Last Thursday marked a moment of celebration at Católica Porto Business School, bringing together the School’s latest Executive Education graduates in a ceremony dedicated to recognising their academic, professional and personal journeys.
Filled with emotion, pride and a sense of achievement, the session marked the conclusion of an important chapter for professionals who chose to invest in their development while balancing demanding careers with a commitment to lifelong learning.
The ceremony celebrated participants from 14 executive programmes and postgraduate programmes across the areas of Human Capital and Leadership, Ethics and Sustainability, Finance and Taxation, Management and Healthcare. Outstanding students from each programme were also recognised through honorary distinctions, acknowledging their merit and academic performance throughout the programmes.
Opening the ceremony, the Pro-Rector of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Isabel Braga da Cruz, welcomed the graduates and shared a message of recognition for their achievements, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their relationship with the School: joining the Católica Porto Business School alumni community.
In his speech, the Dean of Católica Porto Business School, João Pinto, highlighted the importance of leadership that combines critical thinking, humanity and decision-making, leaving a challenge to the newly graduated participants: “to lead with both heart and reason”.
The Dean also reflected on a particularly significant moment for the School, marked by growing international recognition. Today, Católica Porto Business School is among the top 100 Business Schools in Europe and is now recognised in the Financial Times Executive Education 2026 rankings, where the School’s Executive Education programmes are listed among the top 100 worldwide, both in the Open Enrolment and Custom categories.
The ceremony concluded with remarks from the Executive Director of Executive Education, Carlos Vieira, who thanked participants for their trust and highlighted the School team’s commitment to delivering a transformative, close and holistic learning experience for every professional.
In what has been a particularly symbolic year for Executive Education at Católica Porto Business School, the ceremony carried even greater significance. More than marking the end of an academic journey, it celebrated the ambition of professionals seeking to grow not only in their careers, but also as leaders and individuals, a principle closely aligned with the School’s humanistic vision.
For those looking to develop leadership, management and transformation skills, without losing sight of the human dimension of organisations, Católica Porto Business School continues to strengthen an Executive Education offer that is closely connected to business reality, internationally minded and future-oriented.
View the full photo gallery on the CPBS Alumni Relations platform here.
