In Zurich, the Alumni network is gathering for its first after-work event
On Thursday, September 24, graduates of the Pôle Léonard de Vinci living in Zurich and the surrounding area gathered for the first Devinci Alumni after-work event held in the city. About twenty of them have settled there since graduating; they come from very different generations and professional backgrounds, but they all share one thing in common: their time at the Pôle Léonard de Vinci. All that was missing was an opportunity to bring them together!
In Zurich, 25 years of promotions years and just as many career paths to connect
There are currently about 20 graduates from EMLV, ESILV, IIM, and De Vinci Executive Education living in and around Zurich.
It’s a close-knit community, yet one that already reflects a rich diversity of career paths. The graduating classes represented span from 1999 to 2023—nearly 25 years of graduates from the Léonard de Vinci Campus.
Among the companies represented within this community are UBS, FIFA, Société Générale, Deloitte Switzerland, Allianz Global Investors, Capgemini, Glencore, The Adecco Group, Johnson & Johnson, Syngenta, and SCOR.
Quantitative Analyst, Data Engineer, Portfolio Manager, Risk Manager, Global Supply Chain Manager, Cybersecurity Risk Assessor… behind these job titles lie a wealth of professional trajectories and experiences from Switzerland to share.
Different generations, experiences that resonate with one another
Around the table, discussions quickly moved beyond the traditional introductions and soon found common ground: their experiences as expatriates.
Some have already lived in several countries; for others, Switzerland is one of their first experiences living abroad.
It was also an opportunity to compare perspectives on life in Switzerland: its many advantages—from quality of life to its landscapes—but also the small challenges that those who have chosen to settle there know all too well.
How do you build a network when you arrive in a new country? How do you expand your social circle? How do you advance your career internationally? These are all topics that resonate, regardless of the year on your diploma.
Their backgrounds differ, as do their graduating classes, but the discussions quickly revealed many shared experiences.
“We were all chatting as if we already knew each other.”
Beyond the topics discussed, it was above all the friendly atmosphere of this first meeting that left a lasting impression on the participants.
The visit to the Léonard de Vinci Campus quickly created a familiar setting, allowing everyone to freely share their experiences, anecdotes, and perspectives on professional life in Switzerland.
This sense of closeness perfectly encapsulates the goal of these international Devinci Alumni gatherings: to create, hundreds of kilometers away from the campuses, simple opportunities to meet, exchange ideas, and build local networks.
A Zurich Club That's Just Waiting to Grow
This first gathering was hosted by Mélinda Hamidi (ESILV 2018), a project manager at UBS and local ambassador for the Devinci Alumni network.
Having lived in Zurich for over four years, she is personally familiar with the various steps involved in settling into a new region and wanted to help bring local alumni closer together.
And this first gathering is already paving the way for more! Even before everyone said their goodbyes, ideas for the next get-together were already circulating around the table.
At the top of the list? A raclette dinner, of course.
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