00:40 - Sure! I'm Angila, the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of the alumni association. I've been with the association for 11 years and have spent a total of 26 years in Michigan. My career journey started with an internship at Michigan Medicine, where I eventually rose to managing the accounting department. From there, I transitioned to roles in budgeting, finance, and finance IT, before joining the alumni association 15 years ago. My experience here has broadened my understanding of business operations, ultimately leading to my current role as CFO.

03:34 - Institutions like Michigan are vast, with numerous opportunities for career movement. While my previous roles in health system finance and IT involved analyzing financial performance, the university comprises distinct sectors: academic, health system, and research. Transitioning to the alumni association, an affiliated nonprofit entity, allowed me to leverage my expertise in nonprofit finance, despite the organizational differences.

04:45 - Certainly. About seven or eight years ago, our alumni association embarked on a transformation to enhance alumni engagement. We aimed to reach all 670,000 Michigan alumni, which presented a significant challenge. One project involved transitioning our CRM tool to Salesforce within a tight six-month timeframe. Despite encountering complexities in data integration, we managed to complete the project in seven months. While missing the deadline was personally challenging for me, it taught valuable lessons in resilience and problem-solving. Despite the long hours and challenges, the experience ultimately contributed to our organization's growth.

07:00 - We approached the transformation to minimize customizations and align with industry standards, but found some complexities requiring customization. Change management was a significant challenge, as we had to persuade stakeholders to embrace change. Despite some resistance, we made strides in optimizing processes. Post-implementation, we integrated additional Salesforce products like Marketing Cloud and revamped our website, enabling seamless data integration and enhancing engagement tracking capabilities.

10:00 - We're exploring ways to integrate AI into our analytics tool to optimize engagement strategies for our extensive alumni network. By harnessing AI, we aim to derive insights from data more efficiently, moving beyond traditional query-based analysis. Our focus is on understanding how best to engage specific demographic groups, like those aged 30 to 40, to tailor our outreach effectively.

10:58 - We're vigilant about cybersecurity risks, prioritizing thorough testing of software patches to mitigate vulnerabilities. While it's challenging to keep pace with evolving threats, we maintain a robust testing process to ensure security and stay ahead of potential risks.

11:43 - Networking plays a crucial role in staying abreast of industry trends. I actively engage with other Chief Financial Officers from alumni associations, attend conferences, and leverage resources from platforms like Salesforce. Collaborating with my technology and finance teams helps us merge insights effectively. Ultimately, I find networking to be the most powerful tool for staying informed and understanding emerging trends.

13:13 - My journey at Michigan has been shaped significantly by mentorship. Early in my career, I had supervisors who believed in me and provided growth opportunities. For instance, shadowing the Chief Financial Officer exposed me to invaluable learning experiences. Staying connected with past supervisors has been crucial for support and guidance. I believe in seeking honest feedback to foster personal and professional growth.

15:35 - I prioritize regular one-on-one meetings with my staff, utilizing our organization's 'no meeting Fridays' policy to encourage career reflection. Quarterly check-ins allow us to address development goals and growth opportunities. Learning from on-the-job experiences is key, and I aim to empower my team to step up as leaders by sharing insights and encouraging intentional mentorship on both sides.

17:30 - With the pandemic prompting a shift to virtual events, we've seen significant changes in engagement strategies. Leveraging virtual platforms like Zoom has allowed us to reach a wider audience. Additionally, utilizing data analytics has enabled us to tailor engagement efforts based on individual behaviors and preferences, enhancing our ability to connect with alumni effectively.