Hult welcomes global speakers for a day of disruption Hult Blog

Hult’s annual Global Speaker Series returned amid much anticipation for this year’s Day of Disruption. World-renowned entrepreneurs and business leaders met students on our global campuses in Boston, London, San Francisco, and Dubai, for a memorable day of buzzing  activities and inspiring speeches. Hult alumni joined the 1,000+ attendees on the  global livestream and joined in welcoming EasyJet CEO Carolyn McCall, Bitcoin Founder Brock Pierce, Airbnb Chief of Strategy Hospitality Chip Conley, Local Motors Co-Founder John B. Jay Rogers, Executive Director of Singularity University Salim Ismail, aviation expert Laila Hareb of GCCA, and  CFO of Novartis Chris Klee,  among others, to share their experiences of disruption in the digital age and how to harness this unprecedented dynamic for business success. At Hult, we are committed  to providing the best and most relevant  business education on the planet. We challenge  our students to question  the status quo. And so disruption is naturally aligned to  who we are. Read on for the highlights of our 13 hours of non-stop, global disruption. Timings are in GMT. â€Å"I joined from London for the entire day, from 9am until 10pm. By the end of the day, I felt absolutely inspired, and much energized. This was an ambitious event focusing on the business leaders driving disruption and innovation—something that truly reflects  Hults spirit.†Ã‚   Eveline Sijbrandij, Netherlands, current Hult MBA student. 09:00 am Laila Hareb opens up the livestream from Dubai. Laila is Assistant Director General of Strategy and Affairs for the General Civil Aviation Authority and is passionate about environmental issues within the sector. The winner of a World Women in Leadership Award, Laila has been named one of the first Arab women to hold a vital strategic position in the MENA region. She draws on her impressive 20-year experience in the field to convey  the importance of a structured approach to innovation. Lailas three key innovation considerations: strategic direction, risk versus reward, and stakeholders. And the main challenges ahead for aviation: Future energy sources and reducing fossil fuel dependence Unlocking airspace congestion The â€Å"Concept Plane† – improving aerodynamics by emulating nature’s best ‘designs’. Look out for the planes of the future featuring eagle’s wings and lotus leaf ridges. 10:00 am Dubai students feel the pressure of playing ‘presentation roulette’. Meanwhile, in London, staff and students learn that it is never too early for a silent disco: through  the sound of shuffling feet and intermittent whoops of appreciation, even London’s Campus Dean, Agnes Nairn, joins  in the early morning dance-off. 12 noon Kathryn Jacobs, CEO of Pearl Dean—an iconic cinema advertising company in the UK—talks to the students in London about how to find  inspiration and tips for unleashing your  creative spirit. 01:00 pm Chip Conley, Head of Strategy Hospitality, Airbnb joins live from Sweden to give  the inside scoop on the ‘foreshadows’ that led to the birth of Airbnb and blew the hotel industry apart.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Disruptions are not a short-term fad but a long-term trend. Some people are experts at seeing the early signs.†Ã‚  Chip Conley, Airbnb. Chip talks about how innovations usually address an underlying need that isn’t being met and lays out the â€Å"needs pyramid†: where the tangible, ‘obvious’ elements form the base of the pyramid but the intangible ‘extra’ elements at the top can get overlooked. Chip also notes that disruption is often the brainchild of industry outsiders—this is echoed by nearly every keynote speaker throughout the day across all industries. 02:00 pm Salim Ismail, Executive Director of Exponential Organizations, is in London to deliver insights on innovation and disruption—usually reserved for the Fortune 500 CEOs he advises—for what quickly becomes a glance  into the  near future and the game-changing  disruptions in our midst. Moore’s law is the basis for exponential theory—the 1965 observation that the number of transistors per square inch on integrated circuits was doubling every year. This observation set the pace for our modern digital revolution, which is growing on an exponential curve, and Salim is passionate about empowering people to apply disruptive technologies to the everyday. Digital information is literally transforming the world’s business from a scarcity model to an abundance model. Reality is even being disrupted by virtual reality in many ways. The established world is not ready for the democratization of technology, as evidenced by recent large-scale political upsets. Salim talks about the common  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœimmune system response’ to  radical digital developments: wariness  of the unknown that leads  people  to want to shut it down. But the tide of progress cannot be stopped  and the world is fast-changing beyond recognition. The rapid ascendance of Artificial Intelligence will soon drastically alter the business and employment landscape. Gene editing is now as simple as cutting and pasting in a Word document and will be able to eradicate cancer within 2 years. Solar energy will be widespread enough to power the world’s energy supply within ~20 years. This will in turn lead to a crisis in the MENA region. The first person who will live past 1,000 years old has already been born: these are just a few of Salim’s astounding predictions based on his research of exponentials. Salim’s advice for those wanting to leverage exponential growth:  look out for doubling growth rate patterns and layer solutions on to them that will scale with the doubling technologies. 