Back to school - Hults Lifelong Learning

There are so many reasons to look forward to the summer. For me, as a Hult alumna, one of those reasons is the Hult electives. While for current students this is often the time when they can’t wait to be done with studies, for many alumni it’s an exciting opportunity to learn, reconnect, and dive back into student life for a few days. Having graduated seven years ago, I find coming back to school for a course an amazing opportunity not only to take a subject I might have missed while studying, but also to learn something completely new (e.g. Blockchain Technology or Autonomous Vehicles), reconnect with fellow alumni, and meet current students from different programs. What’s more, these courses are completely free to take, bar a small registration fee to cover the administration costs. Since I graduated, I’ve taken electives under Hult’s Lifelong Learning program four times. Most of these were over long weekends, to fit with my work schedule, and this is probably the case for most alumni. I always try to pick a subject that covers trending topics, like â€Å"Winning in the Digital Economy† (unicorns, startup evaluations, etc.), or puts me outside of my comfort zone, such as â€Å"Mergers Acquisitions†. Either way, the aim is to learn something new, which I have successfully achieved in all the electives I’ve taken so far. Apart from the learning aspect, I absolutely love the group work and social side of being a student. Sitting in class with current students and alumni is a great opportunity to expand your network and make friends. Needless to say that, for the duration of the elective, you can forget about your â€Å"normal† life, as you will be dragged into the late night group meetings, dinners, and parties, which is all part of the exciting student life. We all miss it sometimes, don’t we? I’m writing this with a smile on my face, as it brings a lot of positive memories from numerous summers when I took Lifelong Learning courses. These memories partly come from the course content, but mostly from people: professors with their contagious energy and passion for knowledge and development, students with their desire to kick-start international careers, and alumni with their exciting stories and achievements. This photo below is an amazing reflection of positive energy shared across graduation years and programs. I already can’t wait to take an elective next year! Olga enjoys catching up with her fellow alumni around class. It’s encouraging that I’m not the only one who sees benefits from the Lifelong Learning opportunities. Every year, we have over 300 alumni come back to school across our six global locations and, most recently, online courses. As Hult continues to evolve, we will see a range of online â€Å"Nano Courses† in disruptive technologies become available to alumni next year, covering topics like 3D Printing, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and much more. Keep an eye on the list of courses to be published in March 2018—seats fill up quickly, so don’t miss out on the opportunity! Finally, some of our alumni who took an elective this year share their experiences below. I’m excited to see that many of you find this experience hugely beneficial and I hope to see many more of you taking a course next year! The free electives available each year to alumni have been an invaluable continuation of my professional education. Last year I attended Mergers Acquisitions. It was both very challenging and rewarding—in particular the live simulation of an MA situation. The electives have also been a fantastic way to continue growing my network, which is such an important factor for EMBAs.    Saul Greenstein, EMBA Class of 2013, London (United Kingdom) I am a graduate of the Doctorate in Organization Change at the Ashridge campus and I took the online elective in 2017 in Digital Marketing and Social Media. I wanted to get my head around how social media is being used in marketing, as it has become such a key channel. By taking the elective online, I was able to work on it when I wanted to, and this also removed any travel costs.   Dr Richard Davis, Doctorate in Organizational Change, Hult Executive Education at Ashridge 2017 (United Kingdom) Hults Lifelong Learning program is a great opportunity to stay connected to the Hult family and also advance and challenge yourself as a professional. I chose â€Å"Scenario Planning† with Professor Olaf Groth as it was something different to my daily banking job. It provided a toolkit that helps me to craft sensible strategic moves for my clients to elevate conversations to a higher level. I enjoyed the 4-day weekend format, as it was easy to arrange with work. This was a truly remarkable experience with an outstanding professor—I will certainly be back. Jan Staube, MIB London, 2013 (Germany) Lifelong Learning gave me a great reason to come back to Boston, which was my home campus and will always have a special place in my heart. Hitendra Patel’s renowned course â€Å"High Innovation Performance†, a 5-day class to dig into the tactical approach for business to think ahead of future transformations, was definitely worth the trip from France! Lionel Pailloncy, MBA Boston, 2015 (France) The alumni electives are a great opportunity to get to know the different campuses around the world and also to keep networking. I took â€Å"International Negotiations† as it was a great option for where I was in my career. There were four alumni in the class, and the Boston students were all very welcoming and the group was as internationally diverse as my previous Hult experiences.    Cesar Eduardo Rubio, BBA London, 2014 (Venezuela). To find out more about Hults programs and Lifelong Learning download a brochure.   Written by Olga Ivanova, Hult BBA Class of 2010 alumna and Latvian national. Olga has been working for Hult since 2012 in various roles and, most recently, has taken over Alumni Relations. Olga has lived and worked in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK. Aside from the inspiring Hult life, she is always up for a new adventure, like flying a glider, sailing across the English Channel, or climbing a mountain. Hult offers a range of highly skills-focused and employability-driven business school programs including a range of MBA options and a comprehensive one year Masters in International Business. To find out more, take a look at our blog Hult International Business School professor delivers Executive Seminar in Mexico City. 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! .