No Smithie Walks Alone

The worst-kept secret among job seekers is that it’s all about who you know. It’s also something Smithies are acutely aware of. From day one, Smith College students are taught the importance of networking and connection and that it’s never too early to tap into Smith’s robust network of nearly 54,000 alums spanning 116 countries. With new events like the Future of Work Summit at the Alumnae House in April, students are finding even more ways to connect with alums in real time and gain invaluable insights about their desired career paths. 

The inaugural summit was the result of a collaboration between Alumnae Relations and the Lazarus Center for Career Development. “We know that students benefit from connecting with alums but often find it difficult to initiate those conversations,” says Deborah Wijnhoven, assistant dean of employer partnerships and career communities at Smith, who helped organize the event. “The panels were designed to highlight a range of career paths, while the networking component gave students a more approachable way to connect with alums and learn from their experiences.”

The four-hour event included a speed-networking activity as well as a series of roundtable discussions with alums working in the arts, business, finance, government, marketing, and STEM. A through line between all of the sessions was uncertainty surrounding the rise of AI in the workplace, a topic all of the alum panelists were uniquely equipped to address.

Shilpa Kumar ’13, a software engineer at The New York Times, spoke candidly about AI during the first panel session of the day. She told students that she no longer creates code from scratch and that harnessing AI leaves more room for innovation and creativity. “You still need a human mind to use these tools,” Kumar says. “Now I get to focus on higher-level problems.”

Erinn McGurn ’94, associate vice president for sustainable capital programs at Smith, also sees AI as a valuable tool if bent to your will. She recognizes that AI is prone to making mistakes and that it’s on the user—the humans with solid skills and expertise—to be able to recognize those mistakes and utilize the tools accordingly. “I use AI tools to distill lots of data and to maximize efficiency,” McGurn says. “I think being afraid of AI will inhibit your ability to optimize it.”

Another topic on students’ minds was the uncertain job market many of them will be entering. Alum panelists recognized that, yes, the world today is profoundly different than the world was when they entered the workforce, but that some building blocks of success are just as viable then as now. 

For one thing, students need to be nimble and able to pivot. Nicole Kenney ’06 knows better than most about that. She delivered opening remarks at the summit and led an hourlong lunch chat about building in-demand skills and strong networks. Kenney is founder of the online support network Hey Auntie!, which fosters connection among Black women of all ages. She thought she had landed her dream job in Washington, D.C., at the NAACP, but, despite all the good she was doing there, the role was taking a heavy toll on her physical and emotional health, prompting her to move back home and reassess her career path. 

“I had to learn how to find my ground several times when it felt like the world was shifting beneath me,” Kenney says. “Yes, the road is uncertain, it always will be, but you never have to be uncertain about who you are, about your worth, about your value, and about your dignity.”

No matter how rocky the road is, Kenney emphasizes that Smithies have a strong network to guide and support them every step of the way. And events like the Future of Work Summit are strong reminders of just how diverse and engaged Smith’s alum network is.

“For me, ‘no Smithie walks alone’ isn’t just an encouragement, it’s a commitment to how we show up for each other, both on campus and around the world,” Kenney says.

One of the many students in attendance, Tridia Kabila ’26, a peer adviser at the Lazarus Center, says community was definitely on display at the Future of Work Summit. “Connecting with so many people across so many different industries is always helpful,” Kabila says. “I’ve been focused on finance and business, but I wanted to listen to what other people are saying and learn what their journey was like.”

Kabila says it was interesting to hear from alums working in finance with titles outside of investment banking, her desired career path, because it illustrates that there are many options available. The event also reminded her just how powerful the Smith alum network is and that it extends far beyond what people might imagine.

“We have a strong connection with the other Seven Sisters colleges,” says Kabila. “If you reach out to a Smith alum and they don’t have the answer, they will search in their own network for someone who can help you—and that is so valuable.”