What is a Life Studio?

A Seminar Series and Workshop for Life

Design the life you want to live.

Life Studios: Purpose

The Life Studios program helps students design the life they want to live – aligning academic learning with personal growth and real-world experience,
so you will never have to say,

“I wish someone had told me then what I know now.”

Students collaborate with alumni who share their backgrounds, interests, and lived experiences. Seminar Sessions are built around storytelling, where alumni reflect on pivotal moments in their personal and professional journey and share their hard-earned lessons. Workshops are also available in some universities for a more in-depth personal experience.

These are not lectures. They are honest, reflective conversations that help students uncover the questions that will shape their personal and professional paths.

Life Studios is supported by another program called I am U Connect, an on-demand personal mentorship platform where students continue their journey through their own Trusted Guide Circle. Together, these programs transform the alumni network into a living educational resource that supports students far beyond graduation.

Discover I am U Connect

Alumni Advancement Program

Program Overview

Life Studios are offered in two formats:

Group Seminars

60–75 minute sessions featuring one guest alum, focused on storytelling and reflection.

The sessions follow a simple, powerful structure:

The Story – A real turning point or moment of struggle
The Challenge – What it demanded emotionally or professionally
The Lesson – What it revealed, and how it shaped the future

Workshops

A deeper dive that guides students in creating a personal life model and roadmap.

Workshops include:

Personal Review Sessions: A deep dive into the life you want to build
Life Road Map: A personal model of your future and how to make it happen
Class Pinup Presentations: Sharing and refining life models with peers

Why participate in Life Studios?

Textbooks provide knowledge. Professors provide expertise. But students also need context, perspective, and lived insight.

Life Studios fills that gap by expanding the university’s role from a place of instruction to a lifelong ecosystem of guidance, connection, and growth.

For Students

Life Studio offers:

A glimpse into what life might look like beyond graduation
A chance to meet future versions of yourself and explore paths you may want to model your life after
An opportunity to walk away from college with confidence and purpose, knowing you’ve chosen the right path (Companies favor employee loyalty and longevity over talent)
A way to explore different approaches to a career you probably never imagined.
Dedicated time to step back from coursework and begin planning for life beyond graduation
A space to explore not just careers, but also the lifestyles that come with them. Discover how different paths shape daily life and what trade-offs or opportunities they offer.

For Alumni

Life Studio offers:

A meaningful way to reconnect with the university through mentorship
A chance to reflect on their own journey while guiding the next generation
A structured, time-bound engagement model that fits within busy professional schedules
An opportunity to rediscover purpose and impact beyond career success

For Universities

Life Studio offers:

Strengthens alumni engagement, benefiting both students and alumni
Complements academic and career advising
Extends the university’s role as a lifelong source of guidance and connection beyond graduation
Provides a scalable, flexible model that supports advancement and retention.