8 October 2016. On the occasion of the Masters' Graduation Day, a total of 431 graduates were handed their degree certificates in the following programmes: 

• 87 in Accounting and Finance,
• 66 in Business Management,
• 50 in Banking and Finance,
• 40 in International Affairs and Governance,
• 39 in Business Innovation,
• 38 in Marketing, Service and Communication Management,
• 21 in Law,
• 19 in Economics,
• 18 in Strategy and International Management,
• 15 in Management, Organization Studies and Cultural Theory,
• 15 in Law and Economics,
• 13 in Quantitative Economics and Finance,
• 10 in International Law.

Respect: the recipe for executive success

Bieger reminded the graduates that generating influence in a company required more than mere professional competence. What was needed besides knowledge is a virtue which Bieger thought befitted specialists and executives, in particular, very well indeed: respect. After all, respectful interaction with subordinates and colleagues had long been regarded as a recipe for executive success – "even as a recipe for a happy life," said Bieger. Accordingly, respect had to be a way of life, which is why Bieger provided the graduates with three tips for respectful action. It was important, he said, to listen and ask questions: "Think about it: if you don’t ask, you can’t lead. There are even people who say that those who can listen well are extremely persuasive." And listening also involves engaging with another point of view, being open and recognising where shared solutions can be found. And that is why it was important to gain as much experience as possible from a wide variety of situations in order to be able to find one’s own position.

Attractive social programme

The musical background to the ceremony was provided by the HSG Big Band. HSG Alumni Executive Board Member Dr. Tobias Rohner congratulated the graduates on their first academic degree. He outlined the great advantages of the large HSG Alumni network for new graduates, in particular, and encouraged them to become actively involved in it. Guests were able to go on a guided tour of the HSG's art works, and graduates were able to have their photographs taken with or without a gown, before and after the official ceremony. By way of a souvenir, the HSG Shop sold "Class of 2016" T-shirts. Refresh-ments were provided by the ad[hoc] coffee bar and the bratwurst sausage stand of the St.Gallen Addiction Assistance Foundation. In the evening, HSG Alumni staged the traditional Graduation party in St.Gallen.

<script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>