When the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted Erasmus University’s Rotterdam School of Management’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2021, the alumni relations team had a clever solution: hold events across the globe on a single day. The event—#RSM24: Around the World in 24 Hours—brought together alumni chapters worldwide on June 24, 2021, through in person, virtual, and hybrid events.

Given that 25% of Rotterdam graduates live abroad, the Netherlands university team worked to connect with volunteers across Europe, Asia, the U.S., Canada, and Latin America to organize 29 events with 800 total registrants.