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A future of connecting and bridging for ‘remarkable and diverse’ new MBA graduates

A future of connecting and bridging for ‘remarkable and diverse’ new MBA graduates

Members of the Global Executive One MBA class of 2012 were described as ‘remarkable and diverse’ by Academic Director, Dr Arkadiusz Mironko as he welcomed them to the graduation ceremony at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM), in front of a large audience of families and friends.

The 33 new graduates, from 14 different countries, have studied for 21 months. During this time they have taken 14 different courses, travelled together on four global residency trips, and performed 11 local residencies, among other activities. The RSM Global Executive One MBA programme collaborates with four other business schools in Asia (CUHK), North America (UNC and EGADE) and South America (FGV).

Keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony was Dr Dianne Bevelander, Associate Dean of MBA programmes at RSM. She spoke of the programme as a transformational experience, delivering competences for the workforce of the future, in 10 or 15 years’ time. Some of the competencies mentioned were social intelligence or being aware of oneself and the impact one has on others, and sense-making, which is the ability to truly understand what is going on or being said in any situation. Furthermore, she advocated that being ‘trans-disciplinary’ is extremely important for successful leaders of the future; that is the ability to use knowledge and methods within and beyond one’s own discipline to develop new paradigms and to solve complex problems.

The OneMBA has a strong cross-cultural focus, and Dr Bevelander referred to an article called ‘Stitching the world together’ which appeared in the Herald Tribune in 2010, saying that the students in the OneMBA have ‘tasted and felt’ the importance of the impact of globalisation during their two-year programme. She said she believed that the new OneMBA graduates were, according to the definition in the Herald Tribune article, ‘Fusionistas’, that is they are ‘bi-everything’; “biracial, bicultural and bilingual.”

Before calling out the graduands’ names to come up and receive their degrees, Saskia Treurniet, Director OneMBA said: “What an absolute honour for me, as director of your OneMBA programme, to stand here between you as individuals and you as OneMBA graduates. 21 months ago we started this journey together; you have explored the global business context in all its diversity, you have travelled the world and you have found life-long friends, mentors and coaches amongst your peers. Now, go out there and make a difference! You are wonderful!”

Two students received special mention. Karen de Lathouder received the Dean’s Honours with Academic Distinction and Gerald Lindinger-Pesendorfer was presented with a Dean’s Honours certificate.

New Global Executive OneMBA graduate Peter Yilmaz, Finance Director of biotechnology company Amgen, praised the programme, saying that he had underestimated the demands it would make ‘by ten-fold’ before beginning his studies, and paid tribute to his classmates in their native languages; English, Austrian, Belarusian, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Irish, Urdu, Russian and Turkish. He said his classmates were a very accomplished group of people; scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, bankers, IT managers and clean-energy experts; “a bunch of visionaries and the people I think we’ll read about in the future!” he said.

All 33 new graduates now become part of RSM’s 20,000-strong alumni network. Member of the OneMBA Alumni Board Martin Kroeze (Global One MBA 2009) recommended the benefits of an RSM education, and belonging to the RSM (and OneMBA) Alumni networks. “The programme is unparalleled, academically and professionally. It unleashes potential,” he said, and reminded new graduates that the Alumni Network had a chapter in every region of the world.

The ceremony concluded with a moving photo montage set to music, ‘Scenes from a Business School’, chronicling the entire Class of 2012 from their first days in Rotterdam through their international residencies, case competitions, and social events.

The Global Executive One MBA celebrates its 10^th anniversary later this year with a celebration in Washington DC. Alumni can find out more about the event through the RSM alumni webpages.

About OneMBA: Designed for senior executives and professionals, this prestigious 21-month programme offers the opportunity to experience business through the lens of the world’s most important economic regions. It is the only Executive MBA programme designed with equal input from five premier business schools located in Asia, Europe, North America and South America. The programme really is unparalleled in its development of knowledge, leadership abilities, global networks, and experience of international business where it happens, as it happens. www.onemba.org

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University is consistently ranked amongst the top 10 business schools in Europe. It is located in the international port city of Rotterdam where core Dutch values of openness, flexibility and acceptance of diversity have attracted businesses on a global scale. Our emphasis is on ground-breaking research and practices relevant to business; our primary focus is on developing business leaders who carry their innovative ideas into a sustainable future. RSM ranks second globally for faculty research on sustainability according to the Aspen Institute's Beyond Grey Pinstripes Report in 2011. Our portfolio includes a broad array of bachelor, master, doctoral, MBA and executive education programmes.

For more information on RSM or on this release, please contact Marianne Schouten, Media & Public Relations Manager for RSM, on +31 10 408 2877 or by email at mschouten@remove-this.rsm.nl.