Your Executive MBA graduation

A tradition that dates back to at least the mid-13th century, the cortège is a formal procession that carries university faculty, students and graduands to academic events. 

The procession is led by the beadle (Dutch: pedel), bearing the university's ceremonial staff. 

The perspex and silver ceremonial staff was made by the Amsterdam silversmith Chris F. Steenbergen (1920), and presented to the university by the fellow universities when Erasmus University Rotterdam was officially opened on 8 November 1973.

Forget grand buildings – Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University began its journey in 1970, at an admittedly large villa in the Rotterdam suburb of Kralingen.  It wasn't flashy, but it marked a turning point, fueled by the city's business spirit and a desire to raise the bar for Dutch business education.

The school's roots stretch back to 1913 and the ambition to elevate commerce training.  But by the 1960s, a new era beckoned. Universities joined forces with influential Dutch multinationals, heavyweights like Shell and Unilever, recognizing the need for a different kind of business leader – one equipped for an increasingly globalized world.

The result was Rotterdam School of Management, its inaugural class in 1970 a select group of just 30 students.  This wasn't about mass education; it was about nurturing exceptional talent, fostering minds that could navigate the complexities of international business.

Those early years in Kralingen were about more than just lessons. The school tapped into Rotterdam's business networks and included technical training, giving students a real-world edge. There was a feeling that this place was building a new generation of Dutch business leaders who would leave their mark.

Of course, the villa was just the beginning. Rotterdam School of Management is now a global player, with alumni shaping industries around the world.  But as you graduate today, take a moment to think about that house in Kralingen, and just 30 students. It's a reminder that even the grandest ambitions often have modest beginnings.

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Aukje Hassoldt (1970, Dutch) earned her bachelor and master’s degrees in physics from the Free University (VU) Amsterdam. Following her studies, she held various positions in Rijkswaterstaat (Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management), where she worked on the implementation of European policy and was a member and a delegation leader of international working groups before moving into management at an early age.

Later, she moved to her next position in TNO Applied Technological Research Institute, where she served as a business unit manager Environment, Health & Safety and as Director of Research of Earth, Environment & Life Sciences. She then served as Head of Centre for Safety and Security at the RIVM National Institute for Public Health & Environment and as acting Chief Information Officer at RIVM before she started at TU Delft.

Aukje became the dean of RSM in December 2024. 

Erik Roelofsen originally graduated from RSM with an MScBA in Accounting and Finance in 1997, before embarking on a 25-year career in finance at PwC. 

He returned to RSM to study for his PhD, which was completed in 2010. In 2011, he joined RSM's faculty, becoming a professor of international financial reporting and capital market communications at Department of Accounting and Control in 2019. Since 2022, Erik has been the Academic Director of the Executive MBA programme.

After graduating from the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, Meta moved to Brussels where she worked in recruitment. Initially working only with MBA alumni, Meta is now responsible for helping all alumni stay connected and supported after graduation – and leads our team of alumni relations professionals.