Volunteering Stories

Alvaro Pastor

MSc Management, 1996

"Think of the world back in the mid 1990´s, when I was studying at LSE the role of a university was limited to providing students with a solid education, and that was more than plenty. The support, tools, and resources that our students have at their disposal today are some of the many changes that I am glad to see that LSE has undergone since I graduated. 

The beauty of it is that in giving back to the department community, whether by sharing career experiences, knowledge, or simply lending an ear, whatever it is I share, takes a new and different meaning which will be in my heart forever. I have jumped at every opportunity the department has presented, and something tells me I’ll keep on doing it for as long as I can. It started with being an alum of the month in September 2024, before delivering a workshop to the MSc Marketing students, and participating at a fireside chat in February 2025. The experience has been like reconnecting with a dear old friend, because that is what LSE is to me, a very dear old friend. 

Volunteering is about making a difference in someone´s life; it starts with yours. And more than making up for the time lost; it´s about making the best of the time we can share now."

Evgeny Pavlov

MSc Management of Information Systems and Digital Innovation, 2020

"Volunteering with the department has allowed me to feel part of the departmental community again, I have loved reconnecting with faculty and of course meeting really cool students in interview and industry focused alumni panels. As an alumni volunteer I have also produced social media content, and hosted a workshadowing day.

All of these opportunities have made me feel like a valued member of LSE's alumni community, especially winning the Rising Star Award at the 2024 Volunteer Thank you Awards hosted by the department. Finally it has enabled me to grow my network - who knows these students could soon become your business partners?"

Corine Sheratte

MSc HR Management, 2015

"As a student I loved hearing alumni career stories – they really encouraged me to pursue my career as a Global Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Senior Manager. When I became an alum, I therefore wanted to inspire those looking to get into this field, as it's a fantastic career that I would love to see future generations move into. I now frequently speak on a number of EDI panels hosted by the department, and the passion and determination exhibited by the students I speak to never fails to inspire me!

If you volunteer with the department, I encourage you to collaborate and interact with those in attendance, particularly in the networking element of the session – it really is a great opportunity for the students to gain further insights from you."

Nilanthi Sangarabalan

BSc Management, 2010

Watch her short YouTube video where she outlines the events she has voluntered for, what she enjoyed and why more alumni should volunteer for the Department.

"I'd highly encourage alumni to be involved in events like this (welcome week and exchange interview panels), because as a student nothing beats being able to share your own experiences, and what it's really like there, in the real world, after university." 

David Ravel
BSc Management, 2002

"I wanted to thank all the team at LSE for welcoming me back to speak to a mix of students - both masters and undergraduate. Having graduated from LSE, some 21 years ago, now, it has been a true delight to remain involved with an institution that has paved the way for my current career. It was a genuine privilege to meet so many of the bright candidates coming through from the management course and engage with them as we discussed different approaches to careers and the power and importance of networking and strategies that can support, smart networking, career growth, and in entrepreneurship, even within a corporate environment.

I can’t recommend the involvement in the Lunch & Learn Series more highly, and would recommend all my fellow alumni to give back to this incredible institution. I assure you, you will get back far more from giving up your time  and insights, then the time the cost in the time from your day. I very much hope to be involved in many more of these and look forward to being invited back again I hope!"

Akshay Chopra
MSc Human Resources and Organisations, 2018

"Whilst I was a student, I attended a lot of HRO alumni panels, where they would discuss ways to enhance one’s employability skills in the current job market. Alumni also provided their insights via the HRM Skills and Practitioner/Speaker Series where the panel would discuss topics specific to HR. These sessions gave us essential ingredients to build a strong business acumen, develop independent thinking, and make democratic decisions as a step towards managing global human resources.

Our Alumni team is truly hands-on and inspired me to become an active member of the DoM community. They continuously provide the student community with multiple opportunities to be in touch with alumni, such as panel discussions, mentoring sessions, exchange interviews etc. I most of all enjoy attending student and alumni networking evenings where fellow alumni, employers, students, and staff can get together and share/learn from each other’s experiences.

Every time I am back to campus for an event as a proud alum, it is great to witness the ever-growing partnerships LSE has with some brilliant organisations and the amazing impact our students are having whilst being associated with them.  

I have volunteered with the Department by being a panellist for the ‘Careers in Talent, Learning & Development’ event that took place for all MSc programmes within the Department. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with driven minds aspiring a career in this space, and to share my fascination for all things talent, particularly from my current role with PageGroup.

I also volunteered to be on the alumni/staff panel in the BSc Exchange Interviews, where BSc students were applying to go on exchange in the third year of their programme. I was proud to receive the Department's first Student Impact Alumni Award for my volunteering contributions to the student community.

For those considering to volunteer I would say: “there is no better way to give back to a place that has given you so much” particularly career advice and life skills. Whilst you get to share your experiences with the students, at the same time you get to learn so much from the broader LSE community."

Ambika Kapur
MSc Management and Strategy, 2015

"I graduated from my MSc in Management and Strategy in 2015, following which I have been volunteering at various alumni events. During my masters, I connected with several management alumni who gave me valuable advice and helped me make the most of my programme, extracurricular activities, as well as tap into a new international job market successfully – all within the space of nine months! As a student, I benefited hugely from engaging with alumni, and this encourages me to give back and share my knowledge with current students now, as an alumna myself.

Since graduating, I have been back at LSE almost every year (often multiple times) to share my experience and insights with current Management and Strategy students, as well as with those from the broader Department of Management. I also had the opportunity to work with LSE to represent and recruit for the two firms I have worked for – PwC and Intapp. This allowed me to tap into the great potential of LSE candidates, which led to me setting up my current company’s first graduate consultant programme and recruiting a student from LSE.

I would encourage all alumni to be an active part of the fantastic community in place at LSE. It’s a great way to give back, engage with students who might be a good fit for our companies and also find out about interesting activities other alumni are up to!"