Rob McKeon, Full-time MBA alum and co-chair of the WBS Sustainability Professional Network, shares his insights into the benefits of joining the network and his role as co-chair.

Can you tell us a bit about your new role as co-chair of the Sustainability Professional Network?

As an alum, I'm proud to have recently been appointed as co-chair of the new WBS Sustainability Professional Network (launched in 2024), the goal of which is to bring together WBS students and alumni to discuss and learn about the role of sustainability in businesses as we aim to reach our Net Zero goals. We plan to arrange face-to-face events and webinars throughout the year, which will cover a number of wide-ranging topics across sustainability to highlight how it is key to every part of business and should be central to all business decisions.

Tell us about the goals of your Professional Network? 

The goals of the professional network are to bring students and alumni together to learn about sustainability as well as making connections that can support them and/or their business moving forward. Sustainability is a topic that has been discussed for a number of years, but usually as a side note. That has changed significantly, which is really positive. The aim of the network is to continue building on that momentum and provide the WBS alumni network with opportunities to continue learning about such an important topic in life and business.

How are you working to achieve the networks goals? 

We are looking to organise in-person and online events that cover a wide range of topics and allow people to learn from industry experts and one another during the networking periods. We have brought together a great committee of people working in a number of sectors who will work hard to organise these events and bring in the right people to educate and inform those who attend.

How have you benefited from being part of the alumni community? 

I have really enjoyed going to the alumni events and have met a number of people at those events who I have built further relationships with both personally and professionally. I have also met professionals who are not alumni, but have been invited to attend events, which is also very helpful. The topics covered at alumni events are also very interesting and informative.

Sum up in one sentence what the global alumni community at WBS means to you. 

The global alumni community allows me to stay connected to the MBA which was one of the best years of my life as well as adding to the great network of friends I made during that time.