Legends Among Us: Alumni Panel Reflection
Alumni Panel Reflection: Inspiring Paths and Shared Commitments
The recent student conference hosted by AIESEC US witnessed a remarkable combination of experience, passion, and commitment as alumni from diverse backgrounds and professions came together to share their insights and journeys. The panel discussion, featuring alumni Amira Boland, Brodie Boland, Michael Flood, Kimmie Restificar, and Adam Mayala, provided invaluable perspectives on systemic change, personal growth, and the enduring relevance of AIESEC's mission.
Amira Boland, from AIESEC Georgia Tech, is currently living in DC and is Lead for Federal Customer Experience at the Office of Management and Budget at the White House. Amira is at the forefront of ensuring that the Federal Government delivers efficient and effective services to millions of Americans every day. Her role involves streamlining and enhancing the customer experience across various critical touchpoints, from vaccine safety information to retirement benefits and beyond. When talking to the students about systemic change and microlevel change, "AIESEC does a good job of training you to work at both ends of those spectrums and multiple levels in between," she said.
Brodie Boland began his AIESEC journey in Calgary and then made his way to MCP of Canada. But that wasn't where he ended his AIESEC experience. Brodie moved on to AIESEC International as Director and then was elected as PAI for the 2005-06 term. Brodie is currently the Lead for McKinsey's work on sustainability in the built environment and is deeply committed to driving transformative change in our cities, real estate, and infrastructure. His focus lies in decarbonizing and enhancing the resilience of these critical systems, aiming to mitigate the impacts of climate change while preparing for its inevitable challenges. When looking back on his most memorable AIESEC experience, Brodie mentioned all of the international conferences he was fortunate enough to attend. "There was a feeling of a collective enterprise that was just inspiring. There was a sense of awe and a feeling of being a part of something huge."
Michael Flood, also from Georgia Tech and now a current AIESEC Life Board Member is Founder and CEO of Alpine Frog, an advisory practice in Education Technology (#EdTech) and Wireless. When speaking to the students, Michael said, "I really love staying connected to youth. There's a lot of things about the energy that is in this room, and the energy you get from youth and understanding what the passion is of the current generation as well as the tools you use, and the ways you communicate."
"I was always deeply sold on the value and mission of AIESEC. We do have conflict around the world and I do believe the only way to progress humanity is through a combination of education and intercultural international dialogue and that's the way we solve these problems. I think AIESEC is just as relevant now as it ever was," he said.
Our panel also included Kimmie Restificar, AIESEC UGA 2015. Kimmie is currently the Senior Director of Operations at Clutch. Clutch is a fast-growing B2B services marketplace. At Clutch, Kimmie leads 3 operational teams: Sales Ops, Marketing Ops, and Content Ops. When asked why she participated in this year's panel, Kimmie said, "I've been keen to reconnect with AIESEC, and I was excited to meet the current members. After the conversations I had with current members, I'm feeling inspired and re-energized about my own job. The AIESECers' passion reminded me of how I always envisioned bringing the AIESEC values into my future career."
Adam Mayala, a DC resident and AIESEC Alum also from UGA (2014) is a Senior Associate, Deals Transformation at PwC. Adam works in human capital consulting in the mergers and acquisitions space where he supports his clients in integrating and stabilizing HR systems and processes. After the panel discussion and attending the evening Alumnite, Adam was happy to reconnect with AIESEC after a few years. "After the conference, I felt energized and excited to reconnect with old friends and meet new students with their energy. I also want to reconnect with alumni and increase the AIESEC alumni presence in DC," he said.
The alumni panel served as a testament to the impact of AIESEC in shaping leaders, fostering connections, and driving change. As AIESEC Life reaffirms its commitment to supporting current members, the collective wisdom and experiences shared by alumni continue to inspire and guide the next generation of AIESEC leaders.