On March 22, China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) held a graduation ceremony for the MBA Class of 2025 at its Shanghai campus. A total of 121 graduates from 18 countries and regions around the world gathered to celebrate the momentous occasion. As a gentle spring breeze wafted through the campus, an atmosphere of exuberance and hopeful anticipation for the future filled the air.

Throughout their academic journey, these new graduates have absorbed knowledge in the classroom and honed their skills through practical experience. Now, they embark on a new chapter, determined to emerge as leaders in their respective industries.

The ceremony was attended by CEIBS President Wang Hong, CEIBS President (European) Dominique Turpin, CEIBS Vice President and Dean Frank Bournois, CEIBS Vice President and Co-Dean Zhang Weijiong, and CEIBS Associate Dean and Director of MBA Programme Zhang Lingling, along with other faculty and staff representatives who joined the students in celebrating this significant moment.

President Wang Hong delivered the opening address, extending her heartfelt congratulations to the graduates on behalf of the entire CEIBS faculty and staff. She also expressed her sincere gratitude and warmest welcome to their families and friends who had gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion.

In her speech, President Wang highlighted a remarkable milestone for the CEIBS MBA programme: “This year, our MBA programme has once again reached a new milestone. With its outstanding academic quality, unique teaching philosophy, world-class faculty, and highly international curriculum, CEIBS has retained its position as the number one MBA programme in Asia for the ninth consecutive year. Moreover, we have now climbed to twelfth place globally! This remarkable achievement is a testament to CEIBS' exceptional influence and competitiveness on the global stage of management education. More importantly, it is the result of years of collective effort and unwavering dedication from our faculty, students, and alumni - and, above all, a true honour for our graduating class."

She encouraged the graduates to navigate the complexities of the global economic landscape with both courage and conviction. She urged them to remain patient and confident in China’s economic prospects while keeping an open mind to the opportunities and challenges brought about by the new wave of industrial transformation and technological innovation. Wherever their careers may take them, she reminded them to embrace lifelong learning, continuously expanding their horizons and pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Above all, she called on them to carry the CEIBS spirit with pride and to shine in their respective fields.

Concluding her speech with a heartfelt message, President Wang said: “CEIBS will always be your home - come back and visit often!”

CEIBS President Wang Hong

President Dominique Turpin then delivered an inspiring speech, reaffirming the school's mission and the qualities that define CEIBS graduates. “At CEIBS, our core mission is to nurture a generation of business leaders that are responsible, innovative, international, and diverse in terms of background, thought, and perspective.”

Looking towards the future, he emphasised that true leadership is not about titles or appearances, but about authenticity. “Leadership is authenticity, not style, and not status. Leadership begins and ends with authenticity. It's about being authentically you.”

This message resonated deeply with the graduates, reminding them that their personal values, sense of responsibility, and their attitude will be the foundation of their future success.

CEIBS President (European) Dominique Turpin

Professor Hyun Young Park then took the stage as faculty representative, delivering a thoughtful speech. Centred on the themes of friendship and growth, she shared the challenges she has faced throughout her life journey and the vital role that friendship has played along the way. As the MBA Class of 2025 embarks on a new chapter, Professor Park offered her sincere words of encouragement: "I'm very much looking forward to witnessing the incredible impact that you will have on each other's lives, as well as the extraordinary achievements you will create together."

Associate Professor of Marketing Hyun Young Park

James Deng, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Greater China at BD (Becton Dickinson and Company) and a CEIBS EMBA 1996 alumnus, then delivered a keynote speech as distinguished guest at the ceremony.

He extended his congratulations to all graduates and their families, sharing insights from his nearly 40-year career in the healthcare industry. In his speech, he highlighted the innovative advancements in China's healthcare sector and discussed the challenges Chinese pharmaceutical and medtech companies face in the globalisation process.

Finally, James encouraged CEIBS MBA graduates to consider the healthcare industry as a career path and expressed his hope to see more young talent making a meaningful impact in this field in the future.

Senior Vice President & General Manager of Greater China at BD (Becton Dickinson and Company) James Deng

Miya Ding, from the CEIBS MBA Class of 2025, then took the stage to reflect on her journey at CEIBS from struggling with public speaking to conquering her fears and standing on the TEDxCEIBS stage. She encouraged her peers to embrace challenges, saying, “We’re still messing up, but what matters is that we learn from our mistakes.”

Miya Ding, MBA Class of 2025

Rajesh Ghosh, another graduate representative, reflected on the transformative 16-month MBA journey. He noted that, during his cohort’s MBA journey, from academic lessons to cultural adaptation, teamwork, and unforgettable moments, some became parents, some started businesses, and others found love or healed from past struggles. He urged graduates to "be yourself and be open-minded about the possibilities of everything. Cherish these memories and support each other in the future.”

Rajesh Ghosh, MBA Class of 2025

Following the speeches by graduate representatives, Professor Zhang Lingling announced the recipients of the MBA Office Special Recognition Award, the MBA2025 Student Leader Award, and the Outstanding Graduate Award (Dean’s List).

Professor Zhang Weijiong and MBA Administration Director Michelle Zhu then presented the awards. The honoured recipients of each award are as follows:

MBA Office Special Recognition Award

Diya Chen, Yanran Qian, Yuya Yonemori, Jinheng Wang, Chayapol Vanichsavasdvichai, Jeanne Marie Sabine de GayffierD, Kaiwen Zheng, Hui Chen, Dongyu Zhang, Fengzhou Yang, Piyagoon Kongjinda, Dan Cao

MBA2025 Student Leader Award

Tianxiang Wang, Han Zhang, Huimin Ding

Outstanding Graduate Award (Dean’s List)

Martina Pezzoti, Rajesh Ghosh, Ruiyi Hu, Yinghao Sun, Giovanni Pan, Yue Cui, Zhongwen Sha, Fernanda Nunes Mamede Rosa

To close the ceremony, Professor Zhang Lingling delivered a speech, encouraging graduates to step boldly into the future and sharing three key convictions.

First, she emphasised that the CEIBS MBA is not just a 16-month academic journey but an entry into a lifelong community. “Today is not a goodbye; it’s just a new beginning.”

Second, she highlighted the importance of long-term thinking in both business and life, stressing that true success belongs to those who persevere through challenges. “Tough times never last, but tough people do.”

Lastly, she expressed her firm belief that the MBA Class of 2025 will create essential values on the global business stage. “You are graduating at a defining moment for China’s economic and geopolitical landscape. You will help Chinese brands go global, bring global insights back home, and drive innovation across industries in whichever market you choose.”

CEIBS Associate Dean and MBA Programme Director Zhang Lingling

Michelle Zhu, Administration Director of the MBA Programme, delivered a speech. She commended the students for their outstanding performance over the past 16 months, recognising their exceptional passion, vision, and sense of responsibility. She also expressed her confidence that they would continue to embrace the values of excellence, strive innovate, and lead with purpose in their respective industries.

MBA Administration Director Michelle Zhu

Finally, CEIBS Vice President and Dean Frank Bournois and Professor Zhang Lingling individually handed out graduation certificates to the graduates, with Professor Zhang Lingling announcing the tassel-turning ceremony. This moment marked the graduates' official transition from CEIBS students to alumni and represented a new starting point in their careers.

CEIBS Vice President and Dean Frank Bournois presents the graduation certificates to the graduates

It is CEIBS’ sincerest hope that these new MBA alumni will embrace the challenges ahead with confidence, transform their learning into meaningful impact, and let their achievements shine brightly in the world of business. Wherever their paths may lead, CEIBS will remain a guiding light, proud to witness and celebrate their continued success.