On 9 October, Técnico hosted another edition of Alumni Talks, an initiative that brings current and former students together for inspiring conversations about professional futures during a relaxed brunch.
José Júnior, a first-year undergraduate student in Civil Engineering, and Leonel Ribeiro, a third-year student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, arrived at Técnico Innovation Center (TIC) with different questions. “I thought it could be interesting to hear from someone who has already been through this stage and see how they applied what they learnt here”, shared José Júnior. Leonel Ribeiro thought it would be interesting to hear how “more experienced people” dealt with the difficulties of academic life and how they made decisions about the way forward.
Rogério Colaço, President of Instituto Superior Técnico, opened the session by welcoming and thanking six alumni who accepted the invitation to share their experiences. Representing different fields and generations of Técnico alumni, Sofia Oliveira, Innovation Manager at Santander; Mónica Fonseca Cruz, Business Development Manager at Grid; Guilherme Farinha, Co-Founder of Alfredo; Gonçalo Saint-Maurice, Business Developer at Galp; Eduardo Bicardo, Managing Director & Partner at BCG; and Luís Lobo, CTO at Tekever, provided a living testimony to the diversity of the alumni community.
Throughout the event, the alumni shared their experiences on topics such as the challenges of academic life, professional careers, adapting to the market, networking, the international market, and career changes. Personal stories were interwoven with practical advice on dealing with uncertainty, choosing opportunities, and turning obstacles into learning.
Sofia Oliveira, representing Santander—a partner of Alumni Talks since 2014—expressed her enthusiasm by saying, “It’s always a huge pleasure to return to this place to which I owe so much. I usually share three key ideas with those about to enter the job market: be curious and don’t be afraid to explore the frontier between engineering and other fields, seek a professional purpose, and maintain an active network.” She also emphasised that Santander’s support for this initiative showcases the institution’s confidence in the role of universities and the talent that emerges from them.
Maria Figueiredo, a second-year master’s student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, shared that the event provided her with “a more realistic view of what comes next”. Beatriz Gonçalves and Joana Freitas, both studying Biomedical Engineering, highlighted the practical usefulness of the conversations. Beatriz noted, “It was good to realise that there are many paths to the same destination”.
Later in the morning, José Júnior and Leonel Ribeiro left the auditorium with new ideas and a shared conviction: “Perseverance is essential. Anything is possible, even when the path seems uncertain”, remarked José Júnior. “It was enlightening to understand that our journey isn’t always linear and that challenges are also part of growth”, added Leonel Ribeiro.
