🎓 A look back at the first graduation ceremonies for the classes of 2024

On April 4 and 5, emlyon business school wrote a new page in its history by organizing, for the very first time on its new campus in Lyon, a series of graduation ceremonies. Two days marked by emotion, pride and enthusiasm, during which no fewer than 800 graduates of the Class of 2024 were honored.

At the end of the day on Friday April 4, the 142 graduates of the Executive Master in General Management and the Executive Master in General Management Online opened the ball. It was a solemn and warm ceremony, celebrating the singular careers they have pursued alongside their often intense professional and personal commitments.

The following day, Saturday April 5, the festivities resumed in the morning with the ceremony dedicated to the Executive MBA (84 graduates), International MBA (40 graduates) and doctoral programs: the Global DBA and PhD. It was a morning of academic excellence and global ambition, reflecting the diversity of the graduates' profiles and career paths.

Finally, this first series of celebrations came to a vibrant close with the Global BBA ceremony, attended by no fewer than 527 graduates in the afternoon. Pride, youth and collective energy resonated across the campus, embodying the promise of a bold future.

🗨️ Santiago Lefebvre, emlyon graduate and founder of ChangeNOW, who attended the ceremony, had a message for them:

 "You have in your hands a diploma, but above all you have a world to invent and a world to protect. I wish you to bring everything you are to it, and never stop moving forward, with heart, curiosity and courage."

📍Replay IMBA EMBA PhD DBA
📍Replay EMMG
📍Replay Global BBA

A community of 48,000 alumni at your side

These two days have reminded us just how much the emlyon experience transforms, forges and reveals. But above all, it's the graduates themselves who have given this adventure its full force, through their commitment, passion and determination. Today, they join a close-knit community of 48,000 alumni around the world. A vibrant, supportive network, ready to support each and every one of them in their projects and, together, to shape the future with impact.

Then, on Saturday, June 7, 2025, emlyon business school celebrated the graduation of the Master of Science & Specialized Mastère as well as the Grande Ecole Program, in the sublime room 3000, in Lyon. An exceptional day where the more than 2600 graduates, surrounded by 3000 relatives, were able to celebrate their graduation with emotion and pride! The two ceremonies were punctuated by the speeches of the deans and program leaders and professors of the Faculty, testimonials and motivating messages from alumni, but above all the hand-over of the diploma on stage for each graduate without forgetting the photos of the different promotions and the essential hat throwing.

🗨️Isabelle Huault, Managing Director and President of the Executive Board of emlyon business school :

"The new chapter that opens up to you is made of challenges, responsibilities, but also opportunities. I encourage you to chart your own path, to stay true to your uniqueness and to bring to life your values and the principles that emlyon has passed on to you."

During the morning, all of the 734 Master of Science graduates and 470 Specialized Masters graduates obtained the famous scroll, after having received the congratulations of the faculty of the School and listened to the inspiring speeches of the various speakers and guests.

List of graduate programs :

• MSc in Digital Marketing & Data Science

• MSc in International Hospitality Management

• MSc in Strategy & Consulting

• MSc in Sports Industry Management

• MSc in Cybersecurity & Defense Management

• MSc in Luxury Management & Marketing

• MSc in Global Innovation & Entrepreneurship 

• MSc in Health Management & Data Intelligence 

• MSc in High-End Brand Management 

• MSc in Data Science & Artificial Intelligence Strategy 

• MSc in International Marketing & Business Development 

• MSc in Supply Chain & Purchasing Management

• MSc in Finance

• Mastère Spécialisé Entrepreneuriat & Management de l’Innovation 

• Mastère Spécialisé Juriste Manager International 

• Mastère Spécialisé Management de la Transition Énergétique 

• Mastère Spécialisé Management des Entreprises du Vivant & de l'Agroalimentaire

• Mastère Spécialisé Stratégie & Développement d’Affaires Internationales 

• Mastère Spécialisé Transformation Digitale, Marketing & Stratégie

🗨️Mark Smith, Dean of Programs:

"You are entering a world of changes and transformations, where the skills you have cultivated at emlyon will be essential to meet the professional, ethical, and systemic challenges ahead."

A round table in the presence of Samantha Estone, MSc in Finance graduate and Maxime Mermillod, MS SDAI graduate allowed to discuss their journey at Emlyon, their learning and memories but also their professional perspectives at the end of their studies. Then the enthusiastic speech of the new president of the alumni association, Vincent Leroux, was an opportunity to officially welcome them within the alumni network.

🗨️Vincent Leroux (MBA 2004), Executive VP at GMM Pfaudler and President of the emlyon alumni association : 

"Today, I tell you bravo. From now on, the Alumni network belongs to you: imagine it as a house, whose keys you now have. Come back often."

The 1418 graduates of the Grande Ecole Program (PGE) also experienced a unique celebration punctuated by many memorable moments recounting their experiences throughout their training and by several messages of congratulations and encouragement to honor the accomplished journey and to officially mark the opening of a new chapter.

🗨️Lionel Sitz, Director of the Grande Ecole Program   :

"As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said: "As for the future, it is not a matter of predicting it, but of making it possible." That’s exactly what you’re going to do. You will make possible a world where growth rhymes with regeneration, where innovation rhymes with preservation, where success rhymes with responsibility."

The sponsor of the PGE promotion, Philippe Oddou, gave a singular testimony by notably returning to his own graduation twenty years earlier and on his promotion sponsor Henri Lachmann then President of Schneider Electric. Then he explained his willingness to undertake in the social and solidarity economy very quickly after his graduation and under the encouragement of his sponsor, thus illustrating the strength, transmission and solidarity that drive the association of alumna and alumni of emlyon.

🗨️Philippe Oddou, (PGE 1994), General Director of Sport dans la Ville    :

"As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said: "As for the future, it is not a matter of predicting it, but of making it possible." That’s exactly what you’re going to do. You will make possible a world where growth rhymes with regeneration, where innovation rhymes with preservation, where success rhymes with responsibility."

Congratulations to all ! 🎉