Naoko Akaki

Before Hult, Naoko worked for Japan Tobacco Inc., a Japanese global conglomerate in tobacco, food and pharmaceuticals, operating in 120 countries around the world. During her last three years working in the corporate strategy division, her prime responsibilities were creating a new mission, vision and mid-term management plan, as well as changing and aligning JT's identity and culture with its mission, vision and core values.

Why Hult?

Firstly, Hult's one-year practical program was most attractive for me. I want to go back to the workforce quickly. In the company I'll work for, a big restructuring plan has been undertaken to change business portfolio and culture. I want to accelerate the changes I've created and further enhance the tools and methods that I've initiated using what I learned at Hult. Secondly, the international aspect was another key element. Working with other students from more than 20 different counties will be a vital bridge to transform me into an ideal global leader who takes initiatives and leads great team performances.

Action Learning

Action Learning and the use of the case method are very practical, and we learned a lot from the real business situations of others. However, it is very important to think not only what we can learn from them, but also how I can apply the lessons into my future situations. So, active listening and responding enhanced our class's learning.

Fellow students

I have learned a lot not only from our professors, who have an international perspective and are very supportive, but also from my classmates, who gave me numerous opinions and perspectives as well. Interacting with students gave me a great opportunity to not only embed a global outlook through working together closely and uncompromisingly, but also tested my leadership in taking a role as a team leader, facing conflicts and being persuasive and logical in contributing to the team. We have a healthy environment that is professionally competitive but very supportive. My classmates are my significant treasure.

Jaye Matriano

Before she came to Hult, Jaye worked as a procurement manager for the San Miguel Corporation, the largest publicly listed food, beverage and packaging company in the Philippines. She also has been actively involved as the logistics and administrative head of BackStreetKids Ministry, a volunteer organization that helps children on city streets in the Philippines through livelihood and educational assistance.

Why Hult?

Because I wanted to study the American way of how to do business which is still distinct from the European way in the sense that it is much more aggressive and determined.

Professors

My professors are highly educated, and many of them do consulting work and bring in a tremendous amount of real world experience and connections into the classroom.

Action Learning

From the more hands-on approach, I learned a lot about the most complex aspect of business, which is managing and working with people. I learned to work in teams with people from different countries, backgrounds, languages, religion, and I learned a lot related to organizational behavior and leadership while studying these subjects and then practicing it in the teamwork.

Fellow Students

Ninety-five percent of my classmates were from outside the U.S. In my class, there were 51 people from 22 countries, a small "United Nations Assembly," if you want. The diversity of the people and their contributions in class helped me in the understanding of their business practices, their financial systems, their politics and culture. Besides, the average age of my class was 32, which means that people have a considerable amount of work experience, which they bring into the discussions.

Boston

Within three miles of my apartment, I have my school as well as two of the best universities in the whole world. The intellectual resources, which are freely available in the form of seminars, workshops, discussions and lectures, are just overwhelmingly impressive. And I enjoy taking advantage of that while living in the Boston area.

One-year Program

I wanted to challenge myself to work under intense pressure and get my degree in 12 months.

Andreas Obrist

Before Hult, Andreas worked at Lehman Brothers in Zurich doing institutional sales for the North American U.S. equity sales team. He previously worked for UBS Private Banking in Switzerland on the Germany desk, where he was involved in the relationship management of high-net-worth individuals.

Why Hult?

Hult is a one-year program with international diversity. The size of the classes is smaller compared to other MBA schools; thus, learning is more personalized. There are more opportunities to exchange ideas and learn from each other. The quality of Hult's faculty also enticed me to enroll. Lastly, the school is in a city that is known for high-quality education and innovation. Boston is a clean, historical and safe place with fun-loving people!

Fellow Students

My classmates come from different parts of the world. What brings us together is our desire to succeed and excel in the MBA Program. Diversity is evident not just in the cultural aspect but also in our thought processes. We combine them to solve tough business cases and recommend solutions. Sometimes tensions arise, but it is the same tension that brings out creative ideas and strengthens the group.

Brown Bag Lunch Seminars

The Brown Bag series enable us to hear from business executives, some of whom started out as international students like ourselves, who became successful entrepreneurs or senior managers in their respective companies. Their experiences prove to us that dreams can become reality.

Case Study Method

The case study method challenged us to crunch numbers, think outside the box and take a stand. It's good practice, because we have to apply the same principles in the corporate world.

Career Services

The career services linked us to the outside world through activities such as the Brown Bag Seminars that happen every Wednesday. There were also events like the Executive Series that allowed us to learn how different businesses operate.

On a more personal note, this is something close to my heart. Through Hult's Fellowship Program, I had the opportunity to assist Linnea Lof, Hult's career services director, with the publication of the Hult Career Newsletter every Friday. This documents the events of the career services office with photos, articles and corporate contacts. It highlighted the inspiring and invaluable insights shared by these contacts.

