DisruptHR with Alice Scaroni: Why Your Alumni Are Still Telling Your Story

When we think about employer branding, we often picture shiny career pages, polished value statements and carefully curated social media campaigns. But as Alice Scaroni reminds us on the DisruptHR stage, the real story of an organisation is written somewhere else entirely: at dinner tables, in WhatsApp chats, over coffee catchups — and yes, on Glassdoor.

With a humorous but razor-sharp comparison between workplace exits and romantic breakups, Scaroni illustrates a truth HR often underestimates:
Employees may leave your company, but they never leave your story.

And that story continues to shape how the world sees you.

The Breakup We Don't Talk About

“Glassdoor has become HR’s divorce court,” Alice says.
From the very first moment of her talk, Alice links the emotional narrative of breakups to the employee experience. When relationships end, stories emerge — not just between the couple, but among friends, colleagues and social circles.

Workplaces are no different.
When someone hands in their badge for the last time, the story of their experience does not remain behind corporate walls. It travels — and it sticks.

Marketing might craft the message, but alumni craft the reputation.

The Moment It Clicked

Alice shares the story that shifted her perspective: a conference for women in IT where she and her team promoted their organisation as an attractive employer. But their most convincing ambassador wasn’t anyone on the stand.

It was an alumna — someone who once joined the company after meeting Alice’s team at the same event, stayed two years, left on good terms, and returned to the conference.

Not to complain.
Not to warn candidates.
But to proudly bring some of the brightest women straight to their booth, sharing her own story of a positive experience.

A story far more persuasive than any career brochure.

In that moment, Alice realised: Alumni do not stop shaping your employer brand the day they leave.
They continue the narrative — and often far more authentically than a marketing campaign ever could.

The Power of Word of Mouth

Referral hires remain one of the most effective and reliable sources of talent. But referrals depend on one thing: trust.

If former employees tell their friends “Red flags everywhere,” your pipeline shrinks.
If they say “Great place — worth it,” your pipeline grows.

Or as Alice puts it: “Word of mouth is the original Tinder — still the most powerful matchmaker.”

Yet while organisations invest heavily in onboarding and the “honeymoon phase,” the exit process often feels cold, rushed or transactional. And that’s exactly where the story takes shape.

Three Ways to Shape Better Stories

Alice closes with three actionable shifts HR can start implementing next week — small changes with disproportionate impact.

1. Rethink Offboarding

Make the last day as human as the first. People remember how things end.

2. Celebrate Your Alumni

Treat them as ambassadors, not former employees. Their voices reach places your brand cannot.

3. Run Exit Interviews That Matter

Ask the difficult questions — and listen. Honest feedback protects your reputation and strengthens your culture.

Why It Matters

Alice ends her talk with a powerful reminder:
People may leave your company —
but they will never leave your story.

HR determines whether that story sounds like a messy divorce or a respectful ending…
one that keeps doors open, creates referrals, and attracts talent long after someone has moved on.

Key Take-Aways

• Alice Scaroni highlights that alumni shape your employer brand more effectively than marketing campaigns.

• Glassdoor is HR’s “divorce court”, where unmet expectations and frustrations come to light.

• Positive alumni stories strengthen talent pipelines; negative experiences shrink them.

• Word of mouth, according to Alice, remains the most powerful recruitment channel.

• Human-centred offboarding, meaningful exit interviews and alumni appreciation are HR’s strongest tools to influence the narrative.

• A respectful ending can turn into your next referral — or even your next hire.
  

About Alice Scaroni

Global Employer Branding Lead at SIX

Alice Scaroni is the Global Culture & Engagement Manager at SIX, where she leads the global employer branding strategy and shapes a strategic approach to creating meaningful employee experiences and fostering a thriving organizational culture.

With a background in hospitality and marketing, Alice is passionate about branding, building inclusive workplace cultures, and amplifying authentic employer narratives. A strong advocate for diversity and belonging, she brings a human-centered mindset to everything she does.

Our Sponsors

A big thank you to our main partner Workday, our partner HR Cosmos, our host Coople and video producer Online Recruiter.

About DisruptHR

Innovative, fresh ideas and opinions that rethink and reshape the working world, presented by around 10 speakers in just 5 minutes each: that’s DisruptHR.

Our speakers are coached by our TEDxLausanne Speaker Coach, Christopher Lübbers, to help them bring out their very best.

SPOT ON has been organizing these events for many years in Zurich. To date, more than 100 speakers have taken the stage at our events.