Over the past few months, we invited Muma College of Business alumni to share how they鈥檙e thinking about learning and professional growth at this stage of their careers.
More than 170 alumni responded. Different graduation years. Different industries. Different roles. But when we stepped back from the data and read the comments alongside the numbers, the message was surprisingly consistent鈥攁nd genuinely helpful.
What struck me most was not whether alumni value learning. That was clear. What stood out was how alumni are learning and what alumni are looking for as careers evolve.
Many of the alumni told us they鈥檙e actively engaged in professional development, but not always through universities. Alumni are reading industry publications, learning from peers, attending webinars and conferences, and listening to podcasts. Formal programs are part of the mix, but they鈥檙e not the only鈥攐r even primary鈥攚ay learning shows up.
That doesn鈥檛 signal disinterest. It signals confidence. Muma alumni are self-directed learners who are intentional about staying relevant. The opportunity for us isn鈥檛 to convince alumni that learning matters鈥攁lumni already know that. It鈥檚 to show up more clearly as a trusted partner in an ecosystem they鈥檙e already navigating.
We also learned something important about format. When asked how alumni prefer to learn, there was no overwhelming favorite. In-person, live virtual, hybrid, and on-demand experiences all drew meaningful interest. What mattered far more than format was relevance and applicability. If something is useful, alumni will find the time. If it鈥檚 not, the delivery method doesn鈥檛 really matter.
When it comes to skills, the alignment was striking. Communication. Judgment. Executive Presence. Critical thinking. These surfaced again and again. Despite how often they鈥檙e labeled 鈥渟oft skills,鈥� alumni clearly see them as foundational鈥攅specially in environments that are more complex, more ambiguous, and faster moving than ever.
At the same time, many of the alumni expressed strong interest in AI and emerging technologies鈥攂ut in a very grounded way. Not hype. Not theory. Practical understanding. How tools are used. Where they help. Where they don鈥檛. How they shape decision-making.
What became clear is that technical topics resonate most when they鈥檙e integrated with leadership and judgment, not treated as standalone skills.
That theme showed up again when we asked about areas of interest. Leadership, strategy, innovation, and AI rose to the top鈥攏ot as separate lanes, but as interconnected ones. What alumni seem to be looking for is learning that reflects how work actually happens: integrated, applied, and grounded in real organizational challenges.
One other insight stayed with me. While only a small percentage of respondents said they鈥檙e 鈥渧ery likely鈥� to participate in future offerings, a much larger group described themselves as open, curious, or neutral. There was a strong indication that this conversation needs to continue. Universities must help solve the challenges alumni are facing and adapt to the evolving landscape of lifelong learning.
Taken together, the survey reinforced several things we believe strongly at Muma College of Business. Alumni value lifelong learning, but expect it to be relevant and respectful of their time. Leadership, communication, and judgment remain essential at every career stage. AI and emerging technologies are best approached as applied leadership tools.
Most of all, the results point to a real opportunity to continue building a lifelong learning ecosystem that supports alumni not just early in their careers, but across them.
Our goal isn鈥檛 to offer more programs for the sake of it. It鈥檚 to offer learning experiences that feel worth alumni鈥檚 time鈥攅xperiences that reflect the realities alumni鈥檙e navigating and help alumni move forward with confidence.
The insights shared through the alumni survey were helpful in reinforcing the direction we鈥檝e been shaping for executive education at Muma. In the coming months, the College will launch a new set of executive development programs designed for working professionals and alumni.
These offerings will focus on applied leadership, strategy, team effectiveness, and emerging topics such as AI鈥攄elivered in flexible formats that reflect the realities of busy careers.
As part of this launch, USF alumni will receive a 10% tuition benefit on open-enrollment executive education programs. Additional details will be shared soon, and we look forward to welcoming alumni back into the classroom鈥攚hether for a single experience or as part of a longer learning journey.