(Music Playing) Good afternoon.

I am David Souder, the Eli and Edith L. Broad Dean of the Eli Broad College of Business.

On behalf of our faculty and staff, it is my pleasure to welcome you all to the commencement ceremony of the Broad college's graduating seniors for the class of 2025.

In attendance today, our distinguished guests and speakers, family and friends, an most importantly, our graduates.

Let me be the first to congratulate you on your accomplishment.

Today is the result of your hard work, perseverance, and dedication.

While this day is a celebration of you, it's also a celebration of those who have supported you along the way.

Your friends, family, teachers, mentors and peers.

Graduates, let's take a moment to show our appreciation with a round of applause for them.

Now please stand, if able, for the national anthem to be led by Amira Coleman and the MSU Symphony Band, directed by Professor Craig Adams.

O say can you see by the dawns early light What so proudly we haild at the twilights last gleaming Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight Oer the ramparts we watchd were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets red glare the bomb bursting in air Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave I want to take a moment to recognize Brian Frazier.

Brian was awarded a degree in finance from the Broad College of Business in 2023.

Today, we acknowledge the 2025 would have been the year Brian would have walke with his friends and classmates.

Thank you.

And you may be seated.

Now, it is my hono to acknowledge the Broad College faculty and staff who have joined us today to celebrate the success of our graduates.

Will the faculty and staff, including those on the platform and those serving as escort please stand so we may recognize you.

Thank you.

Next, I am excited to introduce our 2025 Commencement speaker, Mark Reith.

Mark is a proud Broad College alum with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

He is best known for his transformative role at Atwater Brewery, where he invested and later became the owner under his leadership.

Atwater grew into Michigan's fourth largest craft brewery, renowned for its award winnin beverages and community impact.

Mark is now the founder of Fuel Beverage, a company specializin in all natural functional drinks and nonalcoholic craft beers.

A self-described serial entrepreneur, he is also the owner of Lansing Brewing Company and has recently acquired Velvet Peanut Butter, a committed partner to Michigan State.

Mark mentors student entrepreneurs and established the Mark F Reith Scholarship for Entrepreneurial Studies.

He's made significan contributions to MSU athletics and serves on the Broad Advisory Board.

Pleas join me in welcoming Mark Reith to the podium.

Rest in peace, brother.

Brian Frazier.

Thank you.

Thank you, Dean Souder, for the kind introduction.

I'd also like to express my gratitude to my family, especially my wife, Sherry, and the dedicated faculty and staff, distinguished alumni, and especially the graduating class of 2025.

For having me here today to celebrate with all of you.

I'm truly honored and humbled to be back at my alma mater.

My graduation yea was the first class of students to walk across this stage at the Breslin Center to receive our diplomas, and it feels very surrea to be back on this stage again, this time with a whol new perspective on what this day means.

Sadly, we didn't have custom koozies to mark the occasion.

But I figure the class of 2025 deserved a little something special to remember this day by.

So enjoy them.

I spent four and a half years at Michigan State, or as I called it, for four years, and a victory lap at the final house.

Truth is, I liked it here so much I didn't want to leave.

It's funny, when I walked off the stage with that piece of paper, I had no real idea of wha the world had in store for me.

I accepted my only job offer and moved to LA to work for Toyota, an opportunity provided to me by another Spartan alum.

But it didn't take long to realize that the automotive industry wasn't for me.

I wanted to spend my time pursuing my passions and building my career, doing things I was interested in.

So I reached back into my MSU network, sent a letter to the guy who coached basketball here before Tom Izzo.

Yeah, somebod actually coached basketball here before Tom Izzo.

That's Judd Heathcote.

I shared my love of playing with him and asked his advice on getting into coaching.

He wrote back.

Dear Mark, as far as moving into college coaching, it's extremely difficult.

Usually you have to begin with a restricted earnings coaching job, which pays a maximum of $16,000 a year.

In other words, what I'm saying is that yo should keep your job with Toyota and keep being a fan rather than a coach.

Thanks for writing and best personal wishes.

So two things hit me after reading that letter.

one, the line about making a maximum of $16,000 a year, and two, the reality of wha coach Heathcote was suggesting.

Don't quit your day job.

At first, the advice stung.

The idea of not being able to build my career on basketball was discouraging.

But looking back I can see what coach Heath coach was offering me a dose dose of realism, a reminder that I should be smart about the decisions I made when I was just starting out.

To be able to build a foundatio that would give me the freedom to follow my passions on my own terms.

Then, after a few years of working around the country with Toyota, I returned home to Michigan.

One day I stumbled into a brewery in Detroit called Atwater, and I fell in love with it.

