Over 4,300 people gathered at the Palazzo dello Sport to celebrate Graduation Ceremony of the Rome Business School 2024. The event highlighted more than 2,000 students from 122 different nations, 40% of whom were from Italy, accompanied by their families and enrolled in one of RBS’s 58 master’s programs.
“Today, we celebrate the journey that has transformed this group of students into better professionals,” said Nico Losito, Vice President of IBM Technology Italy, guest of honor, and member of Rome Business School’s Corporate Advisory Board. “In today’s complex environment, the real challenge is managing business sustainably, shifting from an extractive to a regenerative mindset. Only 10% of leaders understand this need, and fewer than 5% of companies are tackling it concretely. You, Rome Business School students, who are trained to be ‘Better managers for a better world,’ possess both the skills and, more importantly, the responsibility to bring about this new paradigm, where profit coexists with the regenerative use of productive resources.”
During the ceremony, several awards were presented. The Rocco Forte Group was recognized as the Top Employer Partner of 2024 for recruiting the highest number of Rome Business School students in the past year. Professor Michela Bonafoni received the award for Best Program Director, leading the Executive Master in Gestione della Moda e del Lusso. Professors Costas Piliounis and Valentino Megale were honored for their work with the Global Master in Human Resources and the International Online Master in Artificial Intelligence, respectively. TerraBreeze was acknowledged as the best startup idea developed within the RBS4Entrepreneurship program.
The graduates now join the Rome Business School’s family of over 8,000 alumni, integrated into a network of leaders, entrepreneurs, managers, and companies operating worldwide, including Amazon, Louis Vuitton, PwC, KPMG, Accenture, Deloitte, Ferrero, Enel. “Our time at Rome Business School has equipped us with the knowledge and skills needed to forge our paths, innovate, and lead with integrity and vision. We are now in a position to make a significant impact, not only in our careers but also in the world around us,” said Daniele Sensi, an International MBA student, speaking from the podium during the ceremony.
The primary goal of RBS is to develop responsible leaders, prepared to stand out and act as agents of change. This challenge is met through a constant innovation of the academic offering, tailored to the ever-evolving demands of the job market and the expectations of students seeking a multicultural environment for growth and development. RBS achieves this through a network of over 1,150 companies, a faculty of 336 members, including professors and Program Directors, and partnerships with educational institutions in 63 countries. The school also benefits from the contributions of 106 top managers in its Corporate Advisory Board, fostering innovation and collaboration among businesses, the school, and students.
RBS’s achievements in 2023 have been significant: graduates saw an average salary increase of 27%, 87.5% of students took on more responsibilities in their current roles, and 72% are now employed by multinational companies.
Over the past year, RBS’s quality has been widely recognized, receiving prestigious awards and rankings from notable institutions and international listings. The school earned 3 Rankings and 2 Ratings: QS World University Ranking, CEO Magazine, Eduniversal, Positive Impact Rating, and QS Stars, positioning itself excellently both in Italy and internationally. These accolades reflect RBS’s ongoing commitment to excellence and its growing global reputation, especially regarding its MBA program.
Moreover, 434 students participated in Bootcamps in renowned locations such as Silicon Valley, Paris, Barcelona, London, Lagos, Rome, Tuscany, and Doha. Students’ professional journeys were further enriched by the largest Career Fair ever organized by a business school in Italy, with over 100 companies and 200 HR representatives from 16 different sectors, resulting in 2,400 interviews in a single day. The 2023-2024 academic year also included 209 workshops and 73 business practice labs, supported by companies such as KPMG, Nokia, and NTT Data. Capstone Projects, the key final academic projects, allowed students to apply their skills to real-world business cases, collaborating with 25 companies, including Canon, Oracle, and Pomellato. These experiences are made possible through a network of over 1,150 global corporate partners, including Google, Bvlgari, Amazon, Deloitte, Tim, Enel, and L’Oréal.
In closing, Antonio Ragusa, Dean of Rome Business School, stated, “It has been a great honor to celebrate the success of our students in such an extraordinary ceremony. Each year, we witness our students grow and transform into leaders capable of tackling global challenges with innovation and responsibility. Our mission has always been to prepare the professionals of tomorrow to make a difference. I wish each of you continued inspiration and success as you lead your future colleagues with the same passion and determination you have shown during your time at Rome Business School.”
