20.6.2026
This weekend, more than 6,700 graduates, families, professors, and staff come together to celebrate Commencement Day 2026. Behind the applause, the gowns, and the class photos, hundreds of people work for months to make this event unforgettable. A look behind the scenes of one of ESSEC’s most emblematic events.
“Commencement Day is much more than a ceremony. It is a brand experience that reflects ESSEC’s values and the lasting bond between the School and its graduates. Every detail is designed to deliver a five-star experience for our students, their families, and our entire community,” says Natalie Kettner, ESSEC Director of Communications.
For Emmanuelle Ajram, Head of Events, the work begins nearly a year before the day itself. Venue scouting, coordination with around fifteen service providers, registration management, scenography, and security. Nothing is left to chance.
“Even if the event happens every year, nothing feels repetitive. Each class is different. Each ceremony has its own personality. Our challenge is to reinvent ourselves every year to deliver a unique experience. Behind the celebration, there is a very precise system, driven by dozens of people working until the very last minute.”
As the weekend approaches, an entire community prepares to mark this important milestone. Behind the spotlight, program managers, academic teams, and staff who support students throughout their journey also experience the moment with strong emotion.
A few hours before the ceremony, activity intensifies backstage. Final checks are carried out. Everyone prepares to play their role.
Louis Delesalle, associate director of French programs at Executive Education, takes a few minutes to gather his thoughts before taking the stage. His task is crucial: to announce the names of about a hundred graduates who are coming forward to be honored.
“I read each first name several times. My colleagues and I want to pay tribute to each and every one of them. This is a very important moment for the graduates and their loved ones. Behind this seemingly simple task lies preparation, adjustments, and always a bit of stress. We have to honor them without mispronouncing a single name. But it’s also, and above all, the best moment of the year!”
This emotion is also shared by professors preparing to join the ceremony. For Thierry Lardinoit, professor and academic director of the ESSEC Sports & Specific Talents Hub, Commencement Day is a collective celebration.
“It is always a pleasure to meet colleagues getting ready, putting on their gowns, and rehearsing their speeches. We are all deeply moved by this moment. When students throw their caps at the end of the ceremony, it is a fantastic moment that captures the completion of their journey.”
Then the lights go out. Music begins. Wearing black and red gowns, professors enter the hall in a solemn procession that opens the ceremony. A few moments later, graduates follow, welcomed by the applause of their families and loved ones.
For Corinne Peiffert, Director of Studies for pre-experience programs, this entrance symbolizes the completion of years of effort and commitment.
“After nearly ten ceremonies, the emotion is still the same. When students enter with their sash and cap, we can truly see how far they have come. Since Commencement Day moved to a real performance venue, the experience has reached another level. There is a real wow effect for graduates and their families.”
For Wilfried Sand, Academic Director of the Master in Management program, Commencement Day is above all a moment of transmission.
“It is the last time a cohort is gathered before going in different directions. My role is to remind graduates that they are joining a community that will continue to support them long after their studies, and that their values will remain their best guide throughout their journey.”
While graduates are at the center of attention, the ceremony is also a strong moment for those who have supported them throughout their studies. In the audience, behind the spotlight, are those who have accompanied students every day for several years.
For Marisa De Oliveira, program manager of the Master in Management, Commencement Day is the result of often invisible work.
“We are present at every stage of their journey. We support them in their successes, and sometimes in their difficulties. Seeing them graduate is a great reward. What I especially enjoy is seeing cohorts reunite, share memories, and realize together how far they have come since arriving at ESSEC.”
At the heart of the ceremony, selected student speakers represent their class. A symbolic responsibility that gives special meaning to this transition between student life and what comes next.
This year, Hauteclaire Lulin speaks on behalf of her class.
“I did not expect to be chosen. I wanted to bring a message of optimism. We are entering a world that is changing very fast, but ESSEC has taught us to stay curious, adaptable, and to keep learning. For me, Commencement Day is not an ending. It is a moment to measure how far we have come and to celebrate everything this journey has allowed us to become.”
Another representative of the Master in Management program, Pravin Agarwal, is also experiencing a powerful moment. His family travels from Kolkata, India, to attend the ceremony. They do not yet know that he has been selected to speak on stage.
“When I received the email telling me I had been selected as a speaker, I felt surprise, pride, and a lot of gratitude. What moves me most today is being able to share this moment with my family. Commencement Day brings together stories from all over the world in one room. For me, it is the meeting point of all parts of my journey: student, young professional, traveler, and son.”
When the lights go out and the caps fly one last time, everyone moves on. But for graduates and those who supported them, the memory remains of a rare moment when backstage emotion meets the pride of an entire community.
