Coffee chats for Columbia students and alumni

Why the Columbia network is worth using

An MBA program in New York with strong finance and consulting placement. That shared background is a real advantage: people are far more likely to reply to someone from Columbia.

A coffee chat is the natural way to use that connection without asking for anything too big up front.

Where to find Columbia alumni

Start with the warmest sources and work outward:

• Your Columbia alumni directory, filtered by company or industry.
• LinkedIn, filtered by school so you can see fellow Columbia alumni at your target firms.
• Clubs and professional groups tied to Columbia.
• Recent graduates, who tend to remember what recruiting was like and reply quickly.

What to say when you reach out

Lead with the shared connection, then make a small, specific ask:

Hi [First name], I am also at Columbia and focused on [industry or role]. I would value 15 minutes to hear how you navigated recruiting and landed where you are. Would a short call work in the next couple of weeks?

Keep it short and make it easy to say yes.

Stay organized as you scale up

During recruiting you may run dozens of these conversations. Track who you spoke with, what you discussed, and your next follow-up so no relationship goes cold and every thank-you goes out on time.