Elation, hope and emotion at the Alba Commencement Class 2020 

The night of Saturday, July 3, was one of hope, emotion and much awaited reward for the 323 fresh Alba graduates and their families who saw the efforts of a long, pandemic-ridden year, culminate in the event of events: their graduation.

The graduates, coming from a total of 20 countries and having completed 13 academic programs, their relatives and select members of the ACG community, gathered at the ACG Track and Field to attend an emotionally charged ceremony hosting, among other distinguished guests, the night’s Honorary Degree recipient, Alternate Minister of Health and Alba alumnus, Mr. Vassilis Kontozamanis.

ACG President, Dr. David G. Horner, opened the ceremony with the following words:

“These graduates, with the support of the faculty and staff of the College, pursued their academic plans and programs under unexpected, unforeseen, and unprecedented conditions. In so doing, they demonstrated their determination, their adaptability, and their self-discipline. They learned new skills and utilized new tools, all of which were needed to maintain their academic progress and all of which will serve them well in the future. If ever there were graduates who deserved a party in their honor, who deserved to be surrounded by their family and friends at this uniquely proud moment in their lives, it is these graduates who are seated here tonight.”

Then the President went on to introduce the evening’s graduation speaker and Alba Alumnus , Alternate Minister of Health, Mr. Kontozamanis. Prior to assuming his current governmental position, Mr. Kontozamanis held several significant leadership positions, including: Secretary General of the Hellenic Ministry of Health; Chief Executive Officer of the 1st Regional Health Authority, and Vice President and President of the National Organization for Medicines. Mr. Kontozamanis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Ioannina, a Master of Science in Health Care and Policy from the University of Birmingham and a Master in Business Administration from Alba Graduate Business School.

“Being here tonight stirs in me mixed but positive feelings. Nostalgia, for some years ago, I myself was sitting in Alba’s classrooms. Emotion, for you managed to accomplish your goals, especially amidst the adverse conditions that the health crisis brought about. Trust me, I am fully aware what it is like to accomplish a goal, especially in the past 17 months. And most of all, hope. For in your faces I see exhaustion but I also see relief, and impetus and faith in the future.”

Speaking of Alba’s programs, Mr. Kontozamanis shared a personal experience: “As an old alumnus/former student I will confess that my Alba MBA was an end but also a beginning. It was my second master’s degree and turned out to be a precious advantage in the positions that I served both in the private and the public sector. However, it also served as an occasion to educate myself further and to delve deeper in specialized areas of knowledge. So, allow me a small piece of advice:  Do not think of your academic title as one more diploma that entails knowhow and useful knowledge but rather as a multi-faceted tool that helps us foster our critical thinking, to plan, to set and to serve goals.”

Mr. Kontozamanis also highlighted the ceremony’s two-fold meaning: “Tonight’s ceremony does not limit itself to the completion of an academic program and the graduation. It includes, on the contrary, an immaterial capital that goes beyond/exceeds standard qualifications. The studies, the competitive exams, the projects in a unique environment not only for your generation but for all of us.”

Speaking of the augmented value of the graduates’ degrees, Mr. Kontozamanis added: "Not only did you have to face the challenges and put the effort required to complete your MBA but you were also dealt with the pandemic’s limitations/restrictions. That’s why your degree is twice as valuable. It certifies your skills and at the same it bears proof of your adaptability in unpredictable and volatile conditions. And this, perhaps, is one of the most valuable assets for the future that lies ahead of you.”

And he concluded by conveying to the graduates a piece of advice: “Qualifications are always necessary. Do not underestimate however, in the exciting journey that you are about to embark on, any kind of experience, even the negative ones. Transform accomplishments, even failures, into fuel for something better.”

Following Mr. Kontozamanis, Highest Achievement Award Recipient, Maria Chatzigeorgiou (Msc in Finance) took the stage to deliver an emotional farewell speech to her fellow graduates and the audience. 

Ms. Chatzigeorgiou thanked the parents, professors and Alba personnel for their support throughout this tough year and shared her joy to be “here with all of you today in this very special moment to celebrate our achievement.”

