At Intercontinental Trust Ltd (ITL), we have always emphasised the value of our family-like culture, where staff feel supported by peers and managers alike, and teamwork lies at the heart of our efforts. Indeed, in our recent values refresh to mark the 25th anniversary of ITL, a key value that emerged was ‘Together, we are ITL!’, reinforcing the bonds that our employees share. Our alumni programme, now in its fifth year, helps us take this value to the next threshold – ensuring that our employees continue to feel like a part of the ITL family even when they have moved to new pastures.
Recognising the value of staying connected with former colleagues, ITL runs a programme that recognises the significance of keeping in touch with ex-employees, we are thrilled to find ourselves in good company. Indeed, according to a recent article by the World Economic Forum, corporate alumni programmes are an increasingly popular way for organisations globally to keep in touch with employees. Such programmes allow employees to stay connected across an increasingly mobile workforce, enjoy a support network after moving on from the workplace, and leverage networking opportunities in related organisations, even as companies continue to benefit from ex-employees’ ideas, connections and experience.
Research bears out that such a network works best when it is mutually beneficial for the organisation and ex-employees alike, supporting organisational goals while offering value to its members. Further, management support is crucial as their backing, and indeed, involvement, can provide the necessary resources and legitimacy to corporate alumni programmes, making such initiatives truly lasting ones. Finally, a solid corporate culture is the foundation for any alumni network, ensuring that employees keep coming back for more.
ITL Executive Director Yan Ng, who drives our alumni network, notes, “The ITL Alumni programme is all about creating a welcoming space for people to come together, nurturing a sense of belonging and supporting one another. Our alumni network thrives on genuine relationships, a shared sense of purpose and continuous enrichment, making it a dynamic extension of our organisational family. At ITL, we value all our employees – past and present – making this initiative a truly cherished one.”
Our latest outing: Striking up conversations at Strike City, making memories
Against this backdrop, it was exciting to see our ITL Alumni reunite earlier this year for an evening of fun activities and meaningful conversations, joined by some of the Heads of our Business Units. Peals of laughter, shouts of friendly competition, and murmurs of nostalgic conversations filled the air as colleagues past and present reconnected in the relaxed setting of Strike City, Bagatelle.
Beyond the bowling lanes and shared memories, the evening also featured an especially exciting milestone – a live test of Amelia 2.0. As context, Amelia was first introduced as our AI receptionist (Phase 1) to handle routine calls after-hours enquiries. Phase 2 of the project was presented to the attendees. It is designed to enhance ITL presentations and support live, client-facing meetings by guiding slide flow and answering questions in real time, using comprehensive data and context.
It was fantastic to see how intrigued and engaged our alumni were by these key developments that ensure ITL is embracing innovation and technology at pace – all while staying true to its people-centric values.
From reconnecting with familiar faces to previewing key milestones that herald a brighter and bolder future for ITL, such events are a wonderful reminder that once part of the ITL family, you remain part of the ITL journey. Cheers to many more memorable outings with our alumni, and to forging meaningful connections between present and past employees of the ITL family!
