This year’s graduates reflect on their studies and their accomplishments, and share their hopes for what comes next

They’ve got their degrees and have the photo in the cap and gown to prove it… Next step? Land the dream job. 

It might sound straightforward, but the Class of 2025 have their work cut out for them. As the availability of graduate roles declines, they face a harder task than their predecessors in standing out in an increasingly competitive market. 

Thankfully, this year’s graduates are proving to be more than up to the challenge. Ambitious, idealistic and determined to use their newfound skills to make a positive impact on the world around them, the Class of 2025 aren’t afraid of a challenge, or of putting in the work to overcome it.  

In interviewing a selection of the best and brightest emerging from business schools around the world a common thread has emerged.  these graduates do not see the conclusion of their studies as an end to their learning. 

They are committed to keep building their knowledge, and to keep sharing the best of themselves with others. 

With such a solid work ethic in place, the graduation ceremony offers an all too rare opportunity to pause and take stock of how far they’ve come and recognise their accomplishments. 

What has made their study experience so valuable? What, beyond their degree certificate, will they be taking with them into the world, and what guidance can the offer to those that hope to follow in their footsteps. 

Thankfully, the Class of 2025 are all too happy to share… 

Make meaningful connections

Perhaps the most striking revelation from this year’s graduates, in a world increasingly influenced by tech prowess, is the power that human connection still holds in creating a transformational learning experience. Whilst lessons learned in the classroom or from a textbook have been invaluable to the Class of 2025, so too have been the opportunities to lean from those who sit alongside them.  

“The most memorable aspect of my academic studies will be the strong friendships and deep connections formed within our cohort,” reflects Tamara Kosi of WU Executive Academy. “From early morning brainstorming sessions to late-night discussions, cross-cultural collaboration, and global vision sharing – these moments taught me that meaningful growth often occurs in shared experiences of ambition and vulnerability.”  

Sachiko Yoshizumi from Durham University Business School echoes this sentiment, noting that the “real learning happens when your beliefs are tested”, crediting the diversity of her classmates’ expertise and experiences for helping to enhance her knowledge as much as the curriculum of her MBA.  

For João Gomes, who graduated from Porto Business School, the impact his classmates made on his study experience has changed how he sees success. Graduation, he notes, was a particularly valuable experience as it wasn’t only an opportunity to celebrate his own accomplishments but also to be proud of his friends. “It’s a moment where we all get to pause, take a breath, and look each other in the eye with that unspoken ‘we did it’ feeling,” he shares. “It marks the end of something intense, yes. But more than that, it’s a shared celebration of growth, resilience, and camaraderie.” 

It’s not only their tutors and their classmates that the Class of 2025 credit for their success. For Nina Ljubanovic, whilst being recognised publicly for completing her Masters in International Management at Rotterdam School of Management Erasmus University was a meaningful experience, so too was the opportunity to share her accomplishments with her family. “I also felt my family’s pride, which matters a lot since they’ve played such a huge part in helping me get to this point,” she says.

Being recognized publicly feels less like a personal trophy and more like a way to say “thank you” to all those people. It’s a shared win. When I walk across that stage, I feel like I’m carrying them with me. It’s a celebration of what we managed to do together, not just what I’ve achieved on my own.

Inspire others

Whilst their motivations for enrolling at business school were undoubtedly to improve their own prospects, the Class of 2025 are all too aware of the responsibility they hold in inspiring others to do the same. 

“As I walked the stage to get my red diploma, I was representing those high school students who were told that they were not enough,” reflects Karlygash Mukanova. Her journey from state school to graduating Summa Cum Laude at Nazarbayev University demonstrates that “one’s background never defines their potential and future.” 

Khushbu Anand from INSEAD carries this sentiment further, sharing that in graduating she felt she wasn’t just representing herself but “every woman, especially from India, who hasn’t had the opportunity to pursue something like this.” Similarly to Nina, Khushbu’s family – particularly her mother – were also an important motivator. “She never had the chance to pursue her own master’s or follow her dreams – but she made sure I could follow mine,” she shares. 

In considering her upcoming graduation, Manchester Metropolitan University student Abbie Stevens also reflected upon her fortune. “As I cross the stage, I will be thankful for the support of my academic mentors, peers, but most of all grateful to be in the privileged position of having the opportunity to complete a degree,” she says. 

