Honouring the ESCP Executive MBA Class of 2025 Graduates
On 5 December 2025, ESCP Business School celebrated the graduation of the Executive MBA Class of 2025 at the Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Médicos in Madrid.
The ceremony honoured 97 graduates, representing 28 nationalities, marking the culmination of a transformative learning journey for a cohort of senior professionals who balanced work, study, and personal commitments across multiple countries and industries.
The journey to the stage
Throughout the EMBA programme— ranked 3rd worldwide by the Financial Times—participants refined their leadership style, broadened their strategic perspective and engaged in international projects across ESCP’s campuses and global seminar locations.
During his speech, Prof. Francesco Venuti, Dean of the programme, reflected on the transformative nature of the EMBA experience: “You travelled in space, but also in mindset. You explored functions, disciplines, beliefs — and also yourselves. And now, like Marco Polo, you return home. Back to your cities, your companies, your families, your lives. But you are no longer the same.”
An incredible day of celebration
The ceremony began with opening remarks from Manon Marinière, Director of the Executive MBA, who praised the class for their ambition, energy, and the collaborative spirit they cultivated across borders and time zones.
“Your commitment has been extraordinary. You produced a monumental amount of work while managing demanding jobs and full personal lives. This energy, this drive, has been an inspiration to all of us. You can be incredibly proud of yourselves,” she shared.
Inspiring speakers congratulated the graduates and offered them inspiring words for the journey ahead, including:
- Prof. Javier Tafur, Dean of the Madrid Campus
- Domingo San Felipe Cristobal, President of Asociación ESCP Alumni
- Eva Mollat Jourdain, Executive Director of ESCP Alumni
Cisco García, professional wheelchair tennis player, motivational speaker, and author, delivered a powerful commencement speech.
Prof. Venuti also shared touching words of wisdom: “You owe yourself a life that you love. And never stop loving the people around you, your teams, your work, your journey. Amor vincit omnia — love conquers all. And we all know how much our world needs more love — in leadership, in business, in politics, in life.”
Honouring student excellence
Local EMBA Academic Directors Prof. Stefan Schmid (Berlin), Prof. Peter Stephenson-Wright (London), and Prof. Carlos Casanueva (Madrid) also joined the ceremony to present the Academic Excellence Awards to:
- Anita Borowiec
- Julien Goudon
- Stephan Jeznita
- Massimo Schiavo
The cohort’s class representatives— Anita Borowiec, Angeles Concepcion Hernandez Acosta, Bertrand Galas, and Fabio Simonetta—also took the stage to share their reflections and address their peers.
Powerful reflections from our graduates
Looking back at the EMBA experience, I realise how much it changed me. Meeting people from around the world, learning from their experiences and building a community with a bond that will last for years to come have all been cornerstones of my transformation.
Rana El Bikai
One of the most transformative lessons I’m taking with me from the programme is a clearer understanding of the kind of leader I want to be and the values that matter most to me. Walking across the stage, coincidentally on my birthday, symbolised not only the culmination of two years of effort and hard work, but also a celebration of who I had become through the journey.
Anita Borowiec
Doing a great job can take you far, but not always forward. The ESCP EMBA opened my perspective, strengthened my leadership and connected me with people who keep me true to who I am. Graduation is simply the first page of the next chapter.
Angeles Concepcion Hernandez Acosta
ESCP EMBA has been the opportunity to finally embrace the entrepreneurial path I had been dreaming of for many years. Walking across the stage during the graduation ceremony was a vibrant reminder that we’re capable of much more reinvention than we think. To my fellow graduates: let’s treat this diploma not as a medal, but as a mandate to take bolder, more responsible decisions in the years ahead. We owe this to us, to our school, and to our community.
Bertrand Galas
The most powerful gift the EMBA has given me is the awareness that I already have within me everything I need to face any challenges on my path. Walking across the stage at the graduation ceremony, I seal the promise we made as a cohort: to always hold on to our humanity and our authenticity.
Harane Keita-Gateiller
A new chapter begins
As they return to their companies, ventures, and communities, the Class of 2025 graduates carry with them not only new knowledge and skills but a renewed sense of purpose, curiosity, and courage.
Now part of an 85,000-strong alumni network representing over 130 nationalities, they will continue to lead with impact in an ever-changing global environment.
We congratulate every graduate of the Executive MBA Class of 2025 and look forward to seeing the positive mark they will leave on the world.
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