Two MBAs Share The Most Important Things They Learned at Hult

Now that it’s graduation time at Hult, we asked two of our Hult Labs MBA interns to share with us, and the world, what they learned the most while in the program. We wish them good luck in their careers and urge them to stay in touch! â€Å"5 Things I’m Not† by Steven Freund Two years ago, I was interviewing with a large healthcare company for a Project Management role – for what I thought was the opportunity of a lifetime. Not only did the position pay well, but I thought it would also be a great springboard into a corporate career track. It was where I would finally crack the â€Å"chicken or the egg† mystery and get that magical 3-5 years of â€Å"real† experience. All I had to do was get past the final interview an eight hour juggernaut of future potential coworkers, supervisors, and, of course, HR. In my last interview of the day, an unfriendly interviewer stumped me by saying, â€Å"Tell me five things you’re not.† The whole plane ride home I wracked my brain over how I could have answered it. â€Å"Who asks that kind of question?! I know who I am. Who cares who I’m not?!† It would have probably been more effective if I would have stood up and responded with â€Å"I am not getting this job. Thank you.† Now, after a year at Hult, I can finally say that my time here has taught me who I am but also who I am not. I got to see my strengths, and, more often, my glaring weaknesses. And, somewhere in the arduous, sometimes sleepless, process of self-discovery, I can finally answer her question: 1.)   I’m not a team player for the sake of being a team player. The goal has to matter to me. This is certainly not the most employable thing that I could have started the list off with, but it’s the most genuine. I loved being on high-performing and fast-paced teams – there’s nothing more challenging or more fun. But the team I hate to be on more than anything else is the one where there is a competition to see which team can juggle the quickest; which team can play a computer program the best; or which team can anticipate meaningless questions the best. I need to feel something about the team’s goal that will motivate me to respond and engage. I need to be passionate about it. I can’t be passionate about juggling sorry. 2.)   I’m not a numbers guy – but luckily, I can make up for it in other ways. I aced all of my undergraduate math classes, so I thought I could handle the numbers side of things. Wrong. I am not good at manipulating cash flows and balance sheets and I don’t like doing it. But, thankfully, there are people who LOVE doing it. As it turned out, many of the people who love creating the balance sheet don’t love to present in front of large groups of strangers. This is why knowing who you are and what you’re good at (and not good at) is such a vital part of the program. 3.)   I’m not comfortable being a cog in a machine. To be passionate about something that nobody else cares about is a frustrating thing. I came into the program sure that I would never work for a startup. That was the farthest thing from my mind. I wanted big, monster brands, where I could have a safe career. What I realized in my time at Hult is that yeah, I could join a large organization, and I may be good at it, but I won’t love it. I take everything that I do personally, so when I am passionate, I want to it matter, and I want to see the results of my work have an immediate impact. 4.)   I’m not satisfied with the status quo – and neither is Hult. Hult is clearly the business school that has embraced change more than any other in the industry. I love that the executive team loves change and is always trying to create a better future for the school. Sure, they won’t get it right every time, but what’s important is that the leadership of the school is determined to grow, change, and improve. 5.)   I’m not ready to stop learning. Not now, not ever. Even though this may be my last formal school experience, I know that the learning habits I take with me into the workforce will stay with me forever, and I’ll use those habits to constantly improve. â€Å"We’ll See† by Guy Larkin I had a lot of reasons for deciding to get my MBA. Like most people, I was looking for a career boost. But I also felt an MBA might finally get rid of this feeling that, when it came to corporate or business life, I just didn’t belong. After all, I hadn’t studied business. I studied theater. I knew the business of theater pretty well, especially after having been the Treasurer of a â€Å"startup† theater company in New York City. But in my mind, I didn’t know â€Å"business.† Everything I knew about how corporations worked, I had learned by working (usually at temp jobs to pay for my theater â€Å"career†) in different businesses and keeping my ears open. I can remember one meeting in my business career before Hult, discussing our segment marketing strategy and how best to approach a set of customers who didn’t know our company and didn’t buy the kind of research my company sold. I presented the information that I had, my conclusions on what to do, and then held my breath, hoping that I hadn’t sounded like an idiot. Because, underneath, I still felt like I didn’t really understand what I was talking about. Before coming to Hult, the mysteries of profit and loss statements and different â€Å"ratios† just escaped me. How on earth was I ever going to be relaxed and confident enough in these conversations to make a contribution? Before coming to Hult, I really believed that there was a single â€Å"right† answer, and I really believed I had to produce that right answer and that others had it more often than me. Now I know there is no â€Å"right† answer. Even answers that seem â€Å"right† may prove to be wrong during a different time frame. After my time at Hult, I now understand that business is in many ways similar to the response given by the old man in the Taoist proverb to every situation he encounters â€Å"We’ll see.† Business, like life, is a series of choices, and the best we can do is use our judgment. The most important realization I got from my year at Hult was the confidence to be in the room and give my answers and know that they have just as much backing them as everyone else’s.   Confidence that I can justify my choices with some reasoned analysis and some effective presentation. And furthermore, confidence that being wrong isn’t a death sentence, but a chance to learn and improve. So, was it all worth it? All the hard work, all the time away from the wife and kids, all the difficult personalities and the random schedules and sudden changes? I’d like to think so, and I’m sure this experience will lead me to new opportunities that I couldn’t have otherwise imagined. As the old man in the proverb would say, â€Å"We’ll see.† Make the most of what your career has to offer with a Masters in International Business from Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Settling back into Shanghai: My MBA rotation experience so far, or give your employability a huge boost with an MBA in international business. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to explore everything 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! .