Visionary undergrads DECNA at Hult Prize

Referred to as the â€Å"Nobel Prize for students†, the Hult Prize challenges students to find new and disruptive solutions to tackle some of the biggest social issues around the globe. The competition has seen a rise of undergraduate teams taking part and, despite competing against masters,  MBA,  and Executive MBA teams, they’ve proven to be strong competition. We caught up with team DECNA—a group of first year Hult undergraduate students who made it to the accelerator stage of the Hult Prize to find out what they thought of the experience. Congratulations on making it to the accelerator stage of the Hult Prize! How did it feel to have made it that far? Zach:  It was definitely an honour to represent Hult at the Hult Prize. It came with a lot of pressure and responsibility, but we felt super grateful to have had this learning experience and opportunity to meet so many incredible people. Mallika: We learnt so much during the experience and absorbed everything we could. There were so many amazing people at the event and even now were still making full use of the chance to grow our network. Marie-Louise: We can use what we learnt during this journey in everything—whether thats for DECNA, for school, or for the future. What motivated you to take part in the Hult Prize? Marie-Louise: Actually, this was thanks to Hult. We took a course called Storytelling Persuasion and we had to do a challenge to create a business to change peoples lives. This is when we came up with the idea of DECNA and we realized that the challenge for Hult Prize was the same thing. We decided to try our luck in the competition! Zach: I was a volunteer for Hult Prize in 2016 at the Shanghai regionals at the time I was still in High school. I saw all these incredible teams and I really wanted to be a part of one of those teams. I was sitting in the audience watching the teams and told myself that when I entered university I was going to be standing on that stage and I was going to take part in the Hult Prize. So for me, its a dream come true. Mallika: Id heard about Hult Prize from so many different people. When the challenge we were already working on fit the brief for this year, we were excited to see where we could go. Can you tell us a bit about what your idea and what is DECNA? Mallika: DECNA means vision in Hindi and our aim was to connect the disconnected unemployed youth to employers through a series of industry showcases. We identified a problem and created a solution. Zach: We identified a problem and created a solution.  Most graduates in India, although they have many skills, lack the skills in relation to professional networking and career development. Thats why theyre lacking in so many jobs and miss so many opportunities. This is why we wanted to up-skill them through our industry workshops and make sure that would shine bright in front of employers. Employers are spending millions every single year in search for the right candidates but theyre not being effective with their investment. Thats why with us they dont have to pay for recruiting. Employers come to the event for free and then if they do decide to recruit someone, they pay a commission. Marie-Louise: The main point about DECNA was the fact it was really innovative. We were the first ever on and off platform and our events were really unique because the events were done in informal settings, giving each party the best of the best. Mallika: When starting out, it really helped that Ive lived in the shoes of the customers. Ive been an Indian high school student myself and all my life I was told how to get the best grades and how to go to the best college. Nobody actually told me how to obtain soft skills, which is what inspired me to create DECNA. Zach: We were all really passionate about the challenge because of the fact we were providing these opportunities for the youth of today. We are the youth, so the fact that we can really inspire our generation is exciting. Day by day we were learning. We had ideas, we took feedback, we evaluated ourselves and the business, and have learnt a lot through the process. What was the process of getting DECNA off the ground? Marie-Louise: Day by day we were learning. We had ideas, we took feedback, we evaluated ourselves and the business, and have learnt a lot through the process. It started with our idea at Hult, and it progressed far enough to get us to the accelerator. What was your biggest challenge? Mallika: Finding the balance of tasks was hard at the beginning as each member had an area to work on, but we learnt how to prioritize and play to each others strengths. Marie-Louise: One of the biggest challenges was keeping the team dynamic balanced. We are a strong team, but its super important to support one another through the highs and the lows. Communication is a huge factor in how successful or challenging growing a business is—you have to communicate with your teammates and, most importantly, understand them. Zach: One of the biggest challenges for me was receiving feedback. The first week here we were getting six different pieces of advice from different mentors and the biggest challenge for me personally was learning how to pick and choose which feedback we were going to take and act upon, and which feedback we were going to park and wait to implement it later. Obviously, every piece of feedback is useful in some way, but its a challenge to stay true to your business when you have so many different people inputting their own ideas and values. You need to believe in your business idea and your team, even when others dont. What was your biggest success or defining moment? Marie-Louise: For me, the defining moment was when we watched a video back of us pitching our idea back at the beginning in our course at Hult. In that pitch, we included everything weve been told matters: impact, passion, and a great team dynamic. This pitch defined the essence of DECNA. When we saw this video again, it reminded us of our roots, where wed come from, and how far weve grown. Zach: The reason we looked back at that video one night was because we had hit a low point after a tough week here. We were scratching our heads about what to do next, but thought perhaps it might be useful to look back at what wed done before. Seeing that video was our true A-ha! moment and we realized that the team we were watching defines us and we shouldnt forget where we have come from. What piece of advice would you give to anyone thinking about competing in the Hult Prize next year? Marie-Louise: Try! Try hard, work hard, and choose the people you are going to work with carefully. The most important thing, I believe, is to see the potential of yourself and those around you. Mallika: Id agree that choosing your team carefully is super important. If youre an undergraduate, like me, and have an idea but are questioning if you should compete, just go for it. Youre going to learn so much in the process and the lessons are invaluable. Zach: Id say be smart. Be smart from the very beginning. Go with it, take the chance, and do your research. Watch the pitches from previous years. By watching the UN finals of the last five/six years, youll notice that theres a pattern in terms of the pitch styles. For anyone considering taking part in the Hult Prize, I dont think you should copy or confirm to an identity, but I do believe that its important for you to understand what it looks like. That way youll know what to do and you can hit the ground running. If you do make it, dont be afraid to ask for help! The next steps Team DECNA have learned invaluable lessons, built their business, grown their network, and have done Hult proud during the process of competing in the Hult Prize. They plan to continue to build their business as they progress with their studies. To keep up to date with the team and follow their progress, you can follow their Instagram. 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! .