Connecting on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram is a thoughtless click. But developing meaningful connections online? Not likely.
JindalConnect fills that void. It is the private networking platform for Naveen Jindal School of Management alumni, students, faculty and friends. This website, a bit like LinkedIn but more personal, gives users a way to build their careers, seek help from others who have indicated a willingness to be a mentor, or just share wisdom about their company, career or classes they took while a student.
E. Michelle Miller, MS’05 and MBA’15, is the CBRE research operations manager for its Texas-Oklahoma-Arkansas region and a former staffer at JSOM. She joined JindalConnect as soon as she found out about it. “JindalConnect is a great way for me to stay current on alumni updates, events and campus developments,” she said. “UT Dallas life is always moving fast and in many directions so JindalConnect helps me keep up.”
Events designed for alumni are posted on JindalConnect including events for alumni outside of Texas. Recently events were held in New York City and Shanghai, China. Alumni events are by region, by profession and by degree. In March, alumni events were held for those in the real estate sector, in the healthcare sector and in global business.
While the website serves as a social networking site, its professional component is the service Miller is most eager to access. “I’m an active recruiter for my research team so JindalConnect offers me the opportunity to learn more about recent graduates and new academic programs that might offer the type of talent I need on my team,” she said.
The JindalConnect website features include:
- Search function for alumni by class year, degree, current location or industry – or all of these attributes at once.
- Ways to connect with those offering to serve as a long-term mentor, give one-time career advice or open doors at their company. At least half of those currently on JindalConnect now have offered to help JSOM students or alumni in a mentoring function. Some even offer to help students find an internship at their company.
“We have a lot of enthusiastic participation from our alums,” said Erica Yaeger, the Jindal School assistant dean for development and alumni relations. “Our alumni want to be engaged. This platform is just making being engaged easier.”
Austin Higgins, MBA’12, is an independent technology consultant at Southwest Airlines in Dallas. “I joined JindalConnect to stay in touch with people I’ve met through JSOM,” he said. “I want to see where they are in their professional lives and find ways to help others. I believe you can give back at any stage of your career. Alumni have always offered their time and advice to me, so I want to do the same.”
JSOM students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of Jindal School, such as advisory committee members and corporate community members, may join JindalConnect by using their LinkedIn profile. No formal invitation is needed to join.
