One Year, 4,000 Members: Yale SOM Professional Alumni Groups Celebrate Milestone and Announce First Live Events at Reunion 2026
In March 2025, SOM Alumni Relations in partnership with the SOM Alumni Advisory Board launched five Professional Alumni Groups in the focus areas of AI, entrepreneurship, social impact, supply chain, and sustainability. In just one year, these communities have become vital alumni communities.
These Professional Alumni Groups (PAGs) were established to connect SOM’s 13,000+ alumni—across geographies, industries, and sectors—who are navigating the impacts of AI, the changing landscape of entrepreneurship, social inequality, supply chain risks, and the climate crisis.
In just one year, these communities have crossed the remarkable milestone of having over 4,000 alumni members, and have become deeply connected, vital SOM alumni communities.
These five PAGs serve as formal alumni networks dedicated to unlocking insights and advancing progress for industries and society as we all navigate the profound impact of these global megatrends.
Led by distinguished SOM alumni chairs and co-chairs and SOM Alumni Relations, the PAG communities have exceeded all expectations in terms of reach and engagement. They have convened a vast range of virtual sessions and fireside chats on critical topics, from the future of AI to new models for solving the climate crisis. The PAGs remain a priority focus area for convening and connecting SOM alumni with faculty, staff, and greater Yale resources as we collectively navigate the current global business environment.
PAG Live Sessions at Yale SOM Reunion Weekend 2026: Sunday May 3
To celebrate this successful first year, SOM Alumni Relations is thrilled to announce the inaugural PAG in-person sessions during Yale SOM Reunion Weekend 2026 in New Haven.
These inaugural live sessions are a collaboration between SOM Alumni Relations Managing Director Courtney Lightfoot and Director of Strategic Initiatives Johanna Tondalo and the PAG alumni chairs and co-chairs—which include experts from companies including Amazon, Apple, Procter & Gamble, and Walmart, as well as Yale centers which include The Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking and The Program on Social Enterprise, Innovation, and Impact.
On Sunday, May 3, these communities will host live sessions open to all alumni celebrating a milestone reunion year. The sessions will include a vast range of perspectives on the trends shaping business and society, year one highlights, and what’s next.
We asked these SOM alumni to share a view on this important SOM alumni community milestone.
It’s remarkable to see the entire SOM community come together around the global mega trends shaping the future of business and society. The momentum of these groups is undeniable, and I have no doubt they will continue to drive innovation and collaboration across all sectors.
The growth of these groups underscores the spirit of innovation and community that defines SOM. Built to help alumni and students accelerate their careers, these groups have become invaluable networks. It is deeply rewarding to see these connections come to life with our first inaugural live events in New Haven during Reunion Weekend 2026.
Learn More:
Visit SOM Connect for more information on the PAGs and their SOM alumni leaders including:
- Y-AIM: Yale AI & Impact Makers, chaired by Shail Khiyara ’96
- SOM Entrepreneurs Network, chaired by Victor Padilla-Taylor ’15
- SOM & Society (Social Impact), co-chaired by Sooah Rho ’23, Billy Huang ’21, and Brandon Jones ’23
- SOMers in Supply Chain, co-chaired by Sid Mishra ’18, Andrea Pacheco ’22, Srinath Sabapathy’12, Meelendra Singh ’20, and Jorge Gosalvez Tejada ’22
- Sustainability Career Accelerator, chaired by Chetan Parekh ’06
