On June 3, the Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS) Commencement 2023 was held in the grand hall of the PHBS building. Around 600 graduates, including 324 MA, 153 MBA, 112 EMBA, and 8 PhD students, donned caps and gowns to celebrate their achievements and embark on new journeys in their lives. Heads of academic and administrative departments, faculty representatives, alumni representatives, and other guests also attended the ceremony, witnessing this memorable moment.
2023 Commencement
The ceremony opened with a video featuring graduates’ unforgettable memories and faculty’s best wishes, and was followed by students and graduates singing "Love for PKU" to express their aspirations and responsibilities toward the society and nation.
Speeches on behalf of the 2023 PHBS Graduates by Tang Shubo, William Rich Bowen, and Fan Fanxiang
Tang Shubo reflected on three years of study and campus life at PHBS, which had made her stronger and more open-minded to find her own way, optimize her personal development, and “shoot for the stars!” She hoped that through daily perseverance and continuous breakthroughs, all the graduates could commit to improving others’ happiness and contribute to the development of society.
Looking back with fond memories, William Rich Bowen shared three precious life lessons learned from PHBS: “First, discipline and compete with yourself to be better every day; second, have the mindset to push yourself, keep going, and don't give up; and third, cherish the friends you make along the way.” He concluded, “this place has enabled us to go beyond the limits we thought possible and I hope you inspire others to greatness in the same way.”
Fang Fanxiang spoke of his experience at PHBS and shared three takeaways with graduates: “be brave to make choices, be tolerant towards others and yourself, and find the pace of your own life”. He emphasized the importance of focusing on oneself and avoiding ineffective “involution” so as to better navigate life. “Ultimately our success depends not on how fast we start running, but on how quickly we recover after defeat,” he urged.
Speeches by faculty and guests
Professor Thomas Sargent shared 10 economics lessons related to market forecasts, trade-offs, social equilibrium, national government debt, the social security system, taxes and inflation, and government transfers. He concluded with one key life lesson for the graduates: “Before you make a promise, think about whether you will want to keep it if and when your circumstances change. This is how to earn a good reputation.”
Bai Baokun noted that after three years of the pandemic and the adjustments of the market cycle, the current economy was now stable and moving in a positive direction, but would take some time to realise a full recovery. To leverage this opportunity, students should adjust their mindset, be down-to-earth, and lay a solid academic foundation. He hoped that when feeling most optimistic, graduates should think carefully about the risks and make the right choices; when trapped in overwhelming pessimism, they should always remain calm and maintain hope. 
Ding Ning reflected on the twists and turns of her 26-year athletic career and her experience of study at PKU, sharing her insights on never ceasing to pursue the “light.” Recalling setbacks and defeats along the way to her championship victories, she emphasized the importance of “the glittering light of endeavor, perseverance, and courage, ”and urged graduates to “always keep a dauntless heart and chase those lights, and with them, as the new generation of PKU graduates, you all can contribute to the cause of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
Dean's Message
Speech by Professor Wang Pengfei, Dean of Peking University HSBC Business School
Professor Wang Pengfei hoped that graduates could “see the light, pursue the light, be the light,” when confronting new challenges and opportunities in the era of uncertainty and instability. He explained that “to see the light is to be idealistic and optimistic; to pursue the light is to have courage and perseverance; to be the light is to be responsible and to carry out your mission,” concluding that “with a little light from every PHBSer, we can illuminate the new era and the new journey!”
At the commencement, Professor Hai Wen gave graduates a copy of his first impressionist oil painting bearing the message “Pursuit of the Light.” As the “light” embodied multiple meanings, he hoped that with professional skillsets, aspirations, and perseverance, every PHBSer "would strive to be the light that illuminates the society, the world, and the future.”
Photo Gallery