Action Learning

Openness to other people's ideas was not enough. It was necessary to speak up and defend our ideas to professors, classmates and business executives. The Hult Program helped me become more confident in expressing my ideas, and it equipped me with tools to support them with sound business data.

Dr. Guillaume Vignon

Guillaume worked for four years as a research assistant at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. Based on his scientific results, which contributed to a better understanding of the protein secretion mechanism in the bacteria, he published four scientific articles and gave presentations at an international congress. Fascinated by the creation of startups in biotechnology, he obtained seed funding and worked at developing an innovative technology in proteomics that could be used to identify new potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers. Guillaume holds a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology, awarded with distinction from University of Paris VI.

Why Hult?

Choosing the right MBA program is a very important decision. In my case, I had several criteria. First, I did not want to stay out of the job market more than one year. Additionally, it was important for me to be in the Boston area to benefit from its extraordinary job opportunities. Boston is one of the leading areas for the venture capital industry and the best biotech/health-care ecosystem in the world. Finally, I was looking for an international student body that would enable me to have a broad vision of international business today. My career objective being to work in the venture capital industry, I needed to complement my scientific skills with cutting-edge business skills that allow me to have a deep understanding of all the different business functions in companies.

The Hult Experience

While I was used to working in an international environment at the Pasteur Institute, I have been very impressed by the international atmosphere at Hult. By working in a team during the year, I have been exposed to various cultures and ways of thinking. I have developed a cultural awareness that enables me to become more effective in today‘s global business environment. After completion of the program, all the business skills I have acquired this year make me feel confident that I will reach my dream to work in the venture capital industry. Studying at Hult requires very hard work. I cannot remember the number of nights I have spent with my friends discussing case studies and preparing projects. So be prepared to embrace the challenge!

Erika Chiniros Neyra

Before coming to Hult, Erika worked as an auditor for Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young, as well as an accountant for a local financial institution in Peru.

Why Hult?

I chose Hult's program, because it is a one-year American program located in the Boston area, and because I received very good feedback from an alum who is currently working at BCP, my current employer.

Fellow Students

My classmates are the most valuable and exciting takeaway from Hult. Although I did not consider the internationality of students when choosing the program, it turned out to be the most exciting and valuable characteristic about Hult. We are a group of students from more than 20 countries who have shared not just knowledge but also beliefs and customs and have built relationships that will last forever.

Case Study Method

I liked the teaching methods here a lot, because they are mainly practical. Although I have already been taught with the case method in my country, I found it here more valuable because of the number of ideas we could generate within such a diverse and international class.

Professors

The professors are very good; they have excellent backgrounds in the best universities of the United States and unique experiences for the courses they teach. Most of them are also professors at other top schools.

Action Learning

Teamwork can generate such great ideas in such a short time. We need to know how to handle issues, people and time. Probably I knew all these concepts before coming, but now I feel capable of applying them at work.

Boston

Living in Boston is a great experience, not just because Boston is one of the biggest and most beautiful cities in the world, but also because of its great diversity and continuous activities throughout the year that contribute to a more intense cultural life for students.

Radhika Lavu

Prior to studying at Hult, Radhika worked as a senior IT analyst, software engineer and consultant in countries around the world. Not only does she have a Masters of Commerce and a post-graduate degree in computer science, she also holds a degree in hotel management.

Why Hult?

When I decided to pursue a MBA, I was looking for a comprehensive program that would establish my general management skills within a span of one year instead of a lengthy two-year program. But also I wanted the one-year program to provide the same insights that a two-year program would. Hult was the perfect program, and it offered me this opportunity. The culture here is extremely cordial and warm as well.

Case Method

The best thing I like about Hult is the case-based learning combined with teamwork. The case-based approach is extremely useful and teaches valuable knowledge that would otherwise only come with years of experience. Teamwork has given me an opportunity to learn a lot beyond what is taught in the classroom.

International Class

My class is a true representation of an international community. It has an almost perfect mix of students from all the continents. Everyone has brought in valuable experiences on various topics that make classes very lively. One of our operations professors thinks that it is difficult for us to complete a topic on schedule as the class contribution and depth is so rich. Hult creates a true global environment and helps one gain insights into the challenges of a multinational global environment.

Boston and Surrounding Area (Housing)

I live in Salem, a small town in the outskirts of Boston. It is an old town with a lot of history. It is known for its famous witch trials, and you are greeted in every corner of the road by a witch statue, although it's not the ideal way to start your day under Indian beliefs!

