Update: May 15, 2015 at 3:04 p.m.

This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Avery Anapol.

More than 400 seniors in the GW School of Business, along with family and friends, gathered in the Smith Center Thursday for the school’s commencement ceremony.

Speakers at the ceremony encouraged new graduates to stay true to their values as they take off after college.

Dean Linda Livingstone introduced the keynote speaker, Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, the president of the Charles Schwab Foundation and an alumna of the business school.

1. ‘Let your values lead you’

Schwab-Pomerantz shared her memories from her first job at an insurance company.

She told graduates that “chauvinistic good ol’ boys” at the company requested that the women wear bermuda shorts and drive their golf carts for them.

That experience was what Schwab-Pomerantz said helped shape her personal mantra, “Let your values lead you.” She encouraged graduates to work at a company that shares their values.

Schwab-Pomerantz asked graduates, “What drives you and your passion?” Once that question is answered, she said that “we can all find purpose in our work, especially if it’s with a company that shares our values.”

2. Help others

Schwab-Pomerantz is also the chair of the board at Schwab Charitable, which has granted more than $5 million to more than 91,000 nonprofit organizations since it launched in 1999, according to its website.

In her speech, she highlighted the importance of giving back to society.

“I’m preaching to the choir. Your generation is demanding social responsibility,” Schwab-Pomerantz said. “Don’t lose that.”

3. Be responsible for your financial future

Schwab-Pomerantz’s tips about handling finances were met with cheers from the crowd.

She shared anecdotes of colleagues who had made large salaries immediately after graduating, then failed to save enough money.

She pushed students to sign up for 401(k) retirement plans, saying that this small step “could future-proof a whole generation.”

4. Time for takeoff

Student speaker Adam Wolken is a licensed pilot, and used flight analogies in his speech.

Wolken introduced the crowd to some aviation lingo, telling his peers that they are at their “V1,” or takeoff decision speed. He said that is the point where a plane must either take off, or crash.

“We’re at our takeoff decision speed,” Wolken said. “After today, we are graduated from GW, there is nowhere left to go but to take off.

Wolken thanked the business school for showing him “how accessible our dreams and passions really are,” and acknowledged by name many of his peers who have followed their passions on business throughout their undergraduate years.

“We are all pilots,” Wolken said. “It’s time now to take off into the inspiring future that awaits us all.”

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This post was updated to reflect the following correction:
The Hatchet incorrectly reported that Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz is the president of Charles Schwab. She is the president of the Charles Schwab Foundation. We regret this error.