Mitt Romney To Speak at Harvard Business School’s 2026 Class Day

Harvard Business School (HBS) has selected the Hon. W. Mitt Romney as the featured alumni speaker for the 2026 Class Day celebration.

The 2026 Class Day will take place on Baker Lawn on the HBS campus in Boston. It will feature remarks from student speakers, a presentation of faculty teaching awards, and Romney's keynote address.

According to an HBS news release, Romney is expected to share his thoughts with the MBA Class of 2026 on taking responsibility to excel, listening and collaborating in leadership, staying true to personal values, and balancing career with family and personal priorities.

Class Day is a long-standing HBS tradition ahead of commencement. Organized by second-year MBAs, the event features student leaders, faculty award recipients, and a distinguished alumni speaker.

“Mitt Romney's career reflects a deep commitment to leadership, service, and principled decision-making,” said Srikant Datar, the dean of Harvard Business School, in a statement shared within the news release. “His willingness to take on complex challenges across sectors and his focus on values-driven leadership make him an inspiring choice for the Class of 2026.”

Romney's career spans several accomplishments, including co-founding Bain Capital, serving as Massachusetts governor (2003-2007), overseeing the turnaround of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games, and serving as a U.S. senator from Utah.

He credits HBS as a formative influence on his leadership, particularly in problem analysis, communication, and collaboration.

“The key to being successful is not to think about the promotion or the next job, but to do your present job well,” he said. “An effective leader is someone who surrounds himself or herself with brilliant people, listens to them, and then defines a course.”

More details on the HBS Class Day and Harvard University's commencement exercises are available online.