For scholarship recipient Dany Leroux, gaining a dual master’s degree from NEOMA business school has proved to him – and he hopes to others – that anything can be possible, regardless of where you start from. “I’ve always been a scholarship student,” he states. “My message is simple but powerful: even if it seems ambitious, see things through. You belong here just as much as anyone else, no matter where you come from.”  

Keep on learning 

If there’s one message that resonates across the Class of 2025, it’s that graduation is not a finish line. Lars Schoningh who, like Nina, completed a Master’s in International Management at RSM notes that “what it [the programme] gave me was the understanding that learning is a lifelong process. Therefore, graduation does not mark the end of learning, but rather my learning journey at RSM.” 

Whilst their studies will certainly help them gain a foot in the door of their chosen industries, it’s this commitment to lifelong learning that will secure their ongoing professional success. “True learning never stops, and graduating signifies a formal preparation to face new challenges with accountability and purpose,” says Tanya Kausha, who completed a Postgraduate Programme in Management at the Indian Institute of Management Indore. “For me, graduating is a milestone, not a destination. It signifies the change from regimented academic education to a more comprehensive, lifetime path of development and service”. 

Emma Rosenberg of Aalto University agrees. “I learned how to learn,” she simply states, reflecting on her study experience, “which will help me grow even more in the future.” 

Build inclusive, impactful careers

And it’s this commitment to keep learning and growing that will enable the Class of 2025 to not only have successful careers, but meaningful ones too. Representing a generation committed to positive change, when asked about her aspirations, Sachiko Yoshizumi shared her desire to “create value that goes beyond financial,” highlighting social and cultural causes as a priority.  

Khushbu Anand holds a similar aspiration. “I’m passionate about building workplaces where inclusion and belonging are real, not just buzzwords,” she says. “At INSEAD, everyone had a place, and every voice mattered. I want to carry that forward into my professional life by creating spaces where cultural differences are seen as strengths and where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to contribute. 

That sense of individual value is also important to Tanya Kausha. In entering the workforce, she wants to build spaces that uphold ideals of compassion, teamwork, and inclusive development. “I want to create spaces where people feel heard, empowered, and inspired to develop together,” she says. 

Whilst job opportunities may not be as plentiful as they once have been, we can be assured that, for those grads that manage to beat the odds, they will be actively working to turn the tide, improving working opportunities for others. 

Follow your ambitions, and protect your morals

In transforming the places where they work, the Class of 2025 are also not shy of challenging and changing accepted practices. In considering what comes next, João Gomes shares a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson; “Don’t go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”  

It’s a philosophy that Krisztina Mészáros, also seeks to live by. Her studies at Corvinus University of Budapest encouraged her to consider and create new approaches to common challenges. “It taught me how to think critically, work in diverse teams, and stay open to new perspectives,” she shares. “Real learning goes far beyond textbooks, it’s about asking questions, thinking together, embracing change, and constantly evolving both as a person and as a professional.” Her goal for the future? To not only makes waves in her chosen industry but also the communities she becomes a part of, helping others to grow. 

The future is collaborative

As they look toward the future, the Class of 2025 are all too aware of the multiple challenges they face. It’s not just a shrinking job market they have to conquer but an increasingly volatile world, shaped by wider global pressures. Understanding that no one person can succeed alone, it is the collaborative networks built during their studies, teamed with modern skills and sound morals that will characterise their future careers.  

“What I’ll remember most is the informal support network we built as classmates,” says Carla Rocha of her time at Nova School of Business and Economics. “In key moments — tight deadlines, group projects, last-minute doubts — we naturally came together to help each other. That sense of collaboration, of “we’re in this together,” made a real difference and will stay with me long after graduation.” This experience, she continues, has instilled a quiet strength and the self-belief to act in the ways she believes will bring the greatest benefit to all. 

Whilst a MSc in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence places Irene Musumeci in good stead for a flourishing career following her graduation from OPIT – Open Institute of Technology, it’s her attitude that will perhaps be most influential factor in what comes next.  “I hope to make a meaningful impact not only in my personal life but also in the corporate world I’m part of, by bringing fresh ideas, encouraging innovation, and giving back some of the value I’ve received throughout my journey,” she says. 

This is perhaps the most important quality of the Class of 2025. Whilst previous generations of business schools also paired confidence with capability, and ambition with humility, it is their idealism and determination to keep trying, even when the odds are stacked against them, might just make these graduates the most formidable we’ve seen yet. 

Read on to find out more…

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