I took my life saving and leveraged my MSU connections to secure bank loans to buy into Atwater.

By 2005, I had fully purchased the company.

I dedicate myself to growing the brand, and through relentless effort, Atwate transformed into a powerhouse.

Along the way, I became my own boss.

From that moment on, I was what you might call a serial entrepreneur.

Becoming an entrepreneur meant preparing myself for a life of taking risks and making mistakes.

It meant trying new things without fearing the consequences.

Facing adversit and navigating the ups and downs while working late into the night to shape and define the vision I was responsible for.

The point is, I didn't walk off the stage with my diploma and my future all mapped out.

And that's the message I offer to you today.

You can't map it out.

You can't plug a destination into a navigation system and focus only o getting across the finish line.

If you had asked me what my future looked like when I sat in your seat at my graduation, I never would have guessed I'd be standing here speaking to you today.

Sharing a journey that has been so different than what I thought it would be.

And so I'd like to leave you with four things I've learned along my journey that I hope you'll remember.

Number one, failure is your greatest asset, but it won't be your greatest achievement in business and in life.

You need to experience the lows to appreciate the highs, and you'll learn more from the times you lose than the times you win.

So for God's sake, don't be afraid of failure.

Number two leverage the Spartan network.

One of my favorite all time Spartans is Michael Sadler, a star punter for MSU.

He was a four time academic All-American.

He was such a great player and such a great person and all he did.

He embodied the values of aiming high, working hard and having fun along the way.

After Michael tragically died in a car accident in 2016, I was able to honor his legacy.

When I teamed with Jagged Mountain Brewery.

Also, MSU alumni owned to bring a beer brewed i Michael's honor back to Michigan with the purpose of raising money for the Michael Sadler Foundation.

None of that would have been possible without the power of the MSU Alumni Network, a network of almost 600,000 Spartans worldwide.

A true force of accessible, successful, and connected Spartan alumni, more than willing to open doors, create opportunities, and fuel the success of each other.

A group you are all now a part of.

Use that network as much as you possibly can.

Number three, you're not obligated to do what you love right from the start.

It's easy to think you need to have it all figured out and land your dream job immediately.

But the truth is, the journey to finding the bes life is rarely a straight line.

What matters is that you're building a path for yourself, even if your job isn't your passion.

You can still pursue what you love.

Going back t the advice from coach Heathcote he encouraged me to kee pursuing my love of basketball without sacrificing the security I was building for myself at Toyota.

That security is what eventually allowed me to transition to entrepreneurshi and then becoming my own boss.

Remember, careers are rarely linear, and the things you do now can open up doors for what you'll love later.

Number four.

Believe in yourself.

Each and every one of you is here today because an unwavering dedication and hard work you've shown.

The achievement is a testament to your commitment and resilience.

As you stand here knowing you're surrounded by people your teachers, parents grandparents, friends and peers who believe in you and see th incredible potential within you.

Now it's time for you to believe in yourself.

Work even harder.

And trus in the ability to shape a life that's not only successful, but truly fulfilling.

Embrace the challenges, knowing that each one is an opportunity for growth.

You have the strength and the power to create something amazing.

Remember you can and will figure it out.

The best is yet to come.

Congratulations graduates!

Keep believing in yourself and the journey you're about to embark on.

The world is waiting for you.

Go green.

Thank you, Mark for telling us about your path since being here on the stage the last time.

And for those inspirational words for our class of 2025.

On behalf of the entire college, we are honored to present you with this token of our appreciation for your continued dedicatio to the success of our students and Michigan State University.

Now, it is m pleasure to introduce the 2025 student commencement speaker, Yatharth Chandna.

Yatharth Chandn is an exceptional and dedicated student, graduating today with a degree in finance.

Originally from New Delhi, India, he joined Michigan State University and quickly became an important par of the Broad College community.

Throughout his time at MSU.

Yatharth has embraced leadership and service, holding key role in the Investment Association, the International Scholars Advisory Board, and the Honors Program.

He has also served his peers as a resident Assistant, a peer coach for the Russel Palmer Career Management Center, and as a member of the Associated Students of Michigan State University Board.

In additio to his leadership roles at MSU youth, Yatharth has also participated in internships at prestigious organizations like Wagoner Financial and Rolls Royce.

Your 30th exemplifies wha it means to be a broad, Spartan, curious, driven, and committed to making a difference.

Please join me in welcoming Yatharth to the podium.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

Faculty, family, friends and of course, the Broad College class of 2025.

My name is Yatharth Chandna and I'm your student speaker.

Before I begin, I want to thank three people who made everything possible.

