From Alumni Team to Alumnus: Saying Goodbye and Hello to Saad Shakeel

Can a simple act of volunteering change your life? For Saad Shakeel it did, starting with the very first Uni.lu alumni event back in 2022, and he has never looked back. Over the next two and a half years, he became a key part of the Alumni Office, helping to grow the University of Luxembourg Alumni Network while balancing the demands of student life. As he now transitions from student to alumnus, Saad reflects on the highlights, challenges, and unforgettable moments that defined his time with the Alumni Office. 

Why did you decide to apply to Alumni Office for a student job? 

It all started when I volunteered at the very first Alumni event at the House of Startups. I remember listening to Andy Adams talk about the Alumni Network and his vision for its future. That moment really stuck with me, because I realised that in just a few years, I’d be an alumnus too, and I wanted to be part of what he was building. A few days after the event, I went up to his office and asked, “Hey, are you looking for help with building the Alumni Network?”. Fast forward a little more than 2 years, here we are. I can easily say it was the best decision I ever made! 

Saad volunteering at the first ever Uni.lu alumni event, November 2022

What was your highlight in the last years of working here? 

I would say the best part was the events, especially the summer parties. The networking events in autumn are amazing and very useful, but I believe the summer parties are on a different level. I had a lot of fun and made long-lasting connections there. Other than that, the last few months have been crazy because I had the feeling that I was in the final season of my very own TV-series, and that everything was building up to a climax. I had to somehow wind up everything that I was doing for the Alumni Office, and make it ready for a transfer to the “next Saad”, plus I had the pressure to graduate... So I would say the last few months were the best and most chaotic months of my life. But definitely worth it! 

First photo with colleagues, March 2023

One thing you are most proud of in your work for the Alumni Office?

One of the most rewarding projects I worked on with the Alumni Office was developing an internal data reporting tool using Power BI. This project stood out to me because it aligned with my coursework at the time. I was learning SQL and Data Management, and I found it exciting to apply those concepts in a real-world context. Contributing to a project with direct impact on university operations made the experience especially meaningful.

With our alumni at the networking event of the Alumni Network, November 2023

How was it combining work and studies during these two years? 

It wasn’t easy, but it was manageable because Andy is the best manager ever. He has always been very understanding of my exams and has never overburdened me with work at times when my studies had to take priority. In my opinion, it is difficult to manage a normal student job with studies, but Andy made it very easy for me, for which I will always be thankful. Plus, it was nice for me to keep myself busy; otherwise, I would procrastinate my semester away 👀 

With friends and the University Social Media Manger Aswin Lutchanah at the first Alumni Summer Party, July 2024

What made you choose the University of Luxembourg for your studies in the first place?

It was mainly the attractiveness of the country itself. Needless to say, Luxembourg is one of the best places to be in Europe. If I start listing out why I chose Luxembourg, I will need more than one interview! So I chose this university because (i) it is in Luxembourg, (ii) the cost of studies coupled with the quality of education makes it an absolute no-brainer. I am yet to find a university that offers this level of education and experience, with this level of affordability.  

How does it feel to be transitioning to alumnus status now after years of supporting the alumni through your work? 

Honestly, it is confusing. I feel proud looking back at what we’ve built here, but at the same time, I feel very nostalgic. So I think of it as “I will still continue to help build the Alumni Network, but as an alumnus from now on”. It’s like helping to build a car, and now finally being able to drive it. But it also means that I will not be able to impact creation of new features and the improvement of the existing ones. The only way I can somehow do that is by reaching out to Andy every once in a while with my feedback on how  “driving this car” is going for me. 

With friends and colleagues at his last alumni event as an employee, Alumni Summer Party in July 2025

What’s next for you?

My next challenge is to apply the things that I have learned from my studies and work at the Alumni office to the future steps in my career. I already got an offer from an IT company that I really wanted to work for, so now my challenge is to prepare myself for my next adventure!