“Meaning is not found in what we know, what we possess, or even who we are. Meaning lies in our actions, our commitment, and our choices. Throughout your journey at ESSEC, our ambition has been to nurture you as leaders capable of shaping strategic decisions and acting for the common good.”
Vincenzo Vinzi, Dean and President of ESSEC Business School
At a time when the world is undergoing profound transformations, ESSEC continues to educate leaders who act with discernment, responsibility, and humanity. Now, it is up to each graduate to turn the momentum gained at ESSEC into a positive force for the common good and shared progress.
"“Leadership is like artistry. It requires you to be in touch with your true authentic self and to be brave enough to show that self to the world. At a time when machines increasingly master technical execution, what truly matters remains deeply human: our values, emotions, sensibility, and ability to act. ESSEC has given you the tools and frameworks. It is now up to you to bring your own perspective, embrace experimentation, and make your uniqueness your greatest asset.”
Aarti Ramaswami, Dean of Pre-Experience Programs
Executive Education
“You have just gone through something demanding, not simply an education, but a transformation. You did it with ambition, the ambition to push beyond your limits; with humility, because learning also means accepting that you do not know everything; and with responsibility toward your teams, your organizations, and society as a whole. This trio ambition, humility, and responsibility is not just a formula. It is the hallmark of those who last for long time.”
Julien Malaurent, Deputy Executive Vice President for Post-Experience Programs and Corporate Relations
Our Guest Speakers
Every year, Commencement Day perpetuates an essential tradition: inviting an ESSEC alumnus or alumna to share their experience with new graduates. Whether they are tech leaders, icons of the luxury industry, or heads of major media organizations, these Guest Speakers offer a true 'rendezvous with the future.' They share their on-the-ground insights, leadership advice, and vision for the world of tomorrow.
Fondation ESSEC
"The Foundation is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Founded in 2011 by four alumni, it funds the School’s strategic projects thanks to the generosity of individuals—whether alumni, friends of the School, or even students’ parents. Our mission is to promote equal opportunity. We fund social scholarships to ensure that all young people can access ESSEC without being held back by financial constraints. In 15 years, the commitment of over 3,000 donors has already enabled us to support 2,000 students."
Lucie-Anne Henry - Déléguée générale, Fondation ESSEC
ESSEC Alumni
"ESSEC Alumni acts as a catalyst for connections, learning, and commitment. Its role is to create the conditions that enable everyone to find resources, develop their impact, and contribute to the life of the community.
Our community is an incredible collective force. It is reflected in very diverse paths, all driven by the desire to make a contribution."
Marie-Pierre Schickel – Director General of ESSEC Alumni
Featured student speakers
The speeches delivered by our graduates are always among the most vibrant moments of Commencement Day. Whether they are valedictorians, leaders of student organizations, or champions of high-impact societal projects, discover the addresses of our one-day spokespeople—tomorrow’s responsible leaders shaping our society.
This weekend, more than 6,700 graduates, families, professors, and staff come together to celebrate Commencement Day 2026. Behind the applause, the gowns, and the class photos, hundreds of people work for months to make this event unforgettable. A look behind the scenes of one of ESSEC’s most emblematic events.
On June 20, 2026, Hauteclaire Lulin will take the stage at Commencement Day to represent her graduating class. It is a symbolic moment for this Master in Management graduate, whose journey reflects one of ESSEC Business School's founding promises: giving students the opportunity to build their own path through the encounters, commitments, and experiences that shape student life.
Originally from Kolkata, India, Pravin Agarwal joined ESSEC’s Master in Management program with a childhood passion for cars and the dream of turning that passion into a career. A few years later, he is working at Stellantis as a Serial Life Project Manager for Citroën. His journey reflects one of ESSEC Business School’s founding promises: helping students build their own path by exploring their interests, embracing new experiences, and relying on the strength of a supportive community.
On June 12, the ESSEC Asia Pacific campus celebrated Commencement Day 2026 at the Theatre at MediaCorp in Singapore. It was a day filled with emotion. The ceremony brought together 92 graduates, more than 210 family members and loved ones, as well as faculty, staff, alumni, and partners of the School. With applause, diploma presentations, and joyful reunions, the ceremony marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new journey for the Class of 2026.
Rachel Marouani
Chair of the Board at Afflelou Group & Independent Director at Pierre Fabre and ADEO
"You didn’t earn this diploma by chance. You earned it through your hard work, your high standards, and your performance. It gives you undeniable legitimacy and will open doors for you. But beyond the opportunities, I hope above all that you use it as permission, permission to choose what energizes you, to build a professional life that reflects who you are, and to allow yourself to find immense joy in it. Don’t let anyone dictate your path. Listen to your own momentum and fully become the authors and architects of your own life."