Bonding with Classmates in New England

All our classmates celebrated our module 1 completion by going to a place called Nashoba Valley, 20 miles from Boston. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip, but I sprained my ankle trying skiing for the first time in my life. It sounded so simple when the ski instructor was showing the first-timers how to ski. But I guess it's not as simple. I am still walking with a limp today. It was nice to see all my classmates being very helpful in my recovery period.

Professors and Action Learning

The professors who teach here are from the top universities. The style of their teaching is completely different from what I have experienced back in India. The method they use to discuss uses real life cases, the encouragement of class participation, their friendly approach and the positive reinforcement for our strengths are beyond comparison.

Prior to his classes, I believed that economics was dry, theoretical and monotonous. I was interested in project management and strategy consulting in the IT sector. This is probably because I have been working in the IT industry for the past seven years. But now, I have a broader perspective, and I not only changed my opinion on managerial economics but also am keen on venturing into business consulting.

Brown Bag Seminar

The seminars are weekly lunchtime seminars given by leading upper management personnel from various industries. I find them particularly useful as they give us rare insights and firsthand experiences from leading players. For example, a lawyer from Monster.com, a web-based company offering job searches, delivered a seminar regarding opportunities in the U.S. It was a very informative and interactive seminar.

Professors

One of my favorite professors taught managerial economics, and he influenced my career decision. He is a fulltime consultant with Arthur D. Little Consulting, a sister concern of Hult. He has worked for over 200 business-consulting projects around the world and is a very resourceful person, who always stresses practical applications. All his exams are open book, as he strongly believes that in a real-life situation, everybody would have access to all resources like books and articles, and hence, it is important for them to be able to apply the information to resolve the problems.

One-year program

As this is a one-year program, one of the main reasons I came to Hult, the learning curve is very steep, and we have very frequent exams. So far in this wonderful environment, I have been able to perform at my best and able to maintain my grade.

Boston

Boston is the educational center of America with some of the most elite institutions in the world. Boston, though expensive in comparison with some cities in U.S, is a very nice place to study. You have a lot of networking and learning opportunities. Boston has a host of summer and winter sports to keep you occupied besides the demanding school curriculum. Boston is famous for baseball and football, and they won the finals in both last year. I really did not believe all the hype until I actually went to one of the baseball games last month. Boston was playing against New York, and I have to say, I truly had a feeling like an India-Pakistan cricket match.

Erika Escartin

Erika previously worked as a marketing manager for Prospctiv Direct, an online direct marketing company outside of Boston, MA.

Why Hult?

I chose Hult because I had been working for six years, and I wanted to take my career to the next level. I was also looking for an industry change. The one-year program to me was a very attractive feature as well as the international student body. Also key factors were the staff and professors I met before making my decision. Everyone was extremely helpful, and I liked the family-like atmosphere. My experience at Hult has been fruitful, rewarding, amazing and one that I will never forget.

Fellow Students

I could not ask for better classmates! I was lucky enough to be in a classroom where Latin America, South America, Europe, Asia and North America were all represented among 50 people. I now have friends in 24 different countries and have formed great friendships. I also like the small setting the school has to offer. People know you for who you are and what you've accomplished in school.

Case Study Method

The case study method is a challenging and rigorous way of looking at business cases and learning the ins and outs of a company. One of our marketing professors had a very strict method of randomly picking students during each session to open up the case, and this forced us to prepare thoroughly, both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Professors

The quality of professors was very good, and they really focused on the case study method and facilitated class discussion - constantly challenging us and allowing us to state our opinions about certain strategies or business decisions.

Action Learning

During Module 3, we were required to complete a Action Learning Program, this focuses on the action learning part of the program. My group worked in a competitive analysis project for the IBM Boston Innovation Center. The group analyzed their competitive landscape and benchmarked them against small and medium size competitors. We also performed a win/loss analysis to provide a strategic recommendation to sustain future growth. This project helped us incorporate everything we had learned and apply it to a real life situation.

Boston

I have lived in Boston for a long time, and it's a city that offers great cultural activities, restaurants and sightseeing. It is a place with countless things to do. Also there are many colleges and universities, and so it's a very young city.

One-year Program

Everyone said that a one-year program would not be easy and that is definitely true! This program not only has broadened my business acumen, giving me essential tools to take into my career, but it has pushed me academically and taught me to learn more about myself and my values. There are many things thrown our way with tight deadlines, and each student must be able to have the capacity to be driven, focused and motivated to accomplish all that is expected of us with a degree of success.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned at Hult?

One of the biggest lessons I have learned at Hult is how to become a better manager by learning the cultural differences that exist between everyone, how to become a better listener, more patient and understand that it's better to leave emotions from any conflict in order to get a better resolution. Hult also teaches you how to effectively work in teams. Since this program is so international, one must be very sensitive to the cultural differences that exist and that communication is a key factor of success to working with other students.

