Maziar Mike Doustdar, CEO at Novo Nordisk, Addresses the Webster Vienna Commencement Ceremony

June 09, 2026

Maziar Mike Doustdar, CEO at Novo Nordisk and a Webster Vienna Private University (WVPU) alumnus, was the commencement speaker for Webster's Commencement ceremony in Vienna. Held on May 23 at the historic Hofburg Imperial Palace, more than 100 graduates were conferred degrees.

Doustdar took the time out of his job of overseeing 77,000 employees in 80 offices around the world to share an inspirational address with the graduates. He graduated from WVPU in 1994 with a BA in International Business and joined Novo Nordisk in 1992 as an office clerk in Vienna, Austria. In August 2025, Doustdar was appointed president and chief executive officer.

"There are four things about Webster that have profoundly changed my life and helped me with the career that I've had. The first one is that Webster Vienna provides a great education in English. Second, the fact that it is a heterogeneous, international institution really has helped me. And lastly, the training scholarships and the mentorship [that the institution provides]," Doustdar said in his address.

Samuel R. Schubert, WVPU's chair of the Executive Board and Chief Academic Officer, opened the ceremony, conferred the degrees and closed the ceremony. He also welcomed special guest Ryan Guffey, PhD, executive vice president of Webster University International, who provided welcome remarks.
"You must remember that you...hold the power to shape the world around you. Not only through your ambition, not only through your efforts, but most often [through] the simple act of doing right by others," said Schubert.

Stefano Cantini and Melanie Smith of the Vienna Chapter of the Webster University Alumni Association presented the Alumni Association Awards. Audrey Kodjo received the Bronwyn K. Mitterecker Alumni Award. 2026 Student Leadership Awardees were Nelly Hashemi (undergraduate) and Mina Peruničić (graduate).

Alexandra Deubner of WVPU Career Services served as the master of ceremony and presented the faculty awards. Faculty members Anatoly Reshetnikov and Pia Weninger received the Diversity in Teaching Awards.

Emil Martirosyan received the Excellence in Teaching Award for adjunct faculty, and Menbere Workie received the Excellence in Teaching Award for faculty and was named Teacher of the Year.
Undergraduate Valedictorians Sofia Maria Luisa Opferkuch Ordiales and Yuliia Zavorotna and Graduate Valedictorians Athena Maria Pengg and Irina Tsereteli provided addresses. Throughout their studies, members of the class of 2026 distinguished themselves through extracurricular activities, the founding of new student clubs, top achievement at this year's Webster Europe Summit in Geneva and more endeavors. After the conferral of degrees, the celebration continued with a champagne reception at the Hofburg Palace for graduates and their guests. Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) generously sponsored and supported the commencement ceremony.

WVPU is a nationally certified research institution whose challenging, yet collegial classroom environments provide students with research experience and academic skills necessary to succeed in their chosen career paths. Webster Vienna is proud to celebrate this year's graduates as they move forward into the next stages of their academic, professional and personal journeys.

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