28 February 2025
Bilbao Campus
On Friday, February 28, the graduation ceremony for the 2023 cohort of former university master's students from Deusto Business School took place. More than a hundred graduates from the Master's programs in Business Management, European and International Business Management, Human Resources, Auditing, International Management, and Finance gathered at the University's Paraninfo to receive their diplomas.
The event began with a performance of Agur Jaunak by the Ars Canticum Ensemble choir and was hosted by the Faculty Secretary, Macarena Cuenca.
Ibon Urraza, an alumnus and Regional Director for Africa, LATAM, and Far Eastern Europe at the Bolton Group, served as the honorary patron of the graduating class.
Urraza shared six of the most important lessons he has learned throughout his professional career. First, he emphasized the importance of finding what truly inspires and motivates us, without rushing into career decisions. He also highlighted the value of starting from the bottom, but with a hunger for challenges and a tenacious attitude. Third, Urraza advised graduates to forge their own paths without allowing anything or anyone to limit them. Additionally, he stressed the responsibility and transformative power individuals hold within both businesses and society. Regarding the skills needed to adapt to an ever-changing environment, he mentioned the importance of cultivating interpersonal relationships, adaptability, and resilience. Finally, Urraza assured the graduates that a professional career is not a sprint but a marathon, emphasizing the need to move forward with perseverance, consistency, and a balance between professional success and personal life.
Next, graduates Eva Busto, Kepa Garmendia, and David Deschamps read the solemn declaration in Spanish, Basque, and English, respectively, on behalf of their classmates. Following this, the academic directors of each master's program presented the diplomas to the newly graduated students.
Naiara Tobalina, General Director of Deusto Business Alumni, welcomed the new alumni to the association, which serves as a link between the university and their fellow master's graduates.
The ceremony concluded with remarks from Dean Álvaro de la Rica, who encouraged graduates to think critically and formulate the key questions needed in a world where digital technologies and artificial intelligence are increasingly prevalent. He also urged them to keep the values of Deusto Business School in mind as a guide for their future professional endeavors.
After the university anthem Gaudeamus Igitur was played, the ceremony officially ended, allowing attendees to enjoy a reception in the cloister.
