{"id":17747,"date":"2019-01-19T13:06:56","date_gmt":"2019-01-19T13:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hnews.hult.edu\/?p=17747"},"modified":"2022-04-28T16:37:45","modified_gmt":"2022-04-28T15:37:45","slug":"from-hult-to-apple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hult.edu\/blog\/from-hult-to-apple\/","title":{"rendered":"From Hult to Apple: The journey of an entrepreneur"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0world and the way we do business is rapidly changing. This shifting business landscape<\/strong> calls for us to be able to think and act like entrepreneurs: Critically and creatively.<\/p>\n

Today, most successful organizations value entrepreneurship. Hiring someone with an entrepreneurial mindset can bring just the kind of fresh thinking that today\u2019s organizations seek for a competitive advantage in their industries.\u00a0<\/b>The skills and mindset of an entrepreneur can be applied within corporations, setting the context for innovation and growth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So, how does having an entrepreneurial mindset<\/strong> give you an advantage in a global company such as Apple?<\/p>\n

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An entrepreneurial journey<\/h2>\n

We talked to Hult alumni, Tobias Mikalsen<\/strong>, to learn about his entrepreneurial journey from Hult to Apple. Tobias earned his Bachelor of Business Administration<\/strong> at Hult and majored in Entrepreneurship. During his studies, he grew his entrepreneurial mindset and managed to use this (along with leveraging the network he built at Hult) to land a job at Apple.<\/p>\n

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\"Tobias
Tobias Mikalsen, Hult graduate<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Can you tell us about your role at Apple?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In my role as App Store\u00a0Developer Relations Specialist<\/strong> in Apple\u2019s marketing team, I help Apple keep up its commitment to quality and user experience on the App Store while providing developers with tools that allow them to develop incredible apps.<\/p>\n

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“These skills that I’ve been lucky to obtain at Hult are fundamental to my new intrapreneurial career.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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How do you apply an entrepreneurial mindset to your role today?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I found that an entrepreneurial mindset<\/strong> is crucial when trying to make a difference in a corporate environment like Apple. Even in such an innovative company, being granted the necessary resources to work on projects which you believe can be a major improvement in your organization is a difficult task. This is where the entrepreneurial mindset is a resource, because bringing ideas to life<\/strong> requires persistence, a strong network<\/strong>, and the ability to lead and motivate your colleagues. That is true whether you\u2019re working to innovate in a start-up or a major corporation, and these skills that I\u2019ve been lucky to obtain at Hult are fundamental to my new intrapreneurial career<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

There is one course in particular which has been a resource to me over the past year, and that is Corporate Innovation with Professors Hap Klopp<\/strong>, Paul Campbell<\/strong>, and Carlos Baradello<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

How did you leverage your network at Hult, and why is it important to do so?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Location is definitely important – San Francisco and the greater Bay Area is packed with amazing companies and talented individuals, making it a great place to network. My story proves that the network you build<\/strong> while you study is likely to be crucial to the success you\u2019ll have<\/strong> afterward. If speakers at Hult had not directed me to some great meetups, I would not have been able to connect with the person who ultimately sent my resume to a recruiter, which eventually landed me a job at Apple.<\/p>\n

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“My network is my net-worth.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When looking back on the experiences I had from the San Francisco and Dubai campus, there were many opportunities to make great connections<\/strong>. The experiences ranged from meeting top executives of major global corporations<\/strong> such as IBM<\/strong>, to meeting the CEO of new well-known\u00a0startups such as Bluesmart, to working on finding a business solution to a real-world problem<\/strong> for a major international client, Amazon.com<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Throughout this time, I witnessed a transformation in myself<\/strong>; 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\u2019s a cliche, but it\u2019s true: My network is my net-worth.<\/p>\n

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Making global connections is something every entrepreneur needs to do. Would you agree?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes, absolutely. Through global rotation<\/strong> I had the chance to generate a network on both the US coasts, in London, Shanghai, and Dubai. After one year in the program I was hired in a San Francisco startup after being referred to by a person I met. Even just being a part of a global cohort introduced me to the global society. I now feel like I\u2019m truly a global citizen<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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“I am convinced that the skills I learned through intensive mock interviews with Hult’s career advisors were crucial in my interviews with Apple.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How did the challenge learning at Hult help you think outside the box during the interview process at Apple?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

My career advisors<\/strong> at Hult were a major resource as I developed my personal brand<\/strong> and used this to engage with recruiters. In fact, my personal brand\u2014which was displayed through my resume, personal website, and LinkedIn profile\u2014is the reason why I was hired. In the beginning of December 2017, a recruiter at Apple contacted me through LinkedIn\u2019s InMail feature. The recruiter noted my experience with previous employers, and my education at Hult, in her first email to me. I was brought in for two online interviews and one intense 5-hour on-site interview, before receiving my final offer.<\/p>\n

I am convinced that the skills I learned through a course in Personal Branding with Professor Isabelle Lescent-Giles<\/strong>, and the intensive mock interviews with Hult\u2019s career advisors, were crucial in my interviews with Apple.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

What do you think makes a good entrepreneur?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

What I have learned over the past three years at Hult and at Apple is that those who succeed:<\/p>\n