100 students from the CEIBS Global EMBA (GEMBA) programme travelled from 20 countries worldwide to meet at the school’s Shanghai campus on April 18. This would be their final gathering as an active cohort, as the graduation ceremony officially welcomed them into the global community of over 34,000 CEIBS alumni.

Before the ceremony itself, the morning allowed for a series of happy reunions where classmates and friends quickly caught up and enjoyed their final pre-graduation moments together. Along with family members, friends and other guests, they were then ushered into the CEIBS Petrochemical Auditorium where Associate Dean and GEMBA Programme Director Bala Ramasamy began the proceedings.

“I am truly honoured to welcome you all to the 2026 CEIBS Global Executive MBA Graduation Ceremony,” said the professor.

“This is a milestone event for the school as well as yourselves. GEMBA 2023 is also the first cohort since the pandemic to experience a completely uninterrupted learning journey; this class is also the first to benefit from our renewed curriculum and the full resumption of global core modules in Europe, Southeast Asia, and beyond. You are a truly special class.”

Remaining Responsible yet Adaptable in Uncertain Times – Leadership Speeches

First to represent the CEIBS leadership team was CEIBS President Wang Hong. In her speech, President Wang highlighted the importance of remaining grounded and focused during a time of increasing turmoil across much of the world.

“Dear graduates, as we stand at the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period and in an era of rising geopolitical conflict and growing uncertainty, where you will go and what missions you will undertake are no longer just personal choices – they will shape the future of your organisations, industries and even wider society,” she said.

President Wang then asked the graduating cohort to remember the inherent values and ongoing mission of the school as they start their post-CEIBS lives as graduates. Specifically, she asked them to:

• Be bridges connecting China and the world, and promoters of mutual learning in global business.

• Lead organisational transformation and respond to the opportunities and challenges of our times with outstanding leadership.

• Uphold long-term thinking and practice social responsibility.

• Embrace the AI era, and practice lifelong learning.

This was followed by a speech from CEIBS Vice President and Co‑Dean Zhu Tian, who echoed the sentiment that the assembled cohort had the power and opportunity to affect meaningful, positive change in the world. He reflected that this path has become more complicated in a climate where technology spreads so quickly and impacts whole industries so significantly, saying:

“Judgment comes not from confidence or information alone, but from four sources: well-structured knowledge, hard-earned experience—especially from failure—exposure to diverse perspectives, and strong character. As you leave CEIBS, remember you are not only gaining a network, but upholding a standard. So do well, and do good—lead responsibly, stay curious, and strive for meaningful impact, because leadership is not what happens to you, but what happens because of you.”

Resist the Comfort of Imitation – Faculty Speech

Representing the CEIBS faculty, Associate Professor of Finance Viktar Fedaseyeu encouraged the cohort to appreciate the power of small, consistent and deliberate change. He warned about the slow-burning dangers of “involution” when, if everyone follows the same playbook, we will all simply work harder but will end up roughly in the same place.

“True progress, whether in business or in life, rarely comes from doing more of the same. It comes from doing something different - sometimes subtly different, sometimes radically so. This programme was not just about giving you tools or knowledge. It was an opportunity for you to step back - to pause, reflect, and question the default path. To see that the obvious strategy is often the most crowded one, and to affirm that you are not just participants in someone else's music - instead, you can create your own.”

A Lifelong Connection – Journey Review

Between speeches, Prof. Ramasamy introduced the following video to the assembled audience. This journey review brings together just a small handful of the special moments that allowed the GEMBA 2023 cohort to become more than classmates – bonding them as mutual mentors, cheerleaders, co-learners and friends.

Say Yes and Move Forward – Graduate Speeches

Staying true to tradition, the next part of the graduation ceremony allowed two representatives of the GEMBA 2023 class to each deliver a speech reflecting on the meaning and value of their time at CEIBS.

First to speak was Meihua Han, Director of Compensation & Benefits and Payroll Services for BASF Asia Pacific Region. Her speech focused on the importance of remaining unfazed by the prospect of failure when considering a new venture or change of professional circumstances.

“In a time of AI and massive, iterative change, it’s easy to ask: ‘Why say yes to something entirely new? What if it doesn’t work out?’” said Meihua.

