17 October 2025
Bilbao Campus
Over 120 participants, together with faculty, family, and friends, gathered on Friday 14 October in the Ceremonial Hall at the University of Deusto for the graduation ceremony of the following 2024–2025 Executive Education programmes at Deusto Business School:
- Leading from the Board Programme (LdC) | Basque Country Edition
- Leading from the Board Programme (LdC) | Madrid Edition
- Executive Master in Business Administration (EMBA)
- Expert Programme in General Management (PDG)
- Expert Programme in Healthcare Innovation and Management (EIGS)
- Executive Master in Business Administration (EMBA Online)
The event featured, among others, the Director of Executive Education, Almudena Eizaguirre; the Dean of Deusto Business School, Macarena Cuenca; the President of Deusto Business Alumni, Antón Azlor; as well as some of the newly graduated participants.
Also taking part were the Secretary of Deusto Business School, Leyre Goitia, who acted as master of ceremonies, and the President of Deusto Business School, José Ignacio Goirigolzarri, who served as the sponsor for this graduating class.
The ceremony opened with a speech by the Director of Executive Education, Almudena Eizaguirre, who expressed her hope that the newly graduated students would become distinguished ambassadors of the humanistic leadership approach fostered at Deusto Business School: a humanism that, through self-awareness and collaboration with stakeholders, places the dignity of people at its centre to generate both economic and social value. She also expressed her confidence that the newly graduated students have acquired knowledge and skills, while learning to approach situations through the lens of humanistic leadership, applying a strong measure of courage. She reminded the audience that courage, together with excellence, integrity, cooperation, and openness, is one of the pillars on which the identity of Deusto Business School is founded.
The Director of Executive Education then handed over the floor to the sponsor of the graduating class. José Ignacio Goirigolzarri spoke about corporate culture, which he compared to a shared promise. “A promise about how we treat others, how we make decisions, how we face ethical dilemmas, how we respond to change, and how we envision the future,” he explained. He also shared with the Executive Education graduates his views on leadership within organisations: “I do not believe in charismatic or personality-driven leadership,” he argued, adding that in certain companies and specific situations, this type of leadership might sometimes be useful. “But its continuation is counterproductive for the sustainability of a business project,” he stated.
During his talk, Goirigolzarri took time to discuss the depth and speed of the changes we are experiencing. “And in this environment of radical change, where flexibility and agility are essential, it is necessary to provide the organisation with wide scopes of delegation at all levels,” he said. He added that this environment requires a culture in which people feel valued and rewarded for their contributions to driving change, rather than for simply managing inherited situations. Goirigolzarri concluded his address by emphasising the value of people. “Because, no matter how much we move into a more digitalised and technology-driven world, it is people, with their skills and commitment, who will continue to be the differentiating factor between competitive and mediocre companies,” he concluded.
Following a short musical interlude, the ceremony moved to its central moment, during which Carlos Arias Chausson and Estibalitz Arregui Urdampilleta, participants in the Leading from the Board and General Management programmes, respectively, gave the solemn reading of the Graduation Pledge in Spanish and Basque, before the presentation of the certificates to each of the participants from the various programmes.
Avencia Sánchez-Mejías, a participant in the Online Executive MBA and winner of the first edition of the Women and Leadership Award, which aims to promote women’s careers through training, spoke on behalf of her graduating class. She highlighted the intensity of the programme and the significant learning it provided and, above all, expressed her gratitude for “the path that has been opened at Deusto Business School to reduce the gender gap in business leadership”.
Anton Azlor, president of Deusto Business Alumni, also spoke at the ceremony. He welcomed the newly graduated students to the alumni community, highlighting the benefits of building connections and fostering a sense of community.
Finally, the Dean of Deusto Business School, Macarena Cuenca, addressed the audience to emphasise the importance of celebrating and recognising the efforts made, and to remind attendees that Deusto Business School aims to train leaders who place the dignity of people at the centre of their work. She addressed the alumni to remind them that with each decision and choice, they have both the opportunity and the responsibility to contribute to a positive social impact. The Dean concluded her speech by expressing her hope that the graduates’ talent, combined with their experience and the Deusto spirit they have gained, will continue to be a driving force for positive change wherever they go.
The Ars Canticum Ensemble Choir provided musical accompaniment for the ceremony, which concluded with the piece Gaudeamus Igitur.
