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Alumni Leader Spotlight: Laura Hayes, IQVIA

A long time veteran of corporate alumni management, Laura Hayes now manages the alumni community at IQVIA, a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry.

Topics: Alumni Network, Spotlight Interviews

Laura Hayes is the Global Alumni Lead at IQVIA, and joined the organization in 2020 to build their alumni program from scratch. A challenging and exciting undertaking, she launched the program and has since reached the noteworthy milestone of 20,000 members.

Laura has 14 years of dedicated experience working in alumni relations. Prior to joining IQVIA she held alumni relations roles at KPMG and PwC. Throughout her career, Laura has demonstrated a passion for building strong connections with alumni, focusing on strategic engagement and fostering a sense of belonging. She aims to cultivate lasting relationships that benefit both individuals and organizations, while consistently delivering value.

We are excited to share her insights here:

PeoplePath: Tell us about yourself & your professional background. 

Laura: I began my alumni career at PwC as an alumni coordinator. It was there that I developed a strong foundation in alumni engagement and relationship management, with a focus on data, website, and event management. I then moved to KPMG, where I further honed my skills in alumni communications and strategic planning.

Most recently, I had the privilege of joining IQVIA, where I had a pivotal role in building and launching their global IQVIA Alumni Network in 2021.

Outside of alumni relations, I'm a globe-trotting social butterfly. From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the tranquil beaches of Bali, my passport is my most prized possession. I enjoy seeing live music; Glastonbury is my top festival choice. My Spotify playlists are a mishmash of genres and I wouldn't have it any other way.

PeoplePath: What was your favorite working experience so far? 

Laura: I enjoyed my previous roles, but at IQVIA I was given the autonomy and resources needed to bring the alumni program to life. Having previously worked with more established alumni networks, it was a unique experience that allowed me to utilize my knowledge and experience to shape its direction. Following the program’s launch, I was offered to join IQVIA on a permanent basis.

I feel grateful for the trust placed in me. Now that the program has evolved and gained momentum, we have around 5,000 new joiners a year. I feel lucky to be at the helm, guiding the direction and strategy.

PeoplePath: How did you start working in corporate alumni networks?

Laura: By chance. After 18 months travelling around Australia and Southeast Asia, I returned to the U.K. in 2011 and was looking for a temporary role to figure out what venture I wanted to take on next. After two years of temping, an opportunity arose to become permanent and I joined the team of three at PwC UK's alumni program. I found myself enthusiastic and passionate about the work I was doing and I realized then I could make a career out of this job.

I’ve been extremely fortunate to have worked with some amazing teams and managers throughout my career who have helped me grow professionally and personally. Each experience has been incredibly rewarding and played a significant role in shaping my career. I have never looked back!

PeoplePath: What do you think is the biggest roadblock for companies who are interested in starting a formal alumni network?

Laura: One of the biggest roadblocks, I think, is securing buy-in from senior leaders. The challenge is often a short-term focus which overlooks the longer-term benefits of investing in alumni relationships. They can view alumni programs as less urgent, resulting in a lack of resource allocation (staffing and/or budget) to manage a successful program.

Ensuring you have a program sponsor, a well-defined strategy, and clear metrics to demonstrate ROI can help increase their willingness to invest in your program.

PeoplePath: What are your predictions for the future of the corporate alumni industry?

Laura: I have started to see, and I think this will continue, that corporate alumni programs are becoming more integrated with broader talent management strategies, from recruitment and onboarding to employee development and retention. Alumni programs will be viewed as an extension of an organization’s talent ecosystem.

I also believe there will be an increased focus on philanthropy and social impact initiatives. Whether that includes alumni in an organization's community engagement or volunteering opportunities, etc., they will begin to encourage alumni to give back and support charitable causes that align with the organization’s values.

Finally, advances in technology including AI, machine learning, and data analytics will drive innovation and better leverage alumni data to personalize experiences to meet the needs and preferences of alumni based on where they are in their career.

PeoplePath: What advice do you have for other alumni program managers?

Laura: If I could offer any advice, my top three tips would be:

Measure and demonstrate the impact of your program. It’s important to quantify the success of your program by capturing relevant data and metrics, including engagement rates, referrals and rehires, brand advocacy, etc.
Collaborate internally: Leverage the expertise of other departments within your organization, including HR, Marketing, Communications, etc. Fostering collaboration among other teams to support your program can help you overcome resource constraints.
Communicate value: Alumni engagement should not be expected it needs to be earnt. We often forget to clearly communicate what’s in it for alumni; continue to highlight the benefits and advantages of being part of your network, especially as new members continue to join.

PeoplePath: Anything else you’d like to share…

Laura: Don’t forget to connect with other corporate alumni leaders. They can be a great support to discuss ideas, opportunities, or the challenges you are facing, as well as enhancing motivation and your creative thinking!