It is not the strongest of species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but rather the one most responsive to change.
Charles Darwin
Last year I wrote a post before moving to Lausanne from Calgary. In my post, I talked about a hike in Lake Louise where the trees turn orange in the midst of the rockies. That change is inevitable, and oh how I know that is truly the case now. But to add on this, there is also transition. Change is situational whereas transition is psychological. Last year, the class of 2021 packed our bags and came to IMD. Better said by Campbell Brown “we parachuted into a firestorm” ready for change and to transition our lives.
The year started and before we knew it, we were walking the stage. The days are long but the years are short. We would sit through some days and wonder how fast we could just go home. However, by the end the tears wouldn’t stop flowing. Tears because we made friends and memories, but we were also a family. A family that challenged each other but also cheered each other on to be their best self. We all came out forever changed.
So from the bottom of my heart, thank you to each and every one of you who made a difference in our experience. We made this year nothing but incredible. We shared laughs, tears, and triumphs. We built a family that no matter where we’ll go, as our lives transition we will always have each other. Thank you to each of you, and thank you to everyone at IMD.
Now it’s time for our class to hand the torch to the next class. The 2021 MBA’s made a slogan, #centumfortes, essentially meaning the brave. We chose this because we made the conscious decision to pack our bags in the middle of a pandemic, and see where life would take us. We leave it up to you, the class of 2022, how you would like to be known. Just remember, you and everyone before you came to IMD to become leaders, and as we have learnt, leaders are not the ones who follow the path, but the one who forges the trail.
As the previous class did, I will do the same and leave a few challenges for you this year:
- Come in with an open mind. You will obviously learn from your classes, but the people sitting beside you and the experiences outside of school will bring enriching lessons too. Learning is a gift, an open mind will give you more opportunity to receive.
- Be humble. Push each other to be their best selves, cheer each other on, and allow your classmates to be your recognition.
- Stay perseverant. There will be ups and downs throughout the year, but your resiliency and drive will keep you on course to your dreams.
Good luck to you all and we can’t wait to welcome you into our family and hear about your stories. To the Brave 97, we did it. As Campbell ended,
we stood up this year and said fear will not limit us,
Campbell Brown, graduation speech
no matter what comes next
we embrace any challenge, together.
This is not a goodbye, but a see you soon.
Christian Erana on behalf of the IMD MBA Class of 2021
