Alumni Events

Connect with fellow alums in Vienna!

The Vienna Chapter of the Webster Alumni Association is regularly organizing events in and around Vienna, making it is easy to stay connected with the community. Since we try to satisfy a large audience with different tastes and interests, the events may have a cultural, career, networking, or educational focus.

A highlight each year is our annual Alumni Cocktail in spring - the biggest Vienna Alumni reunion with over 100 participants. The largest educational event with over 200 guests is the the annual Alumni Symposium in fall. It addresses not only Webster Vienna alums but a broader audience. At the Symposium, business leaders, alumni, students and guests have the unique opportunity to gain insight into a current topic, debate, exchange ideas and network.

Below, you find a summary of past events for the year 2011. In our Gallery, you find impressions of our past Alumni Events. We would be pleased to receive your feedback and ideas for future events. Just contact Liz Strini-Brown at the next get-together, via e-mail or by phone at +43-1-269 92 93-79. Upcoming events are announced in the Alumni event calendar on the Alumni front page.

Alumni Events 2011  

 

Fourth Alumni Symposium: Diversity versus Conformity, November 7

On the evening of November 7, 2011 more than 200 alumni, students and industry professionals gathered in the beautiful conference hall of Palais Eschenback to hear an expert panel discuss the topic of diversity within companies. "Diversity versus Conformity: Finding a Balance that's Right for Business" addressed not only the complexities of having a culturally diverse workforce, but also the difficulties of working across borders and appealing to an international customer base.  Webster University President Dr. Elizabeth Stroble and Provost and Senior Vice President Dr. Julian Schuster came all the way from St. Louis for the event and welcomed the crowd, highlighting the international nature of Webster University and the diversity that exists at its very core.  The invigorating and thought-provoking discussion was followed by a reception provided by Hilton Hotels Austria and Starbucks Coffee Company.

Alumni Heuriger, October 20

Every year for the past few years the alumni office has organized an evening at a Heuriger. This year approximately 20 alumni met at Feuerwehr Wagner, a cozy heuriger in the 19th district for home grown wine and traditional Austrian fare.

Croatian Chapter: 4th of July Barbeque, July 2

The Alumni Association Croatian Chapter, along with Webster Admission’s office, sponsored the AmCham (American Chamber of Commerce) Independence Day Picnic Sport's Zone. The event was held on July 2nd on Bundek lake. Croatian alumni who attended the event with their families were: Vedrana Perković-Hadl MA, ‘02, Sandra Bršec-Rolih BA ‘01 and Ivana Frankol BA, ‘00. The pool which Webster sponsored was occupied most of the time. The event was full of different kinds of entertainment, a raffle, and plenty of food and drinks. One of Croatian Webster alumni also won a prize - two nights in luxurious hotel near Dubrovnik! The event ended with wonderful and colorful fireworks. 

30th Anniversary Webster Ball, May 14

Over 500 people (alumni, graduates, students, faculty, staff, advisory board members and VIPs) attended the Vienna campus 30th anniversary ball. It was truly an homecoming event with about 200 alumni, many of whom travelled from countries such Iran, Egypt, Russia, Romania, Croatia, Serbia, Slovakia, Iceland and more. The Webster community celebrated an outstanding, high-end event in the grand surroundings of Vienna’s Palais Auersperg. A Viennese summer ball featuring everything a traditional Austrian ball should have: corporate sponsoring, VIP patronage and presence, a cocktail reception, an official opening with 14 Webster couples wearing beautiful white ball gowns and tuxedos, a fashion show by Webster alumnus Aleksandar Zabunovic, BA ’08, a Lancôme make-up corner, a raffle with the proceeds going to the charity "kleine herzen" (little hearts), great Lancôme give aways, classical music, and a disco.  As Arthur Hirsh, Director of Webster University Vienna, quoted: “The whole event was so spectacular, it took my breath away!”
 

Alumni Career Evening, April 21

Four Webster Alumni and a former staff member presented their experience and expertise on conducting a job search in today's market. Speakers included Lydia Goutas, MBA, the Managing Partner at Lehner Executive Partners and former Director of Admissions at Webster, Spyros Kleitsas, MA ‘02, a Project Analyst in the International Atomic Energy Agency, Steven Plenk, MBA ‘93, the Managing Director at time:matters Central/Eastern Europe, Amanda Kratochvil, MA ‘09, a Consultant at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Allison Snowden, MA '10, an Editor at the Austrian Academy of Sciences European Integration Research Institute.  The principle message conveyed was the importance to dampen expectations and be patient. Many of the speakers emphasized the importance of networking, noting that over sixty percent of jobs in Austria are found through connections. New graduates should be braced for a long and difficult job hunt, and often applications are not enough- they need to cultivate networks and contacts. On the bright side, the speakers concluded if you are having a difficult time finding a job as a new graduate, rest assured you are not alone. Your persistence and patience will pay off.

Vienna Vikings Match, March 20

A group of approximately 40 Webster alumni, faculty, staff, and students with their friends and family came out to support the Vienna Vikings, our local football team. This has become a valued tradition in the past couple of years. Once more the audience got a taste of American Football thanks to free tickets that were provided to Webster Vienna, which is a sponsor of the Vienna Vikings. While the game had to be moved to a different location due to bad weather, all participants enjoyed the truly American atmosphere and had fun cheering with the crowd.

After Work Drinks at Palffy Club, February 24

About 30 Webster alums followed the invitation of Igor Smilenski, BA ‘92, to meet at the stylish Palffy Club for after work drinks on February 24, 2011. We had the bar exclusively to ourselves until the clubbing started at 10:00 pm. All participants, including one faculty member, enjoyed the music and the drinks. Thanks, Igor, for organizing this event!

Alumni Ski Trip, January 28 

Babak Sarami, MBA ‘02, organized a skiing trip for Webster alumni to Stuhleck in Semmering. At 9:30 am the alumni arrived and started skiing on a wonderful sunny day. After a short coffee break in “Schwaigerhütte”, they continued skiing until 2:00 pm. Then they enjoyed their well-deserved lunch break in the panorama restaurant on 1750 meters before they returned to the slopes. The motivated group tried all the slopes, marveling on the perfect snow conditions until the last lift ran at 4:00 pm. On the way back, Babak treated the ladies for their skiing efforts to a hot chocolate in the restaurant “Landzeit”. Babak resumes: “We all had a fantastic time!”.

We would like to thank Babak for organizing the trip!

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