03:00-05:00  pm Salim’s second presentation moves on to how to build an exponential organization. At 4pm he  interviews  Hult faculty and Founder of iKNOW-WHO Sigvald Harryson. Sigvald is  an integral contributor to the creation of Hult’s Entrepreneurship curriculum. Sigvald draws on his experiences harnessing breakthrough innovation to solve major companies’ â€Å"impossible challenges† in collaboration with university student teams. Elsewhere in the world, Hult student clubs are running entrepreneurship and consulting workshops; Hult star faculty are leading masterclasses; there are drone races; pitch competitions to disrupt the travel industry and improve the travel experience; and Boston students are enjoying making use of their own ‘Hultian’ currency in honor of their keynote speaker Brock Pierce, Founder of Bitcoin. From investing in business pitches in the ‘H-Factor’ competition, to ‘cycling a smoothie’ in the health wellness room, anything is up for grabs today if you have the â€Å"HIBZ† coins to pay for it! â€Å"Hult provides people with the experience and knowledge necessary to go out and change the world.† Brock Pierce, Bitcoin Founder. 05:00 pm John B. Jay Rogers, Co-Founder of Local Motors, takes the mic in San Francisco to talk about his phenomenal startup, Local Motors—the world’s first ever manufacturer of 3D printed cars, pairing micro-finance and co-creation. Jay’s vision is an end to the junkyard  of dilapidated, material-intensive vehicles and a new era of melting and deconstructing 3D printed cars—and buses, houses, drones, and much more—before rebuilding them to spec. Essentially redefining car manufacturing and subscribing to a recyclable, upgradeable, customizable, locally made alternative. Jay echoes the success of the ‘less over more’ approach. His cars use 50 components instead of the usual 2,500. So development is faster, greener, cheaper, and more flexible. 07:00 pm Shortly after a rock ‘n’ roll bagpiper injects a fresh burst of energy into the audience,  Carolyn McCall, EasyJet CEO is interviewed in London. Carolyn draws  on her experience of digital disruption in the print industry during her time as CEO of Guardian Media PLC, and her experience at the helm of Easyjet, one of the most disruptive airlines in the world. Carolyn echoes Hult’s ethos that business acumen must be practiced before it can truly be learnt: â€Å"My advice to those wanting to think disruptively: get out there! Get stimulation and learning in the real world† Carolyn McCall, CEO, Easyjet 08:00 pm Chris Klee, CFO Novartis, is welcomed in Boston. He talks  about the future of pharmaceuticals  and latest advances in gene therapy.  He notes  the unrivaled opportunities for students living and studying in Boston, AKA the â€Å"Life Sciences Supercluster†. There are over 550 life science companies in Massachusetts—and over 250 in Cambridge and Boston alone. This offers huge opportunities, talents, and networks within the major biologicals. 09:00 pm Brock Pierce, Founder of Bitcoin Blockchain Capital, is next to the Boston stage. Bitcoin enables the self-centralized, safe digital movement of money around the world. Brock believes it  will ultimately make financial services (along with many other services such as legal and medical) accessible to everyone in the world. Bitcoin, along with Local Motors, is itself an exponential organization, shaking up the future of the services paradigm. â€Å"It is important for business schools to be agile in these uncertain and fast-changing times. I have  spent the day experiencing your incredible facilities here in Hult Boston and meeting Hult students. I would say that the school’s ethos is disruptive; Hult students are eager to learn; ready to embark and take on the world, and make it a better place.† Brock Pierce 10:00 pm Wrap-up of this epic and inspiring day. Common themes emerging include the democratization of services, value, and trust; the sense that the developing world is going to leapfrog the developed world; the need for the outsider’s perspective in facilitating breakthrough innovation; and the successful business model of tomorrow being founded on decomplexifying the business models of today. Stay tuned for video of the best keynote speeches in full and serialized interviews. If you would like to find out more about Hult’s global business programs,  download a brochure here. Sign up here to receive keynote summary videos and serialized presentations. Learn more about the  Global Speaker Series and prior speakers. Like game changers? Break the mould in the business world with a Masters in Disruptive Innovation from Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Week of Disruption, Fall 2018: Embracing a changing world, around the globe, or explore overall business challenges with a Masters in International Business instead. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to find out 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! .