From the moment I arrived, I could feel the buzz in the Business School. It was so exciting to be surrounded by inspiring alumni from across the globe.
The day kicked off with a guided tour of the Edinburgh Futures Institute, a new research and learning space in the Old Royal Infirmary building. I joined fellow alumni and students to explore how this historic location is being transformed into an interdisciplinary collaboration hub – the perfect starting point for a day about transformation!
From there, the event programme unfolded into a series of panel sessions, keynote talks, and networking opportunities.
As someone interested in digital strategy and leadership, I was especially drawn to the “Digital Transformation: How Do We Bridge People, Technology & Value?” session led by Dr. Hajar Mozaffar and three inspiring alumni: Paul Tambeau (MBA 2011), CEO of Induction Healthcare Group; Shazreen Halibullah (MA Accounting and Finance 2015), Digital Transformation Specialist (AVP) Change Management at Maybank; and Joe Silverman (MA Geography and Politics 2011), Director at Public Digital. The panel stressed that successful digital transformation is not about a “big bang” approach, but instead, a long-haul commitment grounded in clear objectives, leadership focus, and team engagement. One reason that many digital transformation efforts fail is because organisations overlook change management and try to scale too fast without first building psychological safety or empowering teams at every level.
What resonated with me most was the idea that value is created when people, not just technology, are placed at the centre. Creating environments of trust, encouraging experimentation, and ensuring that everyone—from leadership to frontline—understands and owns the transformation journey. I agreed with the panellist’s views that clear communication and continuous learning are key to bridging the gap between new technologies and long-term business value.
Building on points raised in previous sessions, in “Leading a Sustainable Business: What Does the Future Look Like?”, Judith Everett (MBA, 1986), Chief of Staff at Arup and Chair of the UK Green Building Council, explained that defining and embedding purpose across an organisation is also important to long-term success. She said that companies driven by a strong sense of purpose tend to be more resilient, more trusted by stakeholders, and more innovative in their sustainability efforts. Therefore purpose should not be a secondary thought but a main focus that informs every action within a business.
Judith also spoke about the leadership mindset required to navigate today’s complex systems and encouraged leaders to embrace systems thinking, have the courage to respond to stakeholder scrutiny, and push forward sustainability agendas. The idea of “shared prosperity” was central to her message: that the role of business leaders is not only to drive performance, but also to create positive impacts for others.
But what made the biggest impression on me at Global Alumni Day was (by far) the people. From informal chats over lunch to the evening drinks reception, I spent the entire day meeting alumni from all over the world, hearing stories of how Edinburgh has shaped their journeys.
For students like me, it was a warm reminder that the University of Edinburgh community is global, and the future of business is being shaped by people who once sat where we’re sitting now.
