More than 200 graduates celebrated their achievements at convocation, where speakers encouraged them to lead with imagination, data-savvy skills and compassion.
When Anvita Vyas left her job at an investment bank to attend graduate school, it took a while to get used to seeing assignment deadlines in her calendar instead of strategy meetings.
But with time, she became part of a tight-knit community on Northeastern University’s Vancouver campus, brainstorming ideas, promoting events and planning budgets alongside a team of classmates.
“It was a crash course in leadership, teamwork and adaptability,” Vyas said, speaking on behalf of more than 200 graduates at the 2025 Vancouver convocation. “I also became a go-to person for new students and making someone feel like they belonged — even just with a smile or small chat — was one of the fulfilling parts of the role.”
Vyas graduated with a master’s degree in professional studies analytics, choosing Northeastern with a clear goal: to merge her marketing background with the power of data and technology.
“I chose this program because it welcomed beginners and original thinkers,” she said. “It offered the kind of global exposure that felt perfect for someone like me.”
Sign up for NGN’s daily newsletter for news, discovery and analysis from around the world.
Family members, friends, faculty, staff and jubilant graduates filled the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts to celebrate. Walking the stage were 213 students receiving degrees from the colleges of Engineering, Science and Professional Studies, and Arts, Media and Design. Five graduates were named to the Laurel and Scroll 100.
CPS Dean Jared Auclair stepped to the podium and, with cheering students in front of him, turned around and took a selfie.
“These moments only happen rarely in life and we’re usually too nervous to remember them,” he said. “Close your eyes and burn this into your memory.”
The Vancouver convocation, an international celebration of lifelong learning, was one of several being held across the university’s 13 global campuses.
Anna Baird, chief customer officer for Generative AI Go-To-Market at Google Cloud, began her speech by inviting audience members to recall a children’s park playground from their memories.
“I start us there because the playground mentality is creativity,” she said. “You will all have a massive impact on whatever you do next, but one thing I’d invite you to consider is your creative side.”
Creativity is one of the core skills that will guide how people will seek work, get hired and thrive in a world of generative AI, she added. Her advice to the Class of 2025 was to infuse creativity into their work, offering some specific suggestions.
“Name everything a cool name — your team, your project,” she said. “Brainstorm on ways that you can brand yourself in a unique, different and positive light.”
Baird also urged graduates to integrate kindness, an underrated skill, into their daily work lives. In the workplace, she said, employees can show kindness by sharing credit for projects built together and in the language they use with their colleagues.
“Our communication, whether it’s in a gesture — whether it’s written, whether it’s spoken — will guide kindness,” she said, “no more important than today, in a world where technology is mirroring our language.”
Welcoming the new graduates into the Northeastern Alumni Association was Felicia Bochicchio, who earned a business degree from the university in 1990 and serves as entrepreneur-in-residence at Inovia Capital.
“Graduating with a strong foundation in technology at a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping the world puts you in an extraordinary position,” she said. “Innovation is accelerating faster than ever, and your skills are exactly what the world needs.”
Before the ceremony concluded, Vancouver regional CEO and Dean Steve Eccles shared final words of congratulations to the Class of 2025.
“The power of Northeastern’s community is multiplied by the broader community here today, on this platform, in the theater and around Northeastern’s global network,” Eccles said. “And we remain committed to your success as alumni, as you take on new challenges in an AI- and emerging tech-driven world that brings both complexity and massive opportunity.”