100 alumni from 30 countries reunite in San Francisco Hult Blog

Written by Global Ambassador, Pablo Romero Yusta, Master of International Marketing, class of 2016, San Francisco campus. This year I was kindly selected to attend the Global Alumni Summit as a class of 2016 representative. I was thrilled to be invited, as I was intrigued to learn about our growing alumni community. The two-day event, which took place in San Francisco, boasted an impressive roster of global speakers and gave an insight into what we, as current students, can look forward to when we graduate. The 2016 Global Alumni Summit marked the 5th alumni summit, and was centered on the theme of â€Å"Bridging Global Perspectives,† with an emphasis on disruptive thinking. Therefore, it was perfectly fitting to host the this year’s summit in one of the world’s capitals of research and innovation: San Francisco. More than 100 alumni from over 30 different countries gathered to hear from 10  globally-renowned speakers, participate in interactive workshops led by guest professors, and participate in alumni panel discussions. Here are the summit  highlights. The Summit Kickoff: Day 1 Katharine Boshkoff, Global Vice President of Career Development Alumni Relations, kicked off the weekend with a warm welcome and thank you to the attending alumni. She seized the opportunity to encourage alumni to stay involved and visible in the Hult community by joining Hult Connect and the Alumni Mentorship Program: â€Å"When you graduate from Hult, you leave with more than just a degree. This unique student experience does not stop after graduation, since Hult provides the tools and resources to keep you engaged. Stay connected to your peers, professors, and colleagues and you will have access to a global network that provides an array of opportunities.† Disruptive Innovation with Andrew Grill After Katharine’s welcome, Andrew Grill, Global Managing Partner in Social Consulting at IBM opened the summit with what companies need to know to stay ahead of the digital curve. His presentation—â€Å"Disrupt or be Disrupted†Ã¢â‚¬â€had the audience engaged. Grill said, â€Å"Digital disruption is not just around the corner. Every industry is being disrupted by digital technologies and new business models†¦companies need to act now.† He also urged companies to infuse their business models with digital, and placed a significant emphasis on affirming that â€Å"digital disruption should not be seen as a threat, but as an opportunity to transform companies and make them more efficient.† Disruptive Innovation- Andrew Grill Philanthropy as a Necessary Component of an Organization’s DNA, with Ebony Frelix Next up was an inspirational talk by Ebony Frelix, Senior Vice President, Philanthropy Engagement at Salesforce. Frelix emphasized that companies must help build sustainable communities around the world, and asserted that young professionals are becoming increasingly committed to this cause. â€Å"Employees want to have an added value and volunteer. Companies have to provide vehicles for employees to have these experiences and give back to the world.† Frelix also described the â€Å"1-1-1 model† Salesforce created with the aim of improving the state of the world: â€Å"We call this integrated philanthropic approach the 1-1-1 model because it started with a commitment to leverage 1% of Salesforce’s technology, people, and resources to improve communities around the world.† This formula framework was particularly well-received by alumni who voiced their renewed sense of commitment to give back to their community. Ebony Frelix presenting on Philanthropy as part of the DNA Making the World a Better Place with Team Musana The three Master of Social Entrepreneurship students from the San Francisco campus presented their $1million idea to the attending alumni in preparation for this September’s Hult Prize  Global  Final in New York. Team Musana is in pursuit of improving the lives of millions of  people, through distributing solar-powered Musana Carts that seek to deliver more efficient infrastructure to street vendors. In January the team piloted their model in Kampala, Uganda and have already raised 110% of their funding targets. Having only presented to a large audience twice, Musana seized the opportunity to gather constructive feedback. â€Å"We knew that the alumni would be a challenging audience†¦We received good advice on how we can better tailor our pitch and figures. Alumni had encouraging words and mentioned that they were impressed by the work we have done in only few months,† said team member Manon Lavaud. Moving Closer Towards the Internet of Things with Timothy Chou The first day of the Summit came to an end with a fabulous talk by Timothy Chou, Stanford Professor and former CEO of Oracle On Demand, titled â€Å"Toward a precision planet†. Chou, acknowledged as a pioneer in cloud computing, shared his thoughts and made participants reflect on how software technology can change the planet we live on by being able to deliver common things such as precision farming, healthcare, power or water. As Chou affirmed, â€Å"technology is going to keep impacting every day, building things we have never seen before. For the first time, those of us in software, might not only change the virtual world, but also the physical world, transitioning from the Internet of people to the Internet of things†. Timothy Chou, Stanford Professor and former CEO of Oracle On Demand, presenting on â€Å"Toward a precision planet† Changing Outlooks on Leadership: Day 2 How to Build a Great Company, with Chip Conley The second day of the summit opened with one of the most anticipated presentations of the weekend. The school hosted Chip Conley, Global Head of Hospitality and Strategy at Airbnb, who gave a phenomenal keynote speech: â€Å"How Great Companies get their Mojo from Maslow.