To mark Volunteers’ Week, UCL School of Management hosted its second annual Volunteer Celebration at One Canada Square, bringing together alumni and student volunteers to thank those whose generosity with their time, expertise and enthusiasm continues to strengthen the School’s community.
Opening the Evening
The evening opened with a welcome from Natalie Scanlon, Alumni Relations Manager, and Nida Siddiqui, Senior Employer Engagement Officer. Together, they highlighted the many ways volunteers contribute to life at the School, from alumni mentoring students, sharing industry expertise, supporting employer engagement initiatives and advising academic programmes, to students representing their cohorts and co-leading Industry Connection Clubs.
Continuous learning through volunteering
A highlight of the evening was hearing testimonials from three alumni volunteers. While their experiences differed, a resounding theme was volunteering as a powerful catalyst for ongoing personal and professional growth.
Tuhan Sapumanage (MSc Business Analytics, 2025) reflected on his transition from student volunteer to recent graduate and SoM Alumni Connect mentor. Speaking alongside his own former mentor, Joshua Wayoe, it was a powerful illustration a volunteering full-circle moment.
Joshua Wayoe (BSc Information Management for Business, 2019; MSc Entrepreneurship, 2020) shared how he has remained involved in supporting students since graduating, from his student days as Careers and Sponsorship Executive for the UCL African and Caribbean Society to providing industry insights through SoM Alumni Connect and now as a member of the MSc Creativity, Leadership and Innovation Advisory Board.
Mariam Sharangia (BSc Information Management for Business, 2016) discussed her efforts to help women navigate careers in technology and reflected on the two-way nature of mentoring, highlighting how much she has gained from the experience herself.
Celebrating our Volunteers
The evening concluded with remarks from Rachel Horsford, Head of Alumni and Supporter Relations (Faculties), who celebrated the dedication of the School of Management volunteer community.
Rachel discussed the value of staying connected and highlighted the many ways alumni can continue to engage with UCL through volunteering, mentoring and community-building activities.
Guests were then invited to raise a glass in recognition of the contribution made by volunteers across the School.
Volunteer with us
Our students and global community thrive because of volunteers who generously give their time, expertise and encouragement.
Whether you’re interested in mentoring a student, sharing your industry experience, joining an advisory board or supporting careers initiatives, there are many ways to get involved.
- School of Management opportunities: Register your interest to support students and School initiatives through the Alumni Relations and Careers teams.
- UCL-wide opportunities: Explore volunteering opportunities across the wider university through UCL Alumni Relations.
