In total, 83 professionals graduated from their Executive MBA. They represent 22 nationalities and a large diversity of cultures and career paths. Some professionals came to RSM to enhance their existing skills, and others wanted to prepare for a change in career direction.
During the livestreamed ceremony, RSM’s Dean of Education Michel Lander and Academic Director Erik Roelofsen praised the graduation for their hard work, dedication and achievements. In her graduation speech, Charlotte Lowther reflected on the Executive MBA journey the class has just completed and the future that awaits them. She said two aspects shaped their MBA experience and will shape their future: understanding that ‘we’re all incomplete leaders’ and the remarkable community they built together.
A continuous journey
“Leadership is not about perfection or having all the answers. It’s about embracing our incompleteness. This means leveraging our strengths while recognising our limitations and understanding that leadership is a continuous journey of growth and development. We are increasingly adaptive, resilient and empathetic,” said Lowther.
Working as a director within PVH Europe (Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein), Lowther said the fashion industry, like many others, needs to reinvent itself continuously. “The fashion world experiences accelerated change in consumer engagement, and is under increasing pressure to transform the way it operates for the betterment of the planet. This requires people and future leaders with the ability to examine complex issues, confront challenging problems and discover innovative solutions while motivating and inspiring others to drive change.” Lowther added that the MBA platform has provided a place to grow and develop.
Of the graduates, there were eight cum laudes (minimum GPA of 8.5) and one summa cum laude (minimum GPA of 9) on the Dean’s honours list. The faculty award went to Professor Mike Ward, and the student award was for MBA graduate Sarah Nicholas.
