Class of 2024 | Vanderbilt Owen Commencement Ceremony
Tune in alongside your loved ones to see our graduates cross the stage and hear from the 2024 Commencement Speaker, Maria Renz (MBA’96).
Maria is the VP/GM Commerce at Google. We are excited to hear her insights as we celebrate the achievements of our graduating class. #VU2024
Commencement Remarks from Owen Graduate School of Management Dean Thomas Steenburgh:
"Welcome to Owen's 2024 commencement ceremony, where we will celebrate the successful completion of your business education and reflect on your time at Owen. I am joined on the stage by Deans Willis and Escalas, who are here to assist with the program.
This year has been a time of transition, and I want to express my gratitude for the warm welcome I have received since arriving at Owen. I have enjoyed getting to know all of you and learning more about what makes this community unique. Owen is a remarkable place where we look out for one another and support each other's success. The alumni hold this aspect of the school dear to their hearts and have shared many stories of how their classmates helped them succeed in business and life. Whether it was preparing for a job interview or developing an idea for a company, the community's support made all the difference.
In that spirit, I want to celebrate the strength of our community. Behind every student's accomplishment stands a dedicated team of faculty and staff whose commitment and guidance have been unwavering. Would these exceptional individuals please stand and be acknowledged? Your contributions are the bedrock of our community, and your tireless efforts do not go unnoticed.
Today, we also have the privilege of being joined by your beloved families, partners, and friends who have traveled from near and far to celebrate with us. Would all your loved ones please rise? (Pause) Let's give them a heartfelt round of applause for their steadfast support.
To our new graduates, I would like to leave you with some personal words of encouragement. As you start a new phase of your life, I hope you continue exploring and developing yourself, relentlessly seeking your full potential. Undertaking this work is both challenging and a choice. In the words of Abraham Mazlow:
"One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again."
Seeking the best version of yourself – developing skills in the Art of Becoming – requires you to create something new and put something at risk. As opportunities arise, you will need the courage to overcome fear and move away from safety again and again. But you have the ability to pursue a path of discovery and growth if you choose. And, as an Owen graduate, you are part of a community that is willing to help and wants to see you flourish.
Congratulations, Owen Class of 2024! We are eager to see how you will make use of your many talents to create opportunities for yourself and others."
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To see read the full Keynote Address from Maria Renz (MBA’96) VP/GM Commerce at Google please visit: https://business.vanderbilt.edu/news/...