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Commencement Speech by Prof. Mao Hao

Apr 18-2013   



 

t 2012 Graduation Ceremony

Today, we are here to celebrate the 2012 PKU National School of Development (NSD) commencement ceremony. I, on behalf of the entire NSD staff, would like to thank you for giving your best effort to this school. Your accomplishments in search for knowledge have been recognized, and we wish each of you a bright future.

Commencement ceremony is always the last lesson to every graduate. Academic innovation is important, but great lessons can also be passed down generation by generation. Now, let us start with a “literature review” about the past commencement speeches.

[PPT Slides]

Among all the past commencement speeches, each of them is a life-changing lesson. However, we found little common ground in the subjects of those speeches. Therefore, what is the most important lesson? What should we believe?

Do not worry! Although the speakers include independent scholars, independent thinkers, famous economists, not-so-famous management professors, we are still an institution called NSD. Therefore, despite of the variance, the subjects of past commencement speeches are basically focused on the themes of responsibility, dream, study, thinking process, experience, discovery, bravery, and commitment.

Now that you have graduated, it is time for you to surpass your mentors. Our knowledge can only offer an alternative perspective, methodology, idea, and resource. Your future is built on your own designs and decisions. Keeping an open mind to different ideas is a doctrine of this university, and it is important for you to always keep it in mind.

As we all know, literature review is not academic contribution. Even the slightest innovation or breakthrough on the academic frontier can be an achievement in academic research. I am glad that after all those great lessons given before me, there is still something I can share with you. Let me tell you something about modesty.

Modesty is about confidence and calmness. Neither arrogance nor inferiority is modesty. To be modest is to refuse being abject, lowly, ignoble, and despicable. At the same time, a modest man is never wild, arrogant, extravagant, or licentious.

Modesty is the natural state of man, and he who is modest shall not act arrogantly when success is upon him; neither shall he lose faith in himself when frustrated.

Based on my study of management for the last thirty years, I believe that the ultimate goal of management is to gather people who share common understandings and aims, create an environment in which they can maximize their performance, accomplish shared targets, and meet the expectations of each individual.

People who are sophisticated treat others with respect and act with reason. People who are reliable act with professionalism and excel in their expertise. The manner of those people is called modesty, and it is also what most of us lack. 

Some people are worried that overly stress on professionalism may jeopardize the common interest of the public. This concern is reasonable. However, I have seen too much of those so-called “non-professional” people in many industries working in very “non-professional” approaches. These people and the ways they choose to live should not be embellished with noble causes and titles.

Ladies and gentlemen, I hope that you will live up to the idea of professionalism and strive to become sophisticated, reliable people. I wish all of you to find the future that belongs to you.

Commencement Speech by Prof. Mao Hao

Apr 18-2013   



 

t 2012 Graduation Ceremony

Today, we are here to celebrate the 2012 PKU National School of Development (NSD) commencement ceremony. I, on behalf of the entire NSD staff, would like to thank you for giving your best effort to this school. Your accomplishments in search for knowledge have been recognized, and we wish each of you a bright future.

Commencement ceremony is always the last lesson to every graduate. Academic innovation is important, but great lessons can also be passed down generation by generation. Now, let us start with a “literature review” about the past commencement speeches.

[PPT Slides]

Among all the past commencement speeches, each of them is a life-changing lesson. However, we found little common ground in the subjects of those speeches. Therefore, what is the most important lesson? What should we believe?

Do not worry! Although the speakers include independent scholars, independent thinkers, famous economists, not-so-famous management professors, we are still an institution called NSD. Therefore, despite of the variance, the subjects of past commencement speeches are basically focused on the themes of responsibility, dream, study, thinking process, experience, discovery, bravery, and commitment.

Now that you have graduated, it is time for you to surpass your mentors. Our knowledge can only offer an alternative perspective, methodology, idea, and resource. Your future is built on your own designs and decisions. Keeping an open mind to different ideas is a doctrine of this university, and it is important for you to always keep it in mind.

As we all know, literature review is not academic contribution. Even the slightest innovation or breakthrough on the academic frontier can be an achievement in academic research. I am glad that after all those great lessons given before me, there is still something I can share with you. Let me tell you something about modesty.

Modesty is about confidence and calmness. Neither arrogance nor inferiority is modesty. To be modest is to refuse being abject, lowly, ignoble, and despicable. At the same time, a modest man is never wild, arrogant, extravagant, or licentious.

Modesty is the natural state of man, and he who is modest shall not act arrogantly when success is upon him; neither shall he lose faith in himself when frustrated.

Based on my study of management for the last thirty years, I believe that the ultimate goal of management is to gather people who share common understandings and aims, create an environment in which they can maximize their performance, accomplish shared targets, and meet the expectations of each individual.

People who are sophisticated treat others with respect and act with reason. People who are reliable act with professionalism and excel in their expertise. The manner of those people is called modesty, and it is also what most of us lack. 

Some people are worried that overly stress on professionalism may jeopardize the common interest of the public. This concern is reasonable. However, I have seen too much of those so-called “non-professional” people in many industries working in very “non-professional” approaches. These people and the ways they choose to live should not be embellished with noble causes and titles.

Ladies and gentlemen, I hope that you will live up to the idea of professionalism and strive to become sophisticated, reliable people. I wish all of you to find the future that belongs to you.