Hult Magazine Issue 7 | Page 18

ADVICE TO THE GRADUATING CLASS FROM ONE HULTIAN TO ANOTHER Graduating is both exciting and nerve-wracking—the future holds so much promise, yet is also full of the unknown. To help the Hult Class of 2014 graduating in August, we asked those in the know to provide their advice on life post-Hult. Read on for our alumni and professors’ top tips. The MBA is not just a diploma that will help you acquire better positions but also an experience that you live. Make the most of it—your cla ssmates, and all the people you meet, will be your greatest source of learning and assets for the future. I am with you every step of the way. I walk with you and believe in you. Graduate with pride and stand proud as we are proud of you. Stay in touch. Stay strong. Do something. David James, Professor of Marketing Laurent Normand, MBA Class of 2010 Never forget what I shared with you: If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there, just figure out your strategy. You may not be the best at what you do but, most importantly, be the only one who does what you do in the world (remember the Grateful Dead!). Marco Protano, Professor of Marketing and Strategy Remember you are a genius. Never let anyone say you’re not. Strive to be a successful person first, and a business person second. Pursue your true purpose, live your values, respect all people, and never stop learning. Remember, that real success is always being able to look in the mirror and be happy with the person you see reflected there. Joanne Lawrence, Professor of Corporate Responsibility/Social Innovation Get out of your comfort zone. Make your dreams reality. They are yours to achieve. Richa Mittal, Master of International Business Class of 2013 Network. Network. Network. Follow your heart. Every beat takes you to your goal. Krista Van Leemput, Master of International Business Class of 2013 You know you are the best. So do I! If anyone tells you, you can’t, tell them you can. You control your destiny. 18 Most of us find that our careers take unexpected turns and rarely go as we plan, so be prepared for change and embrace it. Have a destination in mind but enjoy the journey and all the challenges it brings. Respect the people you meet and seek to understand them and to build enduring relationships. This takes time and effort, but it makes the day-to-day of work so much more rewarding. In the end, nothing is as important as maintaining your own personal integrity, so have a clear set of personal values which you have explored and examined. Roger Delves, Professor of Leadership and Teambuilding My experiences during my military career in Bosnia, the Gulf, and Northern Ireland, were an important part of my life, and shaped me into the person I am. Let me list them: 1. Be happy with what you do for a living. If you are unhappy with your work, stop doing it. For your own sake, do something else. Think about the financial rewards as a bonus, something that may happen down the line, then, amazingly, it happens. 2. Understand yourself. Some of the wisest people I have ever met are the ones who know what they don’t know, and aren’t afraid to ask. Realize you don’t have every answer under the sun, despite your shiny new MBA! 3. Finally, keep practicing your soft skills—I can’t emphasize this enough! You can have