Hult students join week-long NGO hackathon

Pitching a marketing strategy may not be something new for business students, but combining real-world business scenarios and mission-driven solutions may be a different, innovative experience for them. The NGO Hackathon was a week-long initiative that started with a kick-off event on  February 5th. The event involved five organizations with social missions in need of marketing strategies. The participating students were given one week to gather initial research and develop proposals and suggestions that would help the NGOs better appeal to their target market. With the culminating event held on February 12th, the NGO Hackathon included a panel discussion with the nonprofit leaders, presentations by students, as well as the judges’ final announcement of the winners. Here is a recap of the organizations involved and the winning student teams: Kids First Foundation Cultural Care Kids First Foundation is the social responsibility arm of Cultural Care Au Pair. With its mission to help children in need, Kids First sought help from the Hult participants. The teams were challenged to create a marketing strategy that would allow them to gather more volunteers for their projects. At the same time, the company wanted to broaden the reach of the au pair program. The winners from Team 3 were Kirthana Gandhiappan (Masters in International Business), Laura Catalina Bohorquez Toro (Masters in International Business), Niveditha Ramesh (Masters in International Business), and Waldy Arriola Flores (Masters in International Business). â€Å"Kids First has au pairs, so it’s basically framing strategies for people like us. I thought it would be easy,† says Gandhiappan. It turned out to be a challenge for her team, having to implement marketing plans for their NGO. In the end, her team proposed building an app for the NGO’s donors. Land’s Sake By working with people from different backgrounds to cultivate their care for food and land, Land’s Sake aims to connect people who are inspired to provide stewardship and meaningful connections. A community farm in Weston, MA, Land’s Sake challenged Hult participants to devise a plan that could increase the NGO’s membership, participation, and financial support from the local communities. The winners from Team 5 were Abdulla Abbasi (MBA-Masters in Finance), Eunhee Kim (MBA), and Yuvraj Kshirsagar (MBA). â€Å"Since they are a small farm, our marketing pitch was focused on utilizing the best strength they had to get people’s attention,† said Abbasi. International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) The International Fund for Animal Welfare (or IFAW) were seeking a campaign strategy that would save the North Atlantic Right Whale. As its mission is to protect animals all over the world, IFAW sees the multi-year plan as a way to reduce the threats among endangered species. The winners from Team 4 were Mays Marouf (Masters in Finance), Jonathan Fuentes  (Masters in International Business), Kaye Garcia  (Masters in International Business),   Natalia Dominique Chavez Rodriguez  (Masters in International Business), and Terry Mcmillan (Masters in International Business) Garcia talked us through her pitch, â€Å"We created our marketing campaign around awareness. We wondered how people can help the North Atlantic whales from becoming extinct, if people don’t even know that this problem exists. So we created a pilot event that was regional. The kickoff of the event would be in New England, since there’s a lot of whale activity around there. We decided to create a website specifically for the whales. Throughout the one-year campaign, we would have wildlife advocates attend schools and talk about the critically-endangered species.† At the end of the year, their team will have created a space for NGOs and the government sector where they can discuss possible solutions. In line with the NGO’s mission, they created an immediate and doable plan to involve the government sector—as they are the ones that can really help with fishing regulations and others that have an effect on the whales,† said Garcia. Panel discussion of leaders from different non-profit organizations. One World Strong Being an NGO dedicated to helping the victims of terrorism and traumatic events, the One World Strong Foundation is seeking a launch strategy that creates awareness of the organization’s mission. With the aid of Hult students, it hopes to gain more revenue through its prospective donors. The winners from Team 7 were Andrea Zapata Fuentes (Masters in International Business), Berta Camila Halpern Calderon (Masters in International Marketing), Camila Vieiera (Masters is International Marketing), Mara Avila Ibarra (Masters in International Marketing), Laura Camila Bonilla Venegas (MBA), Maria Lopez (MBA), and Rinata Likhanova (Masters in International Marketing). â€Å"Our proposal was to launch a campaign that generates awareness of One World Strong’s mission. We devised a long-term strategy for the foundation and a short-term plan to create a series of stories. The stories are inspired by the examples of recovery of the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombings. This year is the 5th anniversary,† said Lopez. â€Å"We proposed to use Brandon Stanton, who founded Humans of New York, as a vehicle to develop this campaign and share the stories.† Susan G. Komen Susan G. Komen is the world’s largest breast cancer organization. It aims to empower the lives of breast cancer patients and to cure breast cancer. The NGO has imposed a challenge to build a â€Å"Whole Health Initiative† which aims to look at large foundations such as GE and Boston Foundations for additional funding. The winners from Team 1 were Dima Alameddine (MBA-Masters in International Marketing), Evelina Lefterova (Masters in International Business-Masters in International Marketing), Franziska Stranzinger (Masters in International Business-Masters in International Marketing), Lucia Gandolfi (Masters in International Business-Masters in International Marketing), and Yasmin Hussein (Masters in International Business-Masters in International Marketing). â€Å"Recently they wanted to develop a ‘Whole Health’ Approach and expand beyond medical care,† said Alameddine. â€Å"Based on that, our pitch focused on the nutritional well-being of cancer patients, as proper nutrition is critical for people at risk of cancer or who have, or have survived breast cancer. It included working with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to facilitate access to nutritional counselling, as well as Hannaford Supermarkets to provide affordable nutritious foods and nutrition workshops for breast cancer patients.† Hult teams present their final pitch to the judges. The winners were awarded certificates by the school, as well as receiving personal invitations by the NGO officers to attend their campaign events in the future. To all of those involved: well done! If you would like to find out more about Hult’s Masters Program,  download our brochure here Explore the complexities and challenges of the marketing world with Hults Masters in International Marketing. To learn more, take a look at our blog 5 tips On How To Get A Head Start In Today’s Marketing Industry, or get into broader business with a Masters in International Business instead. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to explore everything about the business world, the future, and yourself. Reina Adriano Reina Adriano is a Filipina studying for a Masters in International Business at Hult in Boston. Being a stock-trader, she plans to enter the world of finance after graduation but also hopes that she can still do something else: to write and to write about people, like she has always done. Related posts Academics Beyond (narrow) business concepts: â€Å"Soft† skills turn out to be critical skills News Building success: Dual Degree students win at USASBE Community How going beyond business at Hult helped me launch my company Admissions Accepted Students Weekend: A weekend to remember Careers Career mapping: How to become an executive in the next 5 years 0 Thought leadership How to prepare for an uncertain future in a world of AI 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! .