EAE Business School Madrid 2025 Graduation Ceremony
More than 2,000 MBA and Master's students from EAE Business School, part of the higher education network Planeta Formación y Universidades, graduated during the ceremony held yesterday at its Madrid headquarters at the Madrid Arena. The graduates were sponsored by Raúl Berdonés, founder and CEO of Secuoya Content Group. The graduation ceremony brought together more than 6,000 people, including students and attendees.
The ceremony was also attended by José Ramos, General Manager of Planeta Formación y Universidades of Madrid and Valencia; Montserrat Civera, Academic Director of Planeta Formación y Universidades; Lola Salcedo, Dean of EAE Madrid; Raquel González, Director of EAE Madrid; and María José Molina, General Secretary of Planeta Formación y Universidades Madrid.
During his speech, the sponsor of the class, Raúl Berdonés, shared some advice for the recent graduates: “If I've learned anything over these years, it's that the key to growth—personal and professional—lies in four pillars: vision, perseverance, passion, and teamwork.”
According to Raúl Berdonés, “Vision allows you to look beyond the short term, imagine what doesn't yet exist, and build with purpose. Without vision, you walk… but you don't move forward. Perseverance makes the difference between those who start and those who finish. We can all have a great idea, but only those who persist and get up again and again end up turning it into reality.”
To conclude his speech, the sponsor emphasized that "success is not measured only by what you achieve, but by how you achieve it. By the impact you make on others, by the mark you leave on your community, by the values you uphold," and he encouraged the young graduates to look to the future with determination.
After the sponsor's remarks, the three representatives of the graduating class proceeded to deliver their speeches: Adrián Chavarri, a student of the MBA in Spanish; Eleanor Meryl Morgan-Williams, a student of the Master in Marketing and Sales Management; and Paul McFarlane, a student of the Master in Artificial Intelligence for Business.
The Academic Director of Planeta Formación y Universidades, Montserrat Civera, noted during her speech, “Beyond the concepts and practical knowledge acquired during your studies, I firmly believe that the true essence of your education lies in the values instilled in you at this great business school. We teach you not only to be excellent professionals but also to be ethical and responsible leaders.”
Civera also reminded the students that “success is not only measured in terms of individual achievements. It is important that you seek the well-being of our communities and the world at large. We have a responsibility to use our knowledge and skills to create a positive impact.”
“Today you are not saying goodbye to EAE Business School Madrid, but rather you are entering a new stage in which you are Alumni; this is and will be your home. You have the support of the Planeta Formación y Universidades network to continue developing your career,” Civera concluded.
RECOGNITIONS
Following the speeches, several awards and recognitions were presented. The first award of the afternoon went to Raúl Berdonés, Executive President of Secuoya Content Group. The three student representatives of the graduating class presented the award.
During the ceremony, several distinctions were also presented to the key figures of the 2024-2025 academic year. The first prize was the EAE Emprende Award for the ECOFIX project, which develops advanced chemical solutions for soil stabilization in road construction, significantly reducing the need for aggregates extracted from rivers and mountains. This reduces the carbon footprint compared to traditional methods. Alejandro Yermanos, Daniela Steel, and Krizia Hurtado, students of the Master's in Entrepreneurship and representatives of the Babson Collaborative Challenge chosen at 4YFN25 for this project, took the stage to collect the award.
Other awards presented during the ceremony included the Top Recruiter Award, which went to Carrefour Spain and was accepted by Ms. Gloria Cuadrado, Director of Talent and HR Transformation at Carrefour Spain; the Top Teaching Excellence Award went to Ahmed Bakri, Director of the Master in Finance and Director of the Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, and Manuel Fernández-Villacañas, Director of the Master in Supply Chain Management & Logistics; and the Top Talent Award went to Jorge Cañadilla, a student of the Master in Finance.
An emotional video, consisting of congratulations from various family members and friends of the students, especially those who were miles away during the graduation ceremony, moved the audience at the Madrid Arena.
The Graduation Ceremony was closed by Lola Salcedo, Dean of EAE Business School Madrid, who addressed the students: "The recognition you are about to receive today is not just an academic achievement. It reflects a process of change, of self-improvement, of commitment. It is a sign of real transformation."
The ceremony was hosted by Mercedes Martín, meteorologist and presenter for A3 Noticias, and Carles Lamelo, journalist for Onda Cero.