The Road Not Taken Profiles from the Master in Social Entrepreneurship Program

In Hult’s Master of Social Entrepreneurship program, individuals from all over the world have come together to learn how to solve critical social issues, do good, and apply their business savvy. These students made the decision to â€Å"go down a road not yet taken.† Along the way they are facing challenges, getting far out of their comfort zones, and pushing their limits to make an impact on the lives of others. This series is about their stories. This time around we will get to know Rachel Stanley, from Coventry, in the United Kingdom, who is working on her degree at Hult San Francisco. Stanely spent last summer working with poor communities in Uganda, teaching business skills, and promoting an entrepreneurial spirit. RQ: What sort of work were you doing in Uganda? RS: I spent two months in Uganda. I was there with a charity I found while searching for what I wanted to do after my corporate job. RQ: You want to give a shout out to this charity? RS: Sure! The charity is called A Little Bit Of Hope, and they do a lot of awesome stuff in southeast in Uganda. It’s the only charity that’s focusing on that area, and looking to enable communities to develop and grow themselves up. They always look to enable communities rather than â€Å"do to† communities. RQ: That is a huge thing when you’re doing this kind of development work, trying to get it to spring up from the community, rather than getting there and telling them what to do. RS: Exactly! I ended up being a lot more useful than I thought I would be. I had the suspicion that I was going there as a reasonably well-off British person, and while my life’s not perfect, it’s nothing compared to what some of these communities are going through. I didn’t want to be one of those people that just expected to solve all their problems. The biggest thing for me to do was to try and actually learn what it’s like to experience—to kind of live through their lives and see what it means to be there, and try to use some of my background skills from business. RQ: Your business skills stem from corporate work in Germany? RS: I worked in Germany for five years for a big energy corporation; I did market and business analysis, and strategy and business development. And as I transferred into social entrepreneurship, I thought, â€Å"I’ve got all these skills, it makes sense to try and use them for good,† and that’s what got me excited about social entrepreneurship in the first place. I was researching where I could go to get some experience before I went off to do my degree, and that’s when I found this charity. One of the things they talked about was how they were looking to enable business development in this area. It turned out to be a perfect fit. They already had their expertise in development economics and traditional organizational development, but they were looking for someone who could empower the community with business skills. So I spent time getting to know their problems. Many people had a strong passion for what they were doing, but struggled with the basic skills that you get from a higher education degree or working with a team. I did a number of workshops with a number of organizations—an orphanage, and a chicken-rearing company, among others. It was really exciting to see what people wanted to do, and the impact as a result of these workshop â€Å"interventions†. I also got to see just how microfinance truly has an impact, w hich I was initially skeptical about. RQ: What were some of the things that you were skeptical about going in that might’ve changed substantially by the time you left? Or, things you were quite positive about that might’ve changed to skepticism or disappointment? RS: The biggest thing I took away is that maybe the traditional scheme of aid isn’t the best way for long-term development and empowerment. It’s not about â€Å"not giving people stuff†, because some people truly need aid. But it does create a long-term cycle of dependence that can be hard to break after a generation or two. Think of the â€Å"teach a man to fish† situation. By approaching development issues with techniques like design thinking and lean principles, you’re more likely to make a long-lasting, sustainable impact on these communities. That’s why it’s so incredibly important to create these spaces for facilitating and training, in order to change their mindset so they believe that they can create and generate for themselves. RQ: How do you think this experience, paired with the MSE Program at Hult, will shape your career post-Hult? RS: Both experiences have reinforced my choice to do this program and use business skills for good, in order to make a bigger impact than traditional donations. It’s amazing to see how a microfinance loan of $10 can truly help to start up a business. But even with the best intentions, not having the right business skills ensures that there will be issues, if not failures. I’ve become quite excited about business education. Not to mention that this opens doors in developing countries. A lot of the working options poorer people have means they are vulnerable to bad working conditions. Enabling them to create their own conditions and be their own bosses makes for better quality of work and life. RQ: How about some words of wisdom for prospective MSE students, or anyone looking to make a shift into the social entrepreneurship environment? RS: Get out of your comfort zone and try to at least live a day in your customer’s shoes. I think this is sound advice for pursuing a business endeavor, social or not. But having this level of empathy will give you the extra dimension that can deliver impressive results and long-lasting impact. RQ: That sounds about right. Thanks so much! Ramà ³n Quià ±ones is part of the MSE Program at Hult San Francisco, and is a part of the Hult Global Ambassadors team. His passion lies in storytelling and technology in education, and hopes to do his classmates justice with these profiles. Grow your leadership capabilities with an MBA in international business at Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Why MBA: Hult International Business School, or give your career a boost with our Masters in International Business. 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. 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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! .