Graduation Day 2024: Celebrating future leaders

On Thursday, 12 September 2024 an atmosphere of excitement and celebration filled the air as MSM graduates from the Master in Management and MBA programmes received their well-deserved degrees after a long period of hard work and dedication.

More than 150 graduates gathered at MECC Maastricht to celebrate this important achievement surrounded by family, friends, and the MSM faculty and staff.

Graduates from the residential programmes were joined by peers from MSM’s partner institutions, including Nanjing University, KMCM Kuwait, BISM Romania and Corvinus University Hungary.

A new generation of leaders
Following the official opening of the ceremony by Master of Ceremony Oliver Olson, MSM Director Meinhard Gans took the stage to welcome the graduates and guests. In his speech, he addressed the challenges of living in a volatile, uncertain world, the demands of sustainable development, and rapid technological advancements. Mr. Gans emphasised that in the face of these transformations, the graduates are uniquely positioned to shape the future more than any previous generation of leaders.

He reminded them that while leadership skills taught in the programme remain vital, today’s leaders must also possess authenticity, a strong moral compass, and the ability to balance personal, organisational, and societal goals. He concluded by noting that the graduates' learning journey doesn’t end with their degrees but marks the beginning of a new chapter in lifelong learning.

The value of reflection
After congratulating the graduates, Prof. Dr. Mariëlle Heijltjes, Dean of the UM School of Business and Economics, stressed the value of reflection as essential for ongoing growth. She encouraged graduates to clarify their personal learning experiences by asking thought-provoking questions: Do you now truly understand what drives you? Can you recognise and understand your behaviour when stepping outside your comfort zone? Are you able to cultivate inner courage?

Prof. Heijltjes expressed her hopes for the graduates, wishing that beyond presenting their diplomas, they could articulate how their perseverance, resilience, and passion developed during their studies. She urged them to embrace lifelong learning with courage, even when uncomfortable. She concluded with a quote from Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard: "To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself."

Lead with purpose, embrace sustainability, and commit to lifelong learning
The keynote address was delivered by Ms. Eleen Ooi Yi Ling, MSM MBA alumna and Sustainability Lead at Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad, a Malaysian subsidiary of FrieslandCampina.

In her address, Ms. Ooi Yi Ling offered a powerful reflection on the opportunities and challenges awaiting the new graduates. She highlighted that while their education has equipped them with essential knowledge and skills, true leadership will be defined by their ability to navigate an increasingly complex world. Ms. Ooi Yi Ling emphasised that success in today’s business environment is not just about strategy and innovation, but also about uniting people, serving the greater good, and addressing pressing global issues, particularly sustainability. As the world undergoes rapid technological advancements and increasing volatility, she underscored that sustainability is no longer an option, but a business imperative that future leaders must embrace.

Ms. Ooi Yi Ling also encouraged the graduates to focus on personal purpose and continuous learning, urging them to reflect on their own motivations and values as they step into their roles as leaders. She stressed the importance of trusting own abilities, as self-belief will be crucial in navigating challenges, taking risks, and overcoming setbacks. She emphasised that true leadership goes beyond technical knowledge and involves aligning personal purpose with professional decisions. She reminded the graduates that their learning journey does not end with the conferral of their degrees but marks the beginning of lifelong growth.

Moreover, Ms. Ooi Yi Ling stressed the importance of community and collaboration, advising graduates to lean on their networks of peers, mentors, and colleagues as they face the challenges ahead.

She concluded by encouraging the graduates to be bold in their ambitions, but also humble in their leadership. She urged the graduates to embrace their roles as visionaries, leaders, and agents of change, while maintaining the courage to continually grow and adapt.

Celebrating achievements
The afternoon’s highlight was the much-anticipated moment when the degrees were handed out. Graduates took to the stage one by one, each welcomed with enthusiastic cheers and applause in recognition of their remarkable achievement. After all the degrees were presented, the audience enjoyed a beautiful musical performance by the MSM Quartet, leading up to the announcement of the Best Student Awards.

The 2024 Master in Management Best Student Award went to Baptiste Falmagne, while Executive MBA graduate Koosje Vingerling was honoured with the 2024 MBA Best Student Award.

Sharing gratitude
Now it was time for the graduates to take the stage—a meaningful moment for the representatives to reflect on their academic journey, pay tribute to their classmates, and express gratitude to their loved ones.

In his heartfelt speech, Master in Management graduate Rahul Choudhary reflected on the transformative journey that he and his classmates shared at MSM, highlighting how they began as strangers but grew into a close-knit, diverse community. From navigating early challenges like housing and visas to bonding over international meals, festive outings, and shared academic struggles, their time together was marked by unity, friendship, and mutual support. Rahul concluded by encouraging his fellow graduates to cherish humility, build lasting relationships, and embrace the future with confidence and resilience.

Full-time MBA graduate Susant Kumar Nand reflected on the MBA-40 cohort’s journey, expressing pride, gratitude, and excitement for what lies ahead. He thanked families, friends, and mentors for their unwavering support and guidance, which helped the graduates overcome challenges and grow both academically and personally. Susant acknowledged the resilience his classmates displayed throughout tight deadlines and new realities, emphasising the lifelong bonds they formed. As they step into an unpredictable yet opportunity-filled world, he encouraged his fellow graduates to embrace continuous learning, strive for excellence, and confidently make a lasting impact.

In her speech, Fouzia Fennane reflected on the challenging yet rewarding journey of completing an Executive MBA while balancing careers, family, and personal responsibilities. She highlighted the resilience and perseverance of her cohort, especially in navigating the transition back to in-person learning after COVID-19 lockdowns. Fouzia emphasised the privilege of education and celebrated the diversity of her class, which enriched their learning experience. She expressed deep gratitude to the professors, families, and classmates for their continuous support and stressed that this achievement is just the beginning, encouraging her peers to apply their newfound knowledge and skills to build meaningful lives.

In his speech, Online MBA graduate Matthew Dunham reflected on the unique experience of meeting his classmates in person for the first time, noting how much the world has changed since they began their journey. He emphasised that education does not provide the answers, but the tools to navigate an ever-evolving world. Matthew highlighted three key qualities for future success: perseverance, as demonstrated by completing 19 intense modules in the Online MBA while juggling work, family, and personal commitments; hope, the driving force behind the decision to pursue a better future personally, professionally or for the world; and the importance of a support network, including both classmates and families, whose unwavering support was crucial to their success. He expressed deep gratitude to the cohort, faculty, staff and, above all, the families who supported them through this challenging journey.

Reliving the journey
While the end of the ceremony approached it was time to sit back and enjoy the Class of 2024 Yearbook video, in which graduates shared their experiences and highlights of their study journey at MSM.

Class of 2024, you are dismissed!
To conclude the ceremony, Dr. Stuart Dixon, MSM's Director of Academics, invited all the graduates to rise for the highly anticipated final moment – the cap toss. As Dr. Dixon proclaimed the iconic words, “Class of 2024, you are dismissed,” 150 caps flew in the air amidst enthusiastic cheers.

Photos and videos
To see the pictures of Graduation Day, click here
To watch the full live stream, click here
To watch the Class of 2024 Yearbook video, click here