† Chip Conley, Global Head of Hospitality and Strategy at Airbnb Using Maslow as his inspiration, the founder of Joie De Vivre Hospitality California’s largest boutique hotel company, provided alumni with many inspiring ideas and first-hand experiences on how to instill a culture of recognition in companies and create happy and passionate work environments. Conley shared his perspective on how this approach help attract and engage the top talent in any company, develop a loyal customer base and help build a sustainable and profitable business†. The journey ended with a Master Class given by Hult Professor Ted Ladd titled â€Å"5 Ways to Win in a Sharing Economy†, followed by different workshops led by former students. Hult Professor, Ted Ladd The Summit’s Conclusion: The Skyline Awards Celebration The unforgettable Skyline Awards celebration was held at The View Lounge at the Marriott Marquis. The closing reception allowed attendees to enjoy amazing views of the San Francisco skyline while socializing with Hultian friends, both old and new. The Hult Alumni Association highlighted the work of Mariam Giorgadze, who was awarded the Most Active Alumna of the Year, as well as Toni Horn, awarded Alumnus of the Year. The Hult San Francisco Alumni Chapter was given special recognition for their contribution to the 2016 Global Alumni Summit. The Alumni Relations team applauded alumni for their continuous engagement, and announced London as the location for the 2017 Global Alumni Summit. This years winners of the Hult Alumni Awards: Toni Horn and Mariam Giorgadze. Bottom photo: Thank you to the San Francisco alumni chapter for their hard work in making the summit happen. Final thoughts The Summit was the perfect opportunity to learn and reconnect. Amongst the executive presentation and workshops there was an electric buzz of new connections being made. I was impressed to hear that Chip Conley  was brought to the summit by a Hult alumnus leading the Hult San Francisco Alumni Chapter.  Considered a guru in the hospitality sector, it is amazing to see the power of our global alumni network. Equally seeing friends reunite promoted a feeling of community that I look forward to joining. From Dubai to Milan and from risk management to healthcare, conversations gave a snapshot into the diversity of Hult graduates and the industries, regions, and roles they have gone on to excel in. Alumni Views on the Summit Several participants shared their thoughts on the 2016 summit: Mariam Giorgadzde, Georgia,  Master of International Marketing, 2013 â€Å"I thoroughly enjoyed seeing old friends and making new acquaintances at the summit. This summit reminded me how much effort Hult makes to invest in our continuous education even after graduation and how much you literally experience the entire world in just one place. My mind opened up again and it will always be as long as we keep our community so global†. Samson Ogbu, Nigeria, MBA 2010 â€Å"This summit showed that people is the biggest value that Hult can offer. It is overwhelming how Hult brings together that much diversity in terms of career background, nationalities and cultures. I have friends from pretty much every country of the world and seeing some of them there was very special, as well as new peers. I very much enjoyed getting to know them and hear about their backgrounds and passions†. Simona Ioannoni, Italy,  Master of Social Entrepreneurship, 2013 â€Å"The summit was a great opportunity to meet people that had the same experience as you and see how they have grown after Hult and what incredible things they have achieved. It shows you how unique Hult’s international business environment is and all the possibilities that exist out there. I learnt so much from people from different places and different backgrounds who inspired me with their personal stories. Hult is a truly life-changing experience† Hugo Dias Caetano, Portugal,  Master of Finance, 2013 â€Å"The summit was very valuable in helping you grow your international network to keep building a truly global career. It was also a great opportunity to see some friends, relieve old memories and make new ones. Speakers shared some wonderful and inspiring stories. There was just so much good energy all weekend!†. Alina Kharina, Russia, Master of International Business, 2013 â€Å"It was exciting to have the summit in the same place where I live. This was an exhilarating opportunity to meet other alumni and see where they are now and, most importantly, how we can help each other in our business careers. Being there those two days made me reaffirm what Hult taught me: â€Å"If you want to achieve a dream, nothing is impossible†. About Hult Alumni Association The Hult Alumni Association is a network of over 16 000 alumni in more than 170 countries around the world. The association’s main goal is to create meaningful and lifelong relationships with alumni, while supporting the school’s mission. Each year, the Hult Alumni Association hosts a Global Alumni Summit in a major city to bring alumni together. If you would like to find out more about our business programs,  download a brochure here. Kickstart your career right next door to Silicon Valley by studying at Hults San Francisco business school. To find out more, take a look at our blog Immersed in San Francisco. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .