Meetings with inspiring alumni
When the Tel Aviv University Alumni Organization was established in May 2015, it was decided that its focal goal would be strengthening the ties between the alumni and the university, and among the alumni themselves. Such bonds are highly beneficial for both parties: while influential, inspiring alumni enhance the value and reputation of the university, a renowned, outstanding university raises the value of every graduate's degree.
Tel Aviv University alumni hold central positions in every area of Israel's economy - an enormous asset which the Organization wishes to highlight, cultivate and utilize. Accordingly, one of the Organization's very first initiatives was launching a series of Encounters with Inspiring Alumni. In these unique meetings successful TAU graduates from greatly varied fields willingly share the story of their journey to the top with co-alumni.
Most meetings consist of two parts: first, the main speaker tells his/her inspiring story; this is followed by a special enrichment or entertainment program, with top lecturers and/or performers.
The unique series provides TAU alumni with an enjoyable platform for networking and personal enrichment, equipping them with tools for personal leverage in a friendly and pleasant social atmosphere.
The first meeting in the series, which took place in May 2015, featured our alumnus Uri Levine, Founder & Chairman of FeeX and co-Founder of WAZE. Levine said: "The entrepreneur follows his dream. He is driven by a dream and a passion – something he wants to change in the world… If you ask a real entrepreneur 'What is your next startup?' he'll always have a ready answer, because at any given moment, the entrepreneur has several ideas on his mind." Levine compared the process of establishing a startup to falling in love, and said that after the passion stage, when the project actually begins, comes the stage of sacrifice, characterized by ups, but mostly by many downs, and so "If you don't love what you are doing – do something else, something you love, and enjoy your life." Levine's talk was followed by a helpful lecture: 'From small-talk to big success.'
The inspiring alumnus in the second meeting, in September 2015, was Zvika Hadar – actor, comedian and leading TV host, who talked about the passage from the university to the University of Life. His story was followed by the enlightening lecture: 'It's not what you know, but who you know'.
The third meeting was held in December 2015 at Zappa Herzliya, in interview format. Revital Hendler, Faculty of the Arts alumna, Founder of AllJobs and Founding Partner in BreezoMeter, interviewed Meir Brand, Faculty of Social Sciences alumnus, CEO of Google Israel, Russia, the Middle East and Africa, and VP of Google. Brand shared his vision with the audience: follow your heart, curiosity and passion, work hard and don’t look for shortcuts. His advice to entrepreneurs in the audience was: don't be afraid of failure, get used to the feeling, and learn to overcome it on your way to success. After the interview the audience enjoyed an exciting performance by guitar legend Avi Singolda and his band.
The next meeting, in March 2016, was held in the spirit of International Women's Day. Theater, TV and movie actress Limor Goldstein, Faculty of the Arts alumna, told her personal story, speaking of key sentences from her parental home, which had guided her and shaped her personality, such as: 'Don't place all your eggs in one basket'. She went on to describe how her love for acting got the better of this golden rule, and how, despite everything, she ended up placing all her eggs in the basket of her beloved profession. The event ended with a performance of the feminine trio 'Shlosharot' - Aya Korem, Raz Shmueli and Michal Geva – with a tribute to Israeli singing trios through the years.
On 2 January 2017, the 5th meeting with Inspiring Alumni event was held in conclusion of a fruitful year of activities with and for TAU Alumni, and in celebration of the beginning of 2017. In the center of this meeting will be the inspiring story of Yuval Tal, Faculty of Engineering alumnus, founder and president of Payoneer. Then the alumni enjoyed a special performance by the Singer, Musician and Composer David Broza.
Eeach one of the inspiring alumni who joins the series brings with him/her an entire world. Each comes from a different realm, offering a different kind of personal story and inspiration. But they all share a desire to give back, a joy of returning to their roots, and the satisfaction of inspiring those co-alumni who want to listen.
New events are continually advertised on the event calendar in this website and on the Facebook page of the Tel Aviv University Alumni Organization.
We look forward to seeing you with us!
