Maintaining Ties: Nomura’s Alumni Network

Nomura’s alumni program was launched in 2023 to connect former Nomura employees who are active in many different fields. It offers re employment opportunities, peer networks and potential collaborations with Nomura’s businesses. In this article, we spotlight the second alumni networking event and explore the reasons behind the program’s creation.

One evening in September, Nomura hosted an alumni networking event at our headquarters in Otemachi, Tokyo. While alumni programs are often associated with schools and universities, corporate alumni networks are becoming increasingly common— many large Western financial institutions have long maintained them.

Nomura launched its alumni initiative in 2023 as a joint effort between Investment Banking (Nomura Securities) and Nomura Asset Management. At the second networking event in September, about 20 alumni and 10 current employees from these organizations gathered in a reunion-like atmosphere. Toshiya Yoshida, Senior Managing Director of Group HR Strategy & Talent Development, opened the event and outlined three objectives for the alumni network: (1) rehiring, (2) business collaboration with Nomura Group, and (3) learning from alumni. 

After his remarks, current employees gave updates on Nomura’s recent financial results, changes in the Investment Banking business over the past few years, and ongoing digital initiatives. Alumni then introduced themselves and shared their current roles, which included entrepreneurs running their own companies, professionals based overseas, and specialists in corporate M&A. 

During the networking session, conversations flowed easily among the former colleagues and  continued well beyond the scheduled time. At the end, many attendees expressed interest in meeting again soon.

Q. Please tell us about the alumni network.

Nomura’s alumni network began as a pilot covering two organizations that are highly specialized and offer mobility: Investment Banking and Asset Management. Our aim was to dispel the idea that leaving Nomura means you can’t come back. Many alumni maintain strong, positive ties with the company and our employees after leaving, which broadens our recruitment options. We also see collaborating with peers who have diverse careers and viewpoints  as a way to create new value and strengthen the organization.

Q. What does the alumni network do?

We teamed up with Hackazook, experts in alumni hiring, and used their network to create an online community for sharing company updates and strategic direction. We also hold in-person networking events like this one. This was only our second, small-scale event, so we haven’t introduced specific themes yet. Over time, we plan to develop programs—for example, curated exchanges between our employees and startup founders.

Q. Given it’s been about two years since the launch, how do you feel about the progress?

We’re seeing a gradual rise in the number of alumni interested in rejoining Nomura. We also  hear conversations about rejoining through other employees, so the initiative is having a tangible impact. Alumni have started to request informal conversations with hiring managers rather than formal interviews. Many of them already have strong foundations from their time here, plus valuable experience gained elsewhere, making them high-potential candidates. We’d welcome their return, but we’re equally excited about collaborations between Nomura and  our alumni, or between alumni themselves. If Nomura alumni go on to drive change in the world, that’s a win for us.

Q. What will the alumni network aim for going forward?

First, we want to increase interaction among alumni, and between alumni and current employees. We also want alumni to continue to support Nomura and spread positive impressions of our firm to those around them. This will strengthen our employer branding and make returning to Nomura a natural career option. To achieve that, we’ll increase opportunities to connect and actively energize the community.

I’m now with Nowcast, where I work with big data — especially alternative data like search trends and credit-card data — using indices to analyze Japanese equities and macroeconomics. I came from Asset Management, and heard many attendees today were from Investment Banking, so I joined hoping to introduce my company and make connections. It was a welcoming, cozy event, and I appreciated the chance to introduce myself.

I’m currently based in Hong Kong, so I was glad my Tokyo business trip coincided with this event. Investors here have strong interest in Japan, so hearing about Nomura was the main highlight for me. It was inspiring to see alumni active in so many fields. I worked in Investment Banking and I remember how hard it was to return after having a child, but Nomura feels truly global now. Nomura is both old and new. It has a deep history, yet it is also constantly taking on new challenges, which is wonderful.

I joined today primarily out of love for my old company. Starting next April, I’ll be the CFO of a startup called Instalimb, leading fundraising and IPO processes. I also came to enlist support; during the self-introductions, I had a chance to speak with people who might help with fundraising. The event yielded more than I expected! Nomura alumni are respected as professionals, so I’m glad I started my career there. 

I talked to many people and made connections that should help my business—I’m satisfied. The investment fund I work for sometimes engages Nomura for advisory work or collaborates with Nomura alumni on projects, so the alumni network is very meaningful. My time at Nomura instilled a dedicated work ethic. It was a wonderful experience training and learning together with shared goals and principles.