My parents and my brother.

My parents flew all the way from India to be here today.

Just to watch me speak on this big stage.

Your belief in me has been the foundatio of everything I've accomplished.

And to my brother, who's also a proud Spartan.

I wouldn't be here without you.

And to all of us in green gowns today.

This movement is yours.

We made it through atrium lectures, last minute submissions, and group projects where someone's only contribution was their name on the title slide.

But this journey, it wasn't always smooth.

When I got to MSU, I came in with a plan.

I wanted to do consulting.

I wanted to make it big.

And like a lot of you.

I dove headfirst into everything.

I remember going to Sparticipation that first semester.

Wide eyed, enthusiastic and ready to get involved.

I signed up for more than ten different organizations that day, convinced I was about to find my place.

I applied to the Senate, got rejected.

I pledged a business fraternity.

Made it all the way to the end.

Still didnt get in.

Applied to every consulting and business club I could find nothing.

I even tried for the honors College.

Also, I know I applied for internships.

Crickets, research positions.

Not a single callback.

But what made it hotter wasn't just the rejection.

It was how close I kept getting.

Round one, then round two.

Final interviews.

And just when I thought maybe this would be the one I would get hit with that familiar line.

We regret to inform you.

Followed by whatever polite version of Not You Came next.

I kept making it to the doorstep, never through the door.

And I started to question i maybe this wasn't meant for me.

I was burnt out, frustrated and more than anything, lost.

And that's when I decided to take a break and fly back home to India.

I'll still remember landing.

Walking through the door and just sitting with my parents.

I told them how tired I was, how I was doing everything right, but nothing seemed to work.

And then my dad looked at me and said, you've already come so far.

You have done so much.

Don't give up now.

You didn't come all this way just to stop here.

It wasn't advice wrapped in a resume, a tip.

It was just love and belief an exactly what I needed to hear.

The turning point didn't come from a selection email.

It came when I stopped chasing external approval and started taking ownership of my own journey.

That's when things began to shift.

I became a resident assistant, became a peer coach, a teaching assistant, and started giving bac in the ways I used to seek out.

And then finally I got the internship and another.

And the thing I thought I would never get a full time consulting offer.

Not because I cracked the perfect case.

Not because I got into every club, but because I stopped waiting to be picked and started picking myself.

Class of 2025.

We all came here with our own goals.

And most of us learned that the journey was nothing like we imagined.

But that's the beauty of it.

This degree.

It's not just a credential.

It's a symbol that we kept going.

That even when doors open, we knocked louder.

And that eve when plans changed, we adapted.

So if you're still figuring out what's next.

That's not a weakness.

That's an opportunity.

That means you're still growing.

We came in unsure.

We believe with perspective.

We came in hoping to be chosen.

We leave knowing we can choose ourselves.

We came in.

And as students, we leave us.

Analysts, consultants, entrepreneurs and leaders.

So take a moment.

Breathe it in.

Celebrate this degree, this day, and everything it represents.

Because you guys have earned it.

Every step every stumble, every late night.

It led to this.

Congratulations.

Class of 2025.

Go live with adaptability o your journey and build a future only you can go green.

Thank you Yatharth.

Your story of perseverance an adaptation makes us proud today.

And you'll continu to make us proud in the future.

On behalf of the entire college, it's my pleasure to congratulate yo on your remarkable achievement.

We are proud to present yo with this token of appreciation for your inspiring speech today, and for your dedication to your classmates and the college throughout your time here.

Thank you.

Thank you.

At this time, we shall confer the baccalaureate degre upon candidates from the major disciplines within the Eli Broad College of Business.

I will ask each department chair to come to the microphone.

Graduates, one announced.

Please stand, if able and remain standing until all departments are announced from the Department of Accounting and Information Systems.

Department chair and professor Doctor Marilyn Johnson.

Will the candidates fo the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Information Systems please rise?

Dean Souder, on behalf of the faculty in the Department of Accounting and Information Systems I am pleased to present to you these outstanding and hardworking candidates who are the future of the accounting profession, for the conferral of their degrees.

From the School of Hospitality Business School director and the John and Becky Duffy Professor of Hospitality Business.

Doctor.

Karthik Namasivayam Will the candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Hospitality Business please rise?

Dean Souder, on behalf of the faculty of the School of Hospitality Business, I am pleased to present to yo these outstanding future leaders of the global hospitality industry for conferral of their degrees.

From the Department of Management.

Department chair and professor.

Doctor Kent Miller.

With the candidates for the bachelor's of degree in human resource Management.

Please rise and remain standing.

Likewise would be candidates for the bachelor's degree in management.