“This past year has been tough and unexpected, and showed us, the hard way, that nothing should be taken for granted!” said Ms. Chatzigeorgiou and went on to add: “But you know what else we have learned? That when times are tough, we need to be tougher! We need to focus on the good. We need to lean on our loved ones when we feel like we can’t take another step. Because we can! We need to be patient and to trust one another. We need to be there for each other. We need to support each other.”

Addressing her fellow graduates, Ms. Chatzigeorgiou didn’t shun from mentioning the challenges of their generation: “You know, our generation has been through a lot these past few years. From the pandemic to the financial crisis, we have learnt to be resilient. To be tough and to never give up. To create our own path when we feel that we don’t belong somewhere! I have seen these characteristics in each and every one of my fellow classmates and friends, and that makes me feel certain. Certain that the future will be nothing like the past, because the future is in our own hands.” And she concluded with the hopeful message: “And no one can take that away from us, not even COVID. We invest in ourselves because we want to earn the future that we have dreamt of, and that is our greatest achievement.”

Following the conferral of degrees, Mr. Alex Derventzas, founder and Managing Director of ALDERCOM, P-MBA8 alumnus, and member of the Board of the Alba Alumni Association congratulated the graduates and reminded them that the Association is there to welcome them and embrace them in keeping the Alba spirit and network alive. “As Alba alumni” said Mr. Derventzas “we all carry the burden of making every effort to make a positive impact to the society. We all make a continuous effort to become a role model for the people around us and act with integrity and ethos in every aspect of our lives.”

“Since 1994, the Alba Association maintains the feeling of belonging strong, and the learning process alive amongst more than 4,000 alumni, most of which are acknowledged professionals in the private and public sectors, Organizations and NGOs, in Greece and abroad” added Mr. Derventzas and wished the graduates happiness in all their endeavors.

Next, Alba Dean Dr. Kostas Axarloglou took the podium to deliver the charge to the newly minted graduates. In his usual warm and empathetic tone, Dean Axarloglou congratulated the graduating class and welcomed them to the era of the “extraordinary”!

“The COVID-19 pandemic erupted suddenly last year and disrupted all aspects of our life” commented Dean Axarloglou on the recent global challenge that changed the world forever. “The way we communicate, socialize, travel, work, the ways we relate to each other, the ways we learn. Even the way we graduate from School! And we all had to adapt quickly to these new, extraordinary challenges. Together however with this global challenge that left its mark on modern history, Dean Axarloglou mentioned, “the Hellenic community, as well as philhellenes all around the world, celebrate another ‘extraordinary’ milestone: The Greek Revolution and the heroic journey towards liberty, democracy, justice, independence, peace and respect to human rights – virtues that were born in ancient Greece and inspired modern nations worldwide.”

Speaking of how these ideals have influenced the “Business Unusual” journey, Dean Axarloglou reminded the graduates that an equally revolutionary mindset has been instilled in them “through a diversity of learning stimuli, a richness of thinking frameworks and a plurality of perspectives and points of view” thus empowering them to develop a learning mentality and attitude, “in order to shape the future and not simply be part of the future.” 

Dean Axarloglou also reminded the graduates that Alba also empowers them “to co-create ecosystems of value, driven by your strong complementarities with your teammates where each one is valuable for the others. And becoming the ‘Leaders of Tomorrow’, you will be challenged to pioneer in developing ecosystems of purpose, where value creation is not simply about performance but instead about connection, collaboration, interdependency and above all, a shared purpose.”

“Today, you become part of the growing family of more than 5,000 Alba alumni and 59,000 ACG alumni around the world, a learning ecosystem of value creation and of co-creation of purpose” Dean Axarloglou ended his speech and sent the graduates off on their next step in life with the following uplifting message: “Keep learning and keep learning with purpose”! The School needs your collaborative spirit, the country needs your ingenuity, our extraordinary times need your ‘business unusual’ values and vision.”

The Ceremony concluded with the graduates throwing their hats in the air among cheers and applause from the audience of proud family members, relatives and friends.

Class of 2020, you’ve made it through one of the toughest years recent history has known and that is enough in itself to make you futureproof!

Keep surprising us and making us proud with your passion, achievements and future endeavors!