Interview with ruta labalaukyte, alumni council co-chair

What was the most rewarding aspect of your time on the Alumni Council?

People - BAFF is the network of extraordinary and extremely wise people of the Baltics and beyond - Alumni, Alumni Council members, Coordinators, BAFF Board and staff, that I worked together with to kick off the Alumni Community as we have now. Getting to know and work alongside everyone, build experiences and moments together so others could advance their leadership skills, professional journeys or their network was the most rewarding part, and it brought meaning and purpose to our work.

Were there any unexpected insights or lessons about the alumni community that shaped your approach?

My question since the start stays the same - how to scale the Alumni Community? How to bring people together? The alumni community isn’t built on flashy, big gestures. Instead, it’s the little things - a heartfelt personal message, an email, a phone call, or a personalized invitation - that makes all the difference. These small actions are the most meaningful ones, and the ones creating relationships between us all in BAFF Alumni. After all, at the heart of everything we do there is a person - real relationships can’t be automated, and that’s what makes this work so special.

In your view, what lasting impact has your work had on the BAFF alumni community?

Hopefully - more connected community. In 2020 we took the baton from Country Presidents and as Alumni Council just started to build even more connected BAFFians, and while at Alumni Council we have KPIs and metrics in numeric values - all our work is about connecting people. We are still to find perfect metrics to measure the impact of our Alumni network. But seeing engagement, people working together, consulting each other, building businesses together, and achieving their personal and professional goals - that is the ripple effect and recipe for a thriving alumni network.

What leadership skills did you develop through this role, and how have they impacted your career or personal growth?

Most of the time creativity was my best friend, especially when it came to solving challenges that seemed impossible. We do not operate with huge resources - it is people, their free time, their motivation. Looking back, I realize how much Alumni Council experience sharpened my ability to navigate complexity driven by personal interests - something that’s been invaluable in my career and personal life.

Working closely with the Board of Directors was another highlight. It’s not every day you get to collaborate with leaders who are extremely experienced and accomplished, but care so much about our region and how to build our future. They taught me so a lot about people, breaking down complexity and solving it in simple ways, the art of building a community and strategic approach.

What advice would you give to new Alumni Council members to ensure they contribute meaningfully?

For anyone new to the Council, my biggest piece of advice is find what excites YOU and dive into it. Everyone has something unique to offer, and even the smallest, most personal efforts can have a huge impact and there is space and possibilities to do most crazy ideas, too. Alumni Club is like a sandbox to trial your ideas and some crazy projects, or even learn new skills - maybe you want to build some app for Alumni networking - let’s see how that can be done, someone wants to build a new brand - that is happening - take part in it, maybe some new type of program - let’s do it! It is important to start and do it, and it doesn’t all have to come at once, it is a marathon, take tiny steps, pilot, adjust, pivot and repeat.

Plus, the chance to collaborate with amazing people just propels personal development and your project.

What do you see as the most important priorities for the Alumni Council moving forward?

For me BAFF Alumni Council is like the engine of our community - together with Alumni Coordinators we work to unite alumni, help them find their paths, and support their professional and personal growth. We do a lot of strategic work and think about the future of the community - would that be a new brand - Alumni Club, or how to advance the mentorship program for more senior managers, but also we are very hands on and might think about engagement to particular events.

As I think about the future, I believe the Council’s priorities should focus on keeping alumni at the center of everything we do, making engagements personal, and continuing to energize the network.

What motivated you to dedicate five years to engaging in the alumni community?

For me, dedicating time to the Council was never a question. Growing up, I saw my parents giving back to the community, even though we didn’t have much, and this became a part of who I am. When I joined in 2020, I had the energy, the time, and the desire to do something meaningful. The Council became the perfect outlet for that, and I don’t regret a single moment.

Balancing everything - family, work and council responsibilities - wasn’t always easy, but it felt natural. I had great support from my partner, who always encourages me to seek a bit more. When you’re passionate and motivated about something, it’s amazing how everything seems to go easier and just fall into place.