Honours for Eilidh and Poonam as graduations close

Closing Glasgow Caledonian University's summer graduations on a powerful note, two remarkable women shared their wisdom and inspiration with the graduating class of 2023.

Dr Poonam Gupta OBE, an esteemed entrepreneur and philanthropist, and the CEO of PG Paper, one of Scotland's most successful export businesses, was awarded a Doctor of Business Administration. Her recognition stems from her outstanding contributions to both the business and charity sectors, as well as her unwavering commitment to promoting equality and diversity.

Reflecting on her journey, she said: “Education has been my gateway to the world, opening doors and enabling me to dream beyond the confines of my immediate environment. Education, to me, has always been more than just the acquisition of knowledge.

“I understand the whirlwind of emotions many of you will be experiencing at this moment. The pride and joy of achieving this milestone, coupled with the nervousness and anticipation of what lies ahead. These emotions are important as they are a testament to the stakes we place on our dreams.

“Embrace this period of transition with an open mind and resilient spirit. Step into the future armed with the wisdom and skills you have acquired. Keeping a positive attitude and embracing uncertainty has always served me well. Every challenge teaches me something new. I urge you to embrace your roles as future leaders, as catalysts for positive change, while finding your purpose and leveraging your knowledge and skills, creating a future where businesses thrive and societies flourish and the world becomes a better place for generations to come.

“I have the following written on my office wall and I’d like to share it with you: Be curious, be ambitious, fear nothing and believe in yourself.”

Eilidh Barbour, a prominent presenter for BBC and Sky Sports, received a Doctor of Letters in acknowledgment of her remarkable contributions to sports presenting and reporting, alongside her dedicated efforts in championing equality and diversity.

She said: “It’s an absolute honour to be here today and to be receiving an honorary degree. Something I don’t do very often is reflect back – the focus is always striving for the next thing, continuing to learn, to grow and to look for the next opportunity - so it’s really nice to pause for a moment and be reminded, yes, it’s been ok so far!

“It may be a Scottish thing, but we’re not always good at being proud of what we achieve, but, in here today, there are so many who can be so proud of what they've done and we can celebrate that today. So be proud of yourselves, and be proud of each other.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Glasgow Caledonian University for this honour today, it is very special so thank you very much.”

These two inspiring women were among the six honorary graduates recognized over two days of celebrations, as nearly 2,700 students proudly graduated from Glasgow Caledonian at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow.