Commencement Speakers to Remain Upbeat Despite Slowed Economy
This year’s MBA graduates will be seeing a sluggish economy and perhaps even bleak job prospects. Yet many
high-profile business leaders returning to their alma maters as commencement speakers are expected to remain upbeat
in their remarks to students, writes Kelly Bronk of BusinessWeek (“Graduation Talks Accentuate the Positive,” April 24, 2008).
Top business schools that have landed Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, or Jeff Immelt, CEO of General Electric for their commencement ceremonies, tend to want
their speakers to keep things positive, yet realistic when addressing students this year.
Graduation “is all about the kids,” James Ellis, dean of the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business, told Bronk. Holli Budd, associate dean for
MBA administration and external affairs at the University of Rochester Simon Graduate School of
Business commented, “It’s a time to celebrate their success and their future.”
In an effort to do just that, J. Peter Simon, son of Rochester business school's late benefactor William E. Simon,
will tend toward optimistic remarks as opposed to focusing on the doom and gloom of a potential U.S. recession.
Robert Rodriguez, CEO of First Pacific Advisors and alumnus of USC’s Marshall School, may convey
similar sentiments to students. Dean Ellis expects Rodriguez to empathize with students regarding the difficult
economy, but also tackle what students can do to conquer the challenges ahead.
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