In the first week of September 2026, Lauder Business School celebrated a special milestone as our Master’s graduates gathered at the LBS campus in Vienna to mark the successful completion of their studies.

The graduation ceremony was a moment to celebrate years of hard work, academic achievement, personal growth, and, as our graduates were reminded, more than a few long nights, challenging exams, group projects, presentations, and occasional moments of wondering whether choosing a Master’s degree had really been such a good idea.

But they made it.

Surrounded by fellow graduates, faculty, family, and friends, the Class of 2026 had the opportunity to look back on everything they had accomplished at LBS and ahead to the opportunities and challenges that await them.

The graduation address was delivered by Prof. (FH) Dr. Tamás Csermely, Director of Studies for Graduate Programs at Lauder Business School, who gave the graduates a characteristically warm and humorous send-off. Reflecting on their time at LBS, he recalled some of the personalities and memorable moments that made this graduating class unique: students who had already founded start-ups, those who consistently delivered outstanding work while remaining convinced they might fail, those who were genuinely apologetic about arriving 15 minutes late, and even the student who observed that LinkedIn might be the world’s worst dating app because everyone only wants to talk about work and career plans.

Behind the humor was an important message about what an LBS education is intended to prepare graduates for.

The goal, Prof. Csermely emphasized, was never simply to produce academics—or superficial “business handymen”—but pracademics: professionals who can combine academic knowledge with a practical, solution-oriented mindset. In the workplace, a degree alone will not be enough. Graduates will need to demonstrate what they bring to the table: the ability to solve problems better, improve quality, work effectively with others, think strategically, and lead with vision.

And in a world where Google, YouTube, ChatGPT, and countless other tools can provide answers within seconds, perhaps one of the most important skills graduates can carry with them is the ability to stop and ask: Does this make sense? Does this add up?

Critical reflection, independent thinking, and the ability to apply knowledge rather than simply reproduce it are among the most valuable lessons our graduates take with them from LBS.

The address also offered a reminder that success cannot be measured only by the size of a bank account, a job title, or the number of LinkedIn connections accumulated along the way. A successful life is also about the value we create, the people we support, the laughter we share, the experiences we collect, and ultimately building a life that feels meaningful.

Graduation may mark the end of one chapter, but it is also permission to begin drawing a new map.

As Prof. Csermely encouraged the graduates: leave the old, predetermined map behind and start creating your own, one shaped by your decisions, ambitions, mistakes, curiosity, and the impact you want to have on the world.

As our graduates take their next steps into new roles, industries, countries, start-ups, organizations, and opportunities, they leave LBS not only with a degree, but with experiences, friendships, knowledge, and a community that will remain part of their journey.

And as the saying goes, you always meet twice. We certainly hope this will not be the last time we see the Class of 2026 at LBS.

Caps off to the Class of 2026!

We are proud to have been part of your journey, we will truly miss guiding you, and we look forward to seeing the maps you draw for yourselves.

Congratulations, graduates—and welcome to the LBS alumni community!