Anne Cortes Baumier
Chief of Staff at Adobe France and Senior Digital Strategy Engagement Manager at Adobe EMEA
"Use the early years of your career to make lateral moves or explore unconventional paths, this is how you’ll learn about yourself and the world. Add strings to your bow and cultivate your uniqueness. The world is changing at an unprecedented pace, and the skills that set you apart today may be obsolete tomorrow. Your most valuable asset isn’t what you know, it’s your ability to learn and to prove it through your journey. The world you’re entering is demanding, uncertain, and sometimes intimidating. But for the curious and adaptable, periods of disruption aren’t threats, they’re accelerators."
Philippe Notton
Founder & CEO of SiPearl
"Here’s some advice: don’t be monocultural. Start by working in several companies to understand how things work? both in the best of times and during the worst crises. That’s exactly how you grow. And my best advice for doing that? Dare. (...) You have the solutions, you have the degrees, and everything you do next is in your hands. Don’t be afraid to make your first mistakes? it’s how you learn. Embrace time, and choose your moment. And remember: if it were easy, someone else would have done it before you!"
Bruno Patino
President of Arte France
"Nothing compares to the common good. Nothing compares to committing yourself for the benefit of others. It brings something that can never be captured in a bonus. Life is a team sport, you learned that here. Always keep this lesson with you. (...) Never forget to look upward. Seek meaning in what you experience, what you do, and what you are. When you look up, the view clears."
BBA
Laura Segre
“Ask questions, stay curious; you are not always right. Stay kind and gentle. The world will surely shake us, but any good gardener knows that it's turned earth that lets roots take hold. It’s been an honour to grow with you. Thank you for making this vine strong. I wish for all of you to grow far beyond these roots, in sunlight that challenges you, storms that shape you, and caring hands that will never let you falter. Now, please go ahead and Sprout!”
Executive MBA
Irina Lazar Visu
“What the EMBA truly brought me was a personal transformation that operated slowly but precisely. It wasn’t just the professional expertise of my colleagues that helped me grow; it was the possibility to learn from their life experiences, see things from a different perspective, and finally stop doubting my own capacity.”
Executive Management Général
Nabil Benchekroun
"Before this program, I was already a leader. I was used to making quick decisions, setting goals, and operating under constant pressure. But this year forced us to do something that’s become rare these days: slow down to reflect. To rethink how we make decisions, how we listen, and how we see the future. Because ESSEC didn’t just teach us how to better lead an organization it reminded us that no lasting success is built without vision, without courage, and without self-questioning. Sometimes, the greatest transformations don’t make a sound: they happen within us."
Grande École - Master in Management
Hauteclaire Lulin
"One day, while I was volunteering with children with disabilities, a young girl asked me a question that seemed simple on the surface, but whose meaning has stayed with me ever since: 'How many doors are there at ESSEC?' We began our journey not through doors, but through screens. Today, we’re graduating as artificial intelligence opens new doors every day to jobs that didn’t exist yesterday. We entered during one revolution, and we’re leaving during another. But in the end, what matters isn’t knowing how many doors there are or where they lead. What matters is being ready to open them."
Ms DAIM
Laurane Le Cam
"My parents taught me to project myself ten years ahead. To analyze everything, study every possibility, and set a course. So when I decided on ESSEC, it was part of that plan. For some of you, it was a no-brainer. For others, a dream built slowly, sometimes against all odds. But on the first day of school, when the RER A broke down, we all realized the same thing: the journey was going to be part of the program. And along that journey, ESSEC didn’t just give us a diploma. It gave us something far more precious: messages, sometimes from the most unexpected places. The first one? Open yourself up to the world and to those around you. We learned that opening up to others doesn’t make you weaker—it makes you richer."
Grande École - Master in Management
Pravin Agarwal
"I’d like to start with a question. Do you remember the motivation letter you wrote for ESSEC, when you imagined the life you wanted to lead and the person you hoped to become? Recently, I reread mine, and what struck me wasn’t that everything turned out as planned, but that the letter was actually addressed to the person sitting here today. And I think the same is true for many of you. Despite the uncertainties of these past few years—in your studies and your career choices, you’ve probably already gone much further than your younger self could have ever imagined."
BBA
Francisco Portugal
"What an incredible journey around the world it has been! From Cergy to One North in Singapore, all the way to the sunny shores of Rabat. And to think it all began five years ago... When we joined ESSEC and all the prestige that comes with it, we were eighteen and filled with immense excitement. Today, as we leave this ceremony to embark on our next adventure, I urge you to carry that same energy of adventure and curiosity with you. Those are my two favorite words to describe our story here. Each and every one of you should be extremely proud of the work and achievements that have brought you to this day."
