Monday, July 6, 2020

One year in, one year to go An opinion on my truly global degree

Written by Tobias Mikalsen, Undergraduate student in Hult San Francisco campus. This post was originally published on February 23, 2017 on Tobias personal blog where he writes about his Hult experience. The past 14 months have been the most intensive months of my life, and also the most rewarding. When looking back on the experiences I’ve had from my home campus–and indeed what I consider my new home–San Francisco, as well as those experiences I have from the Dubai campus, it’s hard to believe that it’s possible to pack all of that into just over a year. Everything from meeting top executives of major global corporations such as IBM, to meeting the CEO of cool new well-known  startups such as Bluesmart, to now working on finding a business solution to a real-world problem for a major international client, Amazon.com. I’ve witnessed a transformation in myself; a transformation from being an ambitious person that is eager to learn and achieve, without the means to truly succeed, to an ambitious, resourceful professional. It’s a cliche, but it’s true: My network is my net-worth. I realized that when I less than two months ago re ceived a phone call from a major Silicon Valley tech company, and the lady on the other end of the line said â€Å"I received your resume from our VP of (†¦) Product Operations†¦Ã¢â‚¬  It was my first referral. A faculty and staff that listen to your concerns Professor Hap Klopp (photo), the Founder of The North Face, teaches Entrepreneurship classes in the undergraduate program. This photo is from the Global Generation video that ran on CNN during the US Presidential Election. Click here to watch the entire video. There are always ways to improve. Hult knows that better than anyone. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever filled out this many surveys in the span of one year ever before. For every course, students rate and leave comments for their course in general as well as their professor. While most of my courses have far exceeded my expectations, there are some that need improvement. Student feedback is used to improve the curriculum, educate professors, and improve the program at large. We also fill out half-year surveys about the program and have the opportunity to make suggestions and reveal our concerns. Through the Hult Student Association (HSA), we also have a direct line to the school’s leadership. Our HSA members bring suggestions from students to the school management and work with the faculty and staff to improve what can be improved. There is an open-door policy at Hult. That means that you never have to get an appointment  to speak with faculty or staff, provided that they’re available. That includes even the Executive Director and the Deanery. If you have questions for the finance team or minor questions about things that relate to your career development, we can simply drop by their respective offices. Professors are very approachable, and when you achieve good results and are actively engaged in their classes, they’re also often willing to write you a recommendation. I’ve had countless of interesting and engaging discussions with my professors, on both campuses I’ve attended. Career Services, Guest speakers, and networking events This event from the Fall semester of 2016 was a speaker event, featuring several Bay Area entrepreneurs and representatives from Accelerators and Incubators. The  best events I’ve attended at Hult are those that have brought in external speakers, professionals in their fields, as well as external attendees. The opportunities for networking in the Bay Area are extraordinary, and Hult really brings that with them into the classroom. In my first year, I’ve attended almost every single Career Development event at Hult, and I now frequently stay in touch with many of the people I’ve met at those events. They’ve also proved valuable for individual and team projects as many of these professionals have accepted requests for interviews for graded projects. I’ve worked closely with my Career Advisor since I arrived at Hult, and had my first advising appointment less than a month after I entered the program.  My advisor has helped me set up a perfect resume, write cover letters, and tailor my LinkedIn profile to the industry and job I’m searching for, as well as to plan out different career options and focus on the paths that I find most appealing. Burj Al Arab Jumeirah (photo) is a short 10-minute cab ride away from Hult’s Dubai campus. Hult’s global campuses are located in the most diverse, international and innovative cities in the world; San Francisco, London, Boston, Dubai, and Shanghai. The value of rotating, as well as the nature of the experience itself, is why I decided to do campus rotations. Last year, I rotated to Dubai during the summer, and because I found that experience to probably  be the most rewarding experience at Hult, I have decided to do several campus rotations this year. As a result, I will have the pleasure of rotating to every Hult campus by the time I finish my degree. One key advantage of rotating is that you have access to the Career Development teams in each of the locations you’re visiting, allowing you to establish a wider network of opportunities for employment post-graduation. That might be especially valuable in these uncertain times of changes to the geopolitical landscape, and likely upcoming changes to the immigration policies of several Western nations. I’m personally aiming for an entrepreneurial career in the United States, but with the political situation in this country, I’m not foreign to the thought of going somewhere else after graduation if I can’t make that happen. Hult’s global campus network will allow me to explore those opportunities and establish a network in those other locations even before I graduate. Opportunities for ambitious students In September 2016, I was invited to attend the Hult Prize Global Finale in New York City. In this photo, from the left: Sarveen Chester (Class of 2017), Tobias Mikalsen (Class of 2017), Steven Hodges (President, Hult International Business School), Jannicke Roos (Executive Vice President, Undergraduate, Hult), Maria Victoria Suncar (Class of 2017). Something that I truly appreciate about this institution is that it rewards those who succeed with additional opportunities, both in terms of professional development through Dean’s List and Academic Excellence events as well as the opportunity to accelerate your degree by taking on overload courses. Even students outside the Academic Excellence track are able to take summer courses and do campus rotations, and thereby accelerate their degree progression. I will complete my US Bachelor’s degree in less than two years, and save one full year solely by taking Summer Courses. During the Summer Terms, undergraduate students in their Senior year at Hult are also allowed to take Postgraduate elective courses from the EMBA, MBA, Master of International Business, Master of International Marketing, and Master of Finance programs. That is, as long as they’re in good academic standing.  This summer, I’m planning on taking one Postgraduate course for the purpose of getting an even more advanced understanding of  marketing as it relates to my major, entrepreneurship. If a student decides to take full advantage of those Postgraduate summer courses, students who wish to do so  may get their Bachelor’s degree along with a Master’s degree from Hult by studying for their Master’s over another 6 to 12 months after completing their Bachelor’s. In my case, that means that I can receive my combined Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Hult in 3 years or less if that was my desire. It’s with great confidence that I embark on what will be the remaining 10 months of my journey with Hult International Business School. Although I’ve had my challenges to overcome, and although not everything has been perfect, I can honestly say with great confidence that coming to Hult, and joining this culturally diverse, global institution, is the best decision of my life up to this point. I can’t wait to find out what’s ahead. Tobias Mikalsen is an Undergraduate student majoring in Entrepreneurship at Hult San Francisco campus. He is actively engaged on campus as a Career Services Student Representative and has volunteered for the Hult Prize regional finals. Tobias aspires to be an intrapreneur and entrepreneur, finding opportunities and managing growing global businesses. Kickstart your career with Hults undergraduate business school. To find out more, take a look at our blog 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! .

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