“After two years of GEMBA, of travelling the world, seeing different business landscapes and absorbing the real-life impact of these changes, you stop asking ‘why’. You start asking ‘why not?’ Now, my dear classmates, it’s time for us all to say yes to something entirely new again.”

Following Meihua, her classmate Valon Mustafa, Deputy General Manager of Haver Technologies Tianjin, shared his personal story of building confidence and self-belief through GEMBA. He underlined that this transformation does not happen overnight, but is shaped by consistent effort and a willingness to step forward even when you don’t feel fully unprepared.

“This journey has showed me that confidence is not something you have before you act. It’s something that comes after,” he said. “We don’t wait until we feel fully ready – we must step forward first, and grow into it along the way. CEIBS has constantly put us into those situations where we can grow into our confidence, into our leadership, and into ourselves.”

Marking the Moment – Awards and Recognition

Every year, both the school and GEMBA office recognise students who have gone beyond the expectations of the programme. This process began with the Outstanding Graduate Award, presented to students who have successfully balanced academic performance with contributions to the wider CEIBS community.

This year eight students received the award, presented by President Wang.

• John Foo (Singapore)

• Kathy Jiang (China)

• Alexis Lago Torello (Spain)

• Dolly Du (China)

• Kun Guo (China)

• Kay Geithner (Germany)

• Philip Lau (HK, China)

• Valon Mustafa (Kosovo, Germany)

Then followed the CEIBS Academic Excellence Award, given to the graduate with the highest academic achievements of their cohort in honour of Professor Nikos Tsikriktsis, former CEIBS Associate Dean and Global EMBA Director who established the award in 2015 and passed away in May 2021.

The GEMBA 2023 class winner of the award, presented by Prof. Zhu Tian, was Kathy Jiang.

Prof. Ramasamy then introduced the Maple Recognition Award, which honours students’ commitment to sustainability through ESG initiatives. This year’s cohort focused on promoting quality education for children, raising over RMB 140,000 to support children from ethnic groups within mountainous areas of Yunnan province.

“The maple symbolises not only nature's grace of prosperity, but the resilient spirit of upward growth. Rooted in our campus embraced by these noble trees, we cultivate talents who draw wisdom from nature to serve humanity,” said Prof.  Ramasamy.

Cynthia Huang received the certificate – presented by CEIBS Secretary of CPC Committee Ma Lei  – on behalf of the GEMBA 2023 cohort.

Team Spirit at its Finest – Class Donation

Mr. Ma then awarded the Class Donation certificate to GEMBA 2023 class representative Wei Wang.

Each graduating GEMBA class traditionally makes a collective gift to the school that honours their time at CEIBS while establishing a lasting positive legacy. The 2023 cohort chose to donate RMB 180,000 to refurbish two stands of the school’s basketball court.

“This is an entirely appropriate way for GEMBA 2023 to mark their graduation while giving back,” said Prof. Ramasamy. “For these students, sports became a special way to connect – and the basketball court came to stand for everything they value: openness, inclusiveness, collaboration, and energy.”

Two Years in the Making – Degree Conferment

Before the degree conferment, the CEIBS Alumni Choir took to the stage to perform in celebration of GEMBA 2023’s graduation, joined by cohort members.

Then, Prof. Ramasamy conferred degrees on GEMBA 2023 classmates who could not attend in person via video conference.

The remaining members of the cohort then took to the stage to collect their degrees from Profs. Bala Ramasamy and Zhu Tian.

Finally, marking the traditional moment at which students become graduates, the entire GEMBA 2023 cohort stood and “turned the tassel” on their mortar boards, formally bringing their GEMBA studies at CEIBS to an end.

Drawing the ceremony to a close, Prof. Ramasamy delivered some parting words, reminding the newly made graduates to appreciate and celebrate the most important people in their lives.

“Never forget your family members and closest friends. Without their strong support, your journey could not be the same; it would be markedly more difficult and doubtlessly less enjoyable. Thank them for being with us through the good and the bad,” Prof. Ramasamy said.

Our heartfelt congratulations go out to every graduate of the GEMBA 2023 cohort. CEIBS will always be their second home, and they are warmly welcome back at any time. We look forward to the cohort sharing their future plans and achievements.

To the graduating cohort, we say:  never say goodbye; instead, wherever you go, whatever you do, remember that:

Together, We Achieve More.