Massimo Andriolo

After experiences in private banking and management consulting, Massimo worked for Deutsche Boerse Group as a stock exchange relations manager. He was in charge of setting-up joint initiatives with group external trading platforms and central counterparties and participated in the definition and management of new market segments.

Why Hult?

I chose Hult because it is the ideal program for consolidating my academic and professional experiences and to allow me to enter the private equity business. Hult is a very intense experience. It allows you to really grow both professionally and personally.

Fellow Students

There are several students who are really brilliant. I think that the different cultural and professional backgrounds present in class are truly unique. It is exciting that you are sitting in a class with people coming from 20 to 25 nationalities and having a broad range of backgrounds.

Case Study Method

The case-based study method is very good, because it teaches you how to apply the theory you learn in class. This allows you to be able to deliver value from day one.

Professors

The best thing about Hult is the outstanding teachers. The small size of the classes allows each student to have maximum benefits from the high-quality teachers.

Boston

Boston offers unique and incredible networking opportunities. There is no other place on earth with such a high concentration of knowledge and events that allow you to have access to knowledge.

One-year Program

The heavy workload is sometimes quite challenging as it forces you to learn how to set priorities and to identify what is important and what is not.

Fredrik Elvhede

Fredrik worked as an IT consultant with a Swedish boutique consultancy firm.

Why Hult?

I chose Hult because of the one-year MBA and for the international diversity; the diversity of students really makes a difference. I also like the small classes Hult has. It provides for more interaction with the professors and other classmates.

Professors

Working with the very diverse body of Hult professors has given me firsthand experience with people who help me make the right choices and succeed. We have had both academic professors and strategy professors who teach but also continue their consulting practice. This has given an invaluable insight into real-world problems and what cutting-edge strategy consulting currently is.

Action Learning

It gives you the possibility to apply tools learned through experience, course material and professors in a near real life setting. The challenges have been teamwork with very tight deadlines and unclear objectives. This truly challenges your negotiating and motivating skills. Reaching hard to get goals and working as a part of a high-performing team have been some of the most inspiring moments during this year. This can sometimes be very frustrating, however, as there is not one single solution and often lots of ambiguity. But to me, this is real life. I have rarely met clear and well-defined problems in my previous professional experience.

Fellow Students

The most exciting thing about Hult is the diversity of students, both culturally and their professional experiences. My classmates come from 22 different countries and have a multitude of different professional experiences. They range from investment bankers to architects and have made this year a great experience. This year has given me friends all over the world and an opportunity to experience more cultural diversity than I have ever experienced before.

Career Service Department

The career services department has been very helpful, not only for providing support but also for reminding yourself to really focus on what you want to do and where. They have created a sense of urgency in my job application efforts. The regular workshops have reminded me that there is a real world out there. Hult has supported me by providing access to resources online, such as Vault.com and profiling tools. Further, the alumni database and the networking events have been helpful to meet and discuss careers with multiple companies. Last but not least, career services has provided me with opportunities not otherwise available and has actually had an impact when it comes to my job search.

Boston

Boston is a wonderful city but bring warm clothes!

Triston (Xiangeng) Cui

Before coming to Hult, Triston worked in LG Electronics China as a product manager and ran his own business as well.

Why Hult?

After several years working experience, I thought it's time for me to learn more about management and get a better understanding of business. As a top one-year MBA program in U.S., Hult is a good combination of studying and career. Therefore, I came to Boston and started my fantastic one-year exercise.

Classmates

We are unique. The student profile here is amazing. Imagine students from more than 20 countries. Don't you think you will have a lot of interesting discussions and interactions? We studied hard to survive tons of cases and assignments. The students have to be ready to, in addition to working, discuss and argue. In a word, we are one big family.

Action Learning

Everybody is required to add value in class. We always work in teams, and the case study method is the key point. We even did a three-month field study project in Module 3. To some degree, this program is really a one-year business simulation. Actually, we are never out of the real world.

Networking and Hult Alumni

As a Hult alumnus, I am in the huge network of the Hult family. This will definitely benefit me in the future. Actually, I have already started to plan my global trip to visit my friends all over the world, and I will wait for them in Shanghai.

One-year Program

I do think the one-year program is a good choice. You don't need to be out of your career for a long time.

Boston

Boston is probably the best place to stay for a one-year MBA program. Even in the winter, it's exciting because most of us have never seen 40 inches of snow before. One of the most fun things to do here is jogging along the Charles River. You feel the river is a friend and you are a part of this nice city.

Brown Bag Lunch Seminars

We are never out of the real world, because there's some fresh air on every Wednesday from the Brown Bag lunch seminar. The school invites senior people from different industries to have lunch with students. Therefore, we are learning all the time.