What is the structure for Booth 20/20?
During Booth 20/20, there will be three moderated panels (see "Schedule"). Each panel will feature three to four different alumni, exposing students to, at minimum, 9 to 12 alumni during the course of this one-day program. Students will remain in the same room during the entirety of Booth 20/20.
What are the themes for the panels?
This experience is meant to showcase and highlight the diverse narratives from each alumni. The theme is around the Booth experience, but topics such as leadership development, resiliency during failure, or navigating the current workforce will come up. There will be opportunities for you, the student, to ask targeted questions to the alumni, allowing the conversation to deepen and expose the kernels of tactical advice embedded in each story. The goal of this experience is to introduce you to the variety of paths alumni have taken.
When will I get my room assignment?
Room assignments are based on your LAUNCH quarter. You will receive your room on your nametag when you check in at registration.
Can I choose my own room?
No. You will be placed in a room with your fellow LAUNCH classmates. The reason for this is so we can distribute each room evenly and prevent too much congestion during breaks.
When will I know which alumni will be participating in the panel in my room?
You will learn of the alumni in your room on the day of Booth 20/20. The intent is not to hold off from letting you know who you will be seeing, but to allow for adjustments should anything arise leading up to April 5.
What if I see an alum I want to listen to?
Alumni are randomly selected in the rooms they are placed in. They will move to different rooms while all students remain in the room they were assigned to. There is a chance you will miss an alum you are excited to meet. Our intention is not to stifle these opportunities, but to create the "aha" moments from the unexpected. The alumni you wish to seek likely has a background that overlaps or interests you, which is great, but it could also close you off from hearing from other unexpected journeys.
If there is an alum you do not hear from on the panel, try and catch them at the networking reception!
Why is this not an industry-focused panel discussion?
Great question! Thanks to many of the student groups, as well as the other centers at Booth, and our other partners, like Career Services, you have ample opportunity to listen and participate in industry-focused discussions. It makes for a richer conversation when your alumni panelists connect with one another through their shared experience attending Booth. You also may not have realized how interesting certain industries are until you hear from an alum in one you otherwise would not have sought.
What if I can only attend one panel?
We do not wish to exclude anyone, but we ask that you be available from beginning to end, out of respect for the alumni who also dedicated a half-day to this experience.
Will Booth 20/20 be dual modality?
Unfortunately, this will not be an offering at the moment. We apologize if you are unable to attend in person and will look to find additional opportunities to connect you with alumni. Please email alumni@chicagobooth.edu if you are not in Chicago and wish to connect with alumni in your city.
Will there be food and beverages?
Yes! Early registration begins at 12:30 p.m. and there will be boxed lunch available to students. You may eat your lunch in the Student Lounge on the first floor. Each classroom will have snacks, water, soft drinks, and coffee. After the three panels, there will be a student reception on the 6th floor, which we encourage you to attend, connect with students and enjoy passed appetizers and additional beverages.
I am still interested in connecting with an alum I did not have the opportunity to see during the panels. What can I do?
Great question. If you happen to find the alum during one of the 15-minute breaks, and if this alum is not busy (talking to the moderator, talking to another alum, talking to other students, or needing a break from talking too much during the panel), please introduce yourself and connect with them there.
If all else fails, you can email alumni@chicagobooth.edu after Booth 20/20 so the Alumni Engagement team can help with that sought-after introduction.