Congratulations Class of 2026! You did it!

Opening the ceremony, HEC Paris Dean and Director General Éloïc Peyrache reminded graduates of the sacrifices behind this achievement.

You've come from far corners of the world, from far continents. You've accomplished a tremendous journey to reach this day and made huge family and emotional sacrifices. These HEC degrees are the fruit of your hard work, but they are also the fruit of your families' support and love. We never say thank you enough.

His words resonated with many graduates including Tugrul Eynur who reflected: I started the program the same month my son was born... This was a different kind of pressure. The kind that forces you to be honest about your priorities every single week. I want to thank my family, who carried more than their share during this period.

The Dean then challenged graduates to think also about responsibility that comes with leadership as they enter the next chapter of their lives.

Go out there and disrupt, but disrupt with grace. Build, but build with care. Reach high, but bring others with you... The impossible isn't something unreachable. It may be something that doesn't exist yet until someone like you decides to make it real.

One of the day's most memorable moments came from our very own EMBA participant Elizabeth Baker, an accomplished opera singer, who surprised the audience with a moving rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, accompanied by pianist Dominique Fillon, introduced through an EMBA classmate. Inviting the audience to sing along, Baker reflected, I think the best thing we can do in this world is to sing together, be off our phones and figure out what our purpose is!

For graduates, the ceremony marked the end of months of balancing demanding careers, personal commitments and intensive study.

Adriane Nakagawa shares about the impact of the program: “I want to express my gratitude to the Professors and HEC Paris for crafting such a unique experience that has taught me how to lead in an ever-changing world. The true power of excellence lies in attracting extraordinary individuals to the same environment. I genuinely believe we will benefit from being part of such a strong community for years to come.”

For Simone Pesce, the courses opened new doors to different areas of business. If someone had told me that I would spend nearly two years diving into corporate strategy, building a Go-to-Market plan for a SaaS company serving the pharmaceutical industry, debating demand forecasting and inventory management challenges, analyzing financial statements and P&Ls, and exploring the metrics that drive performance in technology companies… I probably would not have believed them.

Beyond the knowledge gained, many graduates said the people they met became the defining part of the experience. Clément Politi reflected: In the end, this diploma is not what I am most proud of. Women and men from all over the world, with incredible backgrounds, who have challenged me, inspired me and sometimes led me to look at some of my convictions differently. I come out of this experience with a lot of gratitude and new friendships, but above all with an energy and enthusiasm that I had not imagined when I walked through the doors of HEC two years ago.

For Aminata Fofana Kanté, the journey was made possible by the people around her: Behind every box ticked, there were sleepless nights, doubts I owned, and above all the people who made it all possible: my family, my loved ones, my colleagues and managers and my cohort... What these 18 months taught me: we're stronger than we think. The people around us aren't a detail, they're the foundation. Would I do it all again? My crazy streak says yes!

Wanda Tappi summed up the transformational nature of the Executive MBA: I clearly remember what I was told before starting: 'It will change you!' And I must wholeheartedly admit, it truly did. Today, I feel not only stronger and more conscious, but also a more effective leader and, hopefully and most importantly, a better person.

As the Class of 2026 joins HEC Paris' global alumni community, graduates leave not only with new knowledge and stronger leadership skills, but with lifelong friendships, a global network and the confidence to turn impossible ideas into reality.