey. 

We spoke to insiders at Copenhagen Business School (CBS), where alumni involvement in the program continues in a number of ways, to find out how this can impact the MBA journey. 

Joining an alumni network

Studying an MBA is about building skills and gaining experience, however being part of an alumni network can be equally valuable. With schools typically boasting graduates working across various industries and countries, fellow alumni can offer a source of both personal and professional support.

At CBS, the alumni community consists of over 2200 graduates, and they are encouraged to engage with the program and network with each other, in addition to current students.

“We have a lot of alumni events and activities, so students can come back and network,” explains Natasha Raines, alumni and community manager at CBS. 

Some alumni use opportunities to share support and advice, while often networking with alumni can lead to professional opportunities, such as internships and job offers.

“I landed my current role through alumni,” says Natalie Zhang, an MBA graduate from CBS now working as customer success manager at Templafy. “Alumni are great because they have been in the same place before.

“I would always recommend reaching out to alumni,” she continues. “Based on my current experience, they really helped me in terms of internship opportunities, and also securing my current position.”

Supporting current students

Another way MBA life continues for graduates is through giving back to the students who aim to follow in their footsteps. 

Current MBA students can benefit from alumni support in a range of ways, including mentorship, professional advice, and access to job and internship opportunities. Aside from professional assistance, alumni can also act as a personal point of contact, offering guidance and answering questions.

“I went back and spoke to the current cohort about the MBA program and what they had to look forward to,” says Natalie. “When I began, I had so many questions, so I’m hoping to be able to help the new cohort in that sense.”

Alumni involvement—through support, mentoring, or professional opportunities—not only contributes to the experience of current students, but helps to strengthen the school’s community.

“We’re a small program, which is a strength because of the closeness of each cohort. The fact they’re supported by alumni activities helps encourage them to pay it back once they graduate the program,” explains Natasha.

Continued learning opportunities

Business is constantly evolving, from technological advances to economic shifts, and it’s essential for MBA graduates to adapt with these changes. As the same CarringtonCrisp survey revealed, lifelong learning is a priority for many business school graduates, with 70% believing that business schools should create courses for alumni to help with future development.

Through various speaker sessions and events, CBS offers opportunities for alumni to stay engaged with key topics and to leverage the school’s business and industry insights after graduation. 

“Alumni can upgrade their skills and stay connected with thought leaders—which we have both through CBS, in terms of academics and researchers, and corporate professionals,” Natasha explains. 

“Sometimes it’s even small, innovative startup companies that come back to CBS, with newer learnings or key research that we can then utilize and implement.”

Although the careers team’s formal support focuses on the program period and the transition that follows, graduates stay connected through the alumni network and ongoing engagement opportunities—sharing advice, collaborating, and opening doors for one another.

CBS plans to expand lifelong learning opportunities for alumni through new short courses and other programs designed to help them return and upskill. 

An MBA isn’t, therefore, just a one or two-year program—it’s a lifelong partnership between a student and a business school. By staying active in the alumni network, accessing lifelong learning, and supporting current students, graduates can continue to grow, give back, and reap the benefits of their MBA long after graduation.