Coffee has a way of slowing people down. It creates space to sit, listen and talk about things we don’t always make time for. Over the past 16 months, that simple ritual led me to something I never quite expected: 100 coffees with 100 Macquarie University alumni.
When I first joined the Alumni Relations team at Macquarie University, I knew I wanted to help strengthen the relationship between the University and its alumni. But as I immersed myself in this vibrant community of graduates, I was driven to do more than just create connections or facilitate one-way communication. I wanted to truly listen and understand what stayed with alumni from their time at Macquarie, as well as how those experiences have shaped the lives they’re living now.
This curiosity became my #CoffeeWith100MQAlumni project.
Still buzzing: Alumni Success Officer Yue Zhang, pictured, says her #CoffeeWith100MQAlumni project has inspired her to find more ways to connect with Macquarie graduates.
The idea wasn’t entirely new. A decade ago, when I was living in San Francisco, I attended an event called '100 Coffees with Strangers'. I was captivated by the notion that everyone has a story worth telling – we just need to take the time to pause and listen. Years later, I realised Macquarie’s alumni community was full of unique experiences, career paths and transformative moments. To uncover these stories, coffee felt like the most human place to start.
At first, scheduling 100 meetings with alumni from different industries, age groups and walks of life felt ambitious, maybe even unhinged. But over the course of the project, one conversation led to another and I ended up meeting alumni with 61 unique degrees working in diverse industries: leaders, writers, scientists, entrepreneurs, educators and many more.
[The project] was a beautiful reminder of how the ripple effect of connection stretches far and wide.
What I discovered went far beyond my expectations. Each conversation reaffirmed my belief that storytelling isn’t just about sharing achievements; it’s about uncovering turning points and the small kindnesses that made a difference. They shared stories of a lecturer who believed in them, a group project that pushed them outside their comfort zone, or a mentor who shaped the rest of their lives. I was struck by the openness and honesty of our alumni, and how often their stories were deeply influenced by their long-held ties to the University.
Support for the project also came from unexpected places. While my colleagues on the Philanthropy and Alumni Relations team were incredibly supportive from the start, I was equally encouraged by academic staff and colleagues across the University who championed the project in their own unique ways. Many connected me with alumni they knew, joined the coffee meetings, or amplified the project on LinkedIn. It was heartwarming to see how much the project resonated with a community that believes in the power of conversations.
I know you might want to ask me which story was my favourite, but honestly, it’s impossible to choose. For Coffee #1, an alum brought along a Macquarie student who was interning at their company and curious to join the conversation. Just last week, I met that same student, now a proud Macquarie graduate working full-time as a software engineer.
Then, there was Coffee #25: I met an alum who spotted my Macquarie tote bag in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku Station, and in that unexpected meeting, he shared how he now works as a translator for major media outlets in Japan.
Coffee #70 introduced me to a successful business leader who, after a growing interest in wildlife conservation, returned to Macquarie to pursue a Graduate Certificate in Conservation Biology. She now works on a koala conservation project.
Hunters and collectors: The project enabled Yue to collect 100 photos ... and many more stories.
And then there was Coffee #99: an alum who went on an even more ambitious journey to have 500 lunches with strangers, a goal he achieved in 2025 after six years of hard work.
As for Coffee #100? That was a story of three generations of Macquarie alumni. The late grandfather had left a bequest to fund scholarships for Macquarie students, and a powerful reminder that the legacy of a single person can ripple far beyond their lifetime.
Reaching Coffee #100 was an emotional moment for me. Somewhere between scheduling meetings and finding cafés, I was constantly reminded that our alumni carry Macquarie in their hearts. Their resilience, curiosity and generosity continue to inspire who we are as a community today. One conversation often led to alumni opening doors to collaborate, giving back as mentors or volunteers. It was a beautiful reminder of how the ripple effect of connection stretches far and wide.
The storytelling doesn’t stop here. Together with my colleagues in Alumni Relations, I’ll continue to find ways to listen, connect and share the incredible stories that make up the Macquarie community.
If you’re a proud alum, or know someone who is, let’s connect. There’s always room for more stories at Macquarie – even if I have switched to peppermint tea!
Learn more about the Macquarie University alumni community.