The importance of networking | Financial Times

Hello from London. Networking in a crowded room may be the last thing on students’ minds as thoughts turn to vacations and the heat reaches record levels in much of the world. But the contacts made at business schools are invaluable, as responses from alumni in FT rankings surveys show.

Networking ahead of study can also be valuable. An analysis by Quilt.ai for the FT, which studies big data, suggests that among leading US business schools, Chicago Booth, Duke Fuqua and Northwestern Kellogg trigger discussions with the greatest engagement in online forums sharing information and experiences about MBAs.

Special offer

Join the FT Weekend Festival in London on September 3. Students can watch free online or buy a reduced rate ticket to attend in person for debates, tastings, performances and more. Hear from Great British Bake-Off winner Nadiya Hussain, novelists Ali Smith and Monica Ali, MP and former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, Ukrainian chef Olia Hercules and psychotherapist Esther Perel in conversation with Lucy Kellaway and more. Claim your student discounted festival pass today.

Looking for transformational businesses

Entries are invited for the FT/IFC transformational business awards. We are seeking submissions by 31 July for companies and initiatives created since 2016 with annual revenues of at least $3mn or a capital base of at least $5mm.

Categories are for companies making a difference to human capital, climate change, finance and gender-lens finance. There is also recognition on new deep tech ideas with the potential, with additional funding, to have a transformational impact.

Message in a chart

Business education it is not just about acquiring knowledge but for many also networking to build key connections for later life. Around half of masters in finance and MBA alumni surveyed for the rankings agree that the networking activities organised by their schools were valuable.

More than half agree that the networking at business schools helped them to find a job or provide career opportunities and gain new ideas during their studies. Fewer said it helped with starting a company.

Leo Cremonezi and Sam Stephens

This week’s reading

Mario Draghi offers to stand down as Italy’s prime minister
President rejects resignation of former ECB chief and asks him to speak to parliament next week

US inflation hits 9.1% as pressure grows on Federal Reserve
Markets price in higher chance of 1% rate rise this month after bigger-than-expected jump in prices

Ukraine: can Russia still win the war?
Analysts say Kyiv has six months to drive out the invading forces from the country before fatigue sets in and it faces prolonged military gridlock

Quiz: Are you up to date with the news?

The president of Sri Lanka was forced to flee the country after protesters took over his palace. Which country did he fly to first? Test yourself with ten questions.

Send us your news, insights and recommendations for the classroom by replying this email or [email protected]