Commencement 2010: Goodbye B-School, Hello World

Still reeling from the economic crisis, the Class of 2010 could use a little inspiration. This year's commencement speakers are happy to oblige

By Francesca Di Meglio

A recipe for the perfect business school graduation speech calls for reflection on the past, contemplation of the future, and a pinch of nostalgia, all delivered by a speaker who motivates and inspires graduates with a compelling personal story and informed insights. For the Class of 2010, the expectations are even higher. In a year marred by a global economic crisis that has everyone wondering about the merits of MBAs and Wall Street in general, an oil spill that puts big business in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons again, a floundering Europe, a resurgence of terrorism, and uncertainties about the world's future, business graduates are looking for guidance as never before.

From Jeff Skoll, the first president of eBay (EBAY) and founder of the Skoll Foundation, who will be delivering the first-ever commencement address at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (Stanford Full-Time MBA Profile) on June 12, to Irene Rosenfeld, the chief executive of Kraft (KFT), who will be offering words of wisdom at the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management (Kellogg Full-Time MBA Profile) ceremony on June 19, speakers at 2010 ceremonies have their work cut out for them.

They're spending graduation season putting the economic crisis in perspective and urging students to take up the cause of corporate social responsibility. They're demanding that graduates get the business world back on track by taking calculated risks while maintaining personal integrity. And in turbulent times, they're offering assurances that a more prosperous world is within reach.

Opportunity Amid Crisis

One big theme this year is that the economic crisis is an opportunity in disguise. "There will absolutely be setbacks and rejection, and this is the best time of one's life to grapple with these challenges," writes Ken Denman, chief executive of Openwave (OPWV) and the keynote speaker at the University of Washington Foster School of Business (Foster Undergraduate Profile) undergraduate ceremony on June 6, in an e-mail about what he plans to tell grads. "They're young, optimistic, full of drive. A time of unprecedented economic crisis is the perfect opportunity to develop and use their unique, fresh perspectives and skill sets."

Although many business leaders are calling for 2010 graduates to seize on the hidden opportunities of this crisis, they are also being realistic. "I am a committed capitalist, not the Fairy Godfather," said H. Todd Stitzer, former CEO of Cadbury (CDSCY), in his commencement speech at the Columbia Business School (Columbia Full-Time MBA Profile) May 16 ceremony. "During my seven years as chief executive of Cadbury, I closed or sold a quarter of our factories and reduced the number of our colleagues by about 20 percent—that's almost 40 factories and 12,000 people."

Business Exchange

Track and share business topics across the Web.