News
SKEMA graduation ceremony: spectacular show at La Seine Musicale
On 2 July, the SKEMA graduation ceremony took place at La Seine Musicale, on the Ile Seguin in Boulogne-Billancourt. The event, broadcast live in 44 countries, enabled SKEMA Business School graduates to follow the event from across the world. Here is the story of an incredible day.
After two years, our graduates' hats once again twirled in the air at La Seine Musicale. An audience of 6,000 students gathered in person during the day and 4,500 remotely, representing a total of 90 nationalities. The masters of ceremony – Peter Spier and Katrina Panchout – invited the graduating classes on stage group by group, in the presence of their families and professors.
The ceremony included inspiring speeches from Jean-Philippe Courtois (chairman of the Board of Directors of SKEMA Business School), and Alice Guilhon (SKEMA's dean and executive president). "Adopt a growth mindset, be curious, and be ready to learn everything instead of pretending to know everything," said Jean-Philippe Courtois to a very attentive audience of graduates.
"Keep on learning, irrespective of the circumstances"
Alice Guilhon warmly congratulated the graduates. "Far from being a sacrificed generation, you are the ones who will make a difference, be better prepared, aware of the fragility of our societies, but also of what needs to be done to transform it," said the Dean and Executive President of SKEMA. She added: "Keep on learning, irrespective of the circumstances."
The SKEMA Alumni network
Madeleine Martins, director of Alumni and Fundraising, and Olivier Dufour, president of SKEMA Alumni, recalled the importance of the alumni network and the imperative need to maintain lasting links after graduation. The SKEMA Alumni community now comprises more than 50,000 people across the world!
Two awards for excellence
During the first ceremony, Rouguy Diallo, a graduate of the Global BBA programme and a high-level sportswoman (triple jump specialist), received the SKEMA Business School Excellence Award for her academic and sports career. The young woman has set herself the goal of winning an Olympic gold at the next Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.
At the same time, she plans to develop an entrepreneurial project in the field of sport. At the second ceremony, Romain Cannone, a graduate, received the Excellence Award from Alice Guilhon. During the day, four valedictorians were honoured by being invited on stage to receive their sashes. The ceremony ended with the traditional throwing of caps!
