Doha, Qatar: On the eve of this summer’s HEC Paris Commencement Ceremony, more than 144 graduates and their families from across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) gathered in Paris for the fourth HEC Paris, Doha Graduation Reception, celebrating the achievements, leadership and transformative journeys of the Class of 2026.
Organised by HEC Paris, Doha, the reception brought together participants from four Executive MBA cohorts – Executive MBA Doha, Executive MBA Riyadh, Executive MBA Riyadh PIF, and the Executive MBA – Emerging Leaders Track – representing the GCC, Middle East and beyond.
Held at the historic Hôtel Le Marois on Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt, steps from the Champs-Élysées and opposite the Grand Palais, the reception provided an elegant setting for graduates, alumni, faculty, families and distinguished guests.
Co-hosted by Djelloul Bekka, Chief Operating and Administrative Officer, and Joshua Kobb, Chief Growth and Impact Officer, and led by Nayef Sabeh as Master of Ceremony, the evening featured remarks from Joshua Kobb, Philippe Oster, Executive Director of International Affairs at HEC Paris, Véronique Ehrhard, Vice President of the HEC Alumni Association, and cohort representatives Kholoud Al Ghati and Abdulrahman Al Jumaily.
Speakers highlighted the importance of leadership in a rapidly evolving world, the growing influence of the HEC Paris community across the Gulf, and the responsibility of tomorrow’s leaders to shape business, innovation and society.
The Class of 2026 reflects the diversity of HEC Paris Doha’s executive education ecosystem. The 144 graduates come from sectors including finance, healthcare, energy, technology, telecommunications, public services, manufacturing, consulting and entrepreneurship. More than 430 graduates and family members registered for the Paris celebrations, demonstrating the strong bonds developed throughout the programme.
For many graduates, the Executive MBA represented more than an academic qualification. It was a period of personal and professional transformation.
Shaikha Maryam Al-Thani, from the Executive MBA Doha cohort, joined the programme after more than two decades in finance. As Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar Credit Bureau, she said the programme provided new perspectives on fintech, financial data and innovation, supporting her ambition to contribute to the transformation of Qatar’s financial ecosystem.
Nour El Houda Zorgui of the Executive MBA Riyadh cohort brought another multidisciplinary perspective. A specialised dental surgeon who moved into operational and managerial leadership, she is Director of Operational Excellence at Alcare, a leading Saudi private healthcare group. She described HEC Paris as a long-standing professional aspiration and an opportunity to strengthen the entrepreneurial mindset and agility needed in today’s business environment.
For Tarek Atiyah, the experience was equally transformative. He said the programme helped him refine how he thinks, decides and leads, while strategy, negotiation and leadership strengthened his confidence and ability to create value. As Academic Delegate, he also helped foster collaboration among participants and build lasting professional relationships.
Despite their different backgrounds and industries, graduates shared a common conviction: learning is a lifelong commitment. The programme challenged them to question established assumptions, broaden their perspectives and develop the strategic mindset required to lead in uncertainty.
As graduates prepared for the official commencement ceremony, the Paris reception marked both the culmination of an academic journey and the beginning of a new chapter within HEC Paris’s global community of more than 83,000 alumni across 152 countries.