Please rise.

Dean Souder, on behalf of the Department of Managemen and our well-regarded faculty, I am pleased to present these very accomplished candidates for the conferral of their degrees.

From the Department of Marketing.

Interim departmen chair and associate professor.

Doctor Forrest Morgeson.

With the candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing, please rise.

Dean Souder, on behalf of the facult of the Department of Marketing, I am pleased to present to you these exemplary, indulgent candidates for the conferral of their degree.

Thank you.

From the Department of Supply Chain Management.

Interim department chair and Eli Brode, professor in supply chain management.

Doctor Jason Miller.

Will the candidates for the bachelor's of Arts degree in supply chain management please rise?

Dean Souder, on behalf of the faculty in the Department of Supply Chain Management, I'd like to present to you these outstanding candidates from the nation' number one supply chain program.

For conferral of their degrees.

Thank you.

From the Department of Finance, Department chair and the Frederick S Add Distinguished Chair in Finance, doctor Andrei Simonov Will the candidates for conferral of the degrees in finance Bachelor degrees please rise?

Dean Souder.

This holder, on behalf of the Faculty of Finance Department, let me present you this outstanding hard working, talented, amazing class of 2025.

Thank you.

You may be seated.

Among our graduates today, there are several whose exceptional achievements merit special recognition.

Richard Spring, associate dean for undergraduate programs in the Broad College, will continue our student recognition.

Thank you.

Dean.

We honor student who have not only successfully completed their academic programs, but have also achieved a 4.0 or higher, earning the prestigious Board of Trustees Award, represented by the gold, Green and White Board.

Will all recipients of thi award who are graduating today please ris and accept our congratulations?

Student who participate in and fulfill the requirements of the Honors College by completing enriched programs of study.

Are identified as graduatin with honors College distinction.

These graduates wear a white colla stole with the HC designation.

All students who are graduating as members of the Honors College, please stan and accept our congratulations.

We award the University's distinction for High Honor to students who attain grade point average between 3.95 and 4.0.

Universe.

The honor is awarded to students who have earned grade point averages between 3.82 and 3.94.

The gold cord added to the academic groves designates these honors with all students who are graduating with high honor and with honor.

Please stan and accept our congratulations.

In recognition of Michigan State's ongoing commitment to education abroad, I ask all graduates who participated in an education abroad program while at MSU to stand so that we may recognize you.

The Broad College Student Senate is a body of undergraduate business students who sponsor activities that enhance the professional growth of our students.

We thank them fo their commitment to their peers.

Would all Rhodes Student Senate members please stand and accept our thanks?

Our student organizations led by committed undergraduate students, sponsor initiatives that enhance the academic, professional, and community life of our college.

We thank them for their service and leadership.

Would all student organization members please stand and accept our appreciation?

Please be seated.

On behalf of MSU President Guskiewicz, who has delegated to him the authority of the State of Michiga vested in the Board of Trustees, I confer upon all of you the degrees for which you have been recommended.

With all the rights and distinct I now ask each of you to move your tasse from the right side of your caps to the left side, signifying your admission.

This longstanding tradition signifies your admission to the community of scholar and the fact that you are indeed graduates of Michigan State University.

From this day forward, you are forever a Spartan.

You join a family of over 85,000 alumni and over 500,000 Spartans worldwide.

While this commencement celebrates your great achievement, it also marks the start of a new phase of your lives.

We look forwar to your continued achievements as you positively represent Spartan Nation and continue to inspire the future of business.

Congratulations MSU alumni!

We have now come to that wonderful moment that makes this day special.

The awarding of the diplomas Mr. Jamie Paisley and Doctor Lind Kernohan will announce the names of the graduates as they pause at the center of the stage.

We ask guests to be considerate in applauding for your graduate, as names are read so that each graduates name can be heard and appropriately recognized.

We ask all degree recipients to return to your seats following the presentation of your diploma for the remainder of the ceremony.

I now invite all of you to stand and join in singing the MSU fight song, as our graduates are escorted to the stage to receive their symbolic diploma.

(MSU Fight Song) (Conferral of Degrees, Reading Graduate Names) (Conferral of Degrees, Reading Graduate Names) (Conferral of Degrees, Reading Graduate Names) As we conclude today's ceremony, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of our graduates.

On behalf of the entire faculty and staff at Brod, we are proud of you and excited to see all that yo will accomplish in the future.

Congratulations and go green.

MSU we love thy shadows When twilight silence falls Flushing deep and softly paling Oer ivy covered halls Beneath the pines well gather To give our faith so true Sing our love for Alma Mater And thy praises MSU.

(MSU Fight Song)