How challenge learning at Hult helped me launch my dream startup

People desire a meaningful and healthy life. But many working professionals are pushing themselves to the limit to become successful—often at the expense of their mental and physical health. When the chance to take a holiday comes, most people withdraw from their frenetic lifestyles for a week or two in an attempt to recuperate, rejuvenate, and rest. However, people often return home feeling just as stressed as before. To find a solution to this problem, my team and I took the entrepreneurial track of the 2017 Hult Business Challenge as an opportunity to develop a coaching concept called AQAI. Set in exotic destinations around the world, AQAI provides a unique combination of coaching in the areas of fitness,  nutrition, yoga, meditation, and mindset. After graduating, I decided to put our ideas into action and turned the AQAI concept into a real business. Finding my own balance: where the idea began Six months prior to Hult, I went on a family vacation to Sri Lanka to work on my undergraduate thesis about culture and communication. The pressure of finishing my thesis made it a very stressful time. To combat this feeling, I practiced yoga, recorded a dance video, explored Sri Lanka, and focused on my fitness as well as spending a few hours each day writing my thesis. This proved the right formula for me, balancing productivity with my overall wellbeing. Juggling multiple demands on my time wasnt an unfamiliar feeling. Back home in Norway, along with my full-time studies, I worked as a professional hip-hop dancer, a yoga teacher, and a personal trainer. I even recorded 40 episodes of a TV program called  Lip Sync Battle  in the final months leading up to my thesis deadline. Only 10% of 2016 graduates on my undergraduate course were awarded an A on their thesis. Im proud to say I was one of them. This didnt  necessarily prove I was smarter than the other 90%, but it made it clear to me that if you take care of yourself, do the things you love, and surround yourself with good people, you can reach your goals while still feeling balanced. I transformed my experience and ideas into the concept that would become AQAI. If you take care of yourself, do the things you love, and surround yourself with good people, you can reach your goals while still feeling balanced. Realizing the dream: collaborating with Hult classmates Six months after my trip to Sri Lanka, I was enrolled in the Masters in International Business program at Hult in London. It was when I met six very smart and talented girls from Dubai, Germany, India, and Norway on my course, that I was able to really put the wheels in motion for AQAI. We collaborated during an on-campus business challenge to refine and test the concept of a coaching retreat. Together, by sharing different perspectives, pushing our limits, and constantly meetings deadlines, we arrived at a sound business model. Our first pilot program was held in Portugal during the spring of our masters program. It proved to be a success, and although my team and I have gone on to pursue different paths since Hult, the experience of challenge-based learning gave me the confidence to truly to chase my dream. And now, just over a year on from graduating, AQAI has transformed from a concept in the classroom into a lifestyle company offering coaching retreats at destinations all over the world. Im so grateful to say that my girls from Hult are still my number one supporters—I couldnt imagine being here without my Hult network. The long-term benefits of a coaching retreat Now that you know about how AQAI found its start at Hult, I want to share with you why coaching retreats are so special. In addition to offering an exotic getaway in an inspirational environment, our retreats set themselves apart from typical vacations thanks to the specific purpose behind them. Meditation and yoga, when practiced together, strengthen your mind-and-body connection and improve your overall wellbeing. Physical activity combined with good nutrition can help you reach and maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risks of chronic disease, and promote overall health.   Mindset coaching addresses every aspect of life, which can help you to reach your full potential. The art of understanding how personal skills and mindset impact your everyday performance is key to meaningful personal growth. Other benefits of a coaching retreat include: Experiencing and learning new things By being put into an unfamiliar environment, you can often see things in a new perspective, find out what really drives you, and be inspired to do more of the things you love. Taking a break from the daily grind Our coaching retreats aim to cater for all your needs, helping you to ditch the smartphone, forget the pressures of work, and truly relax as you discover new cultures. Spending time in nature Nature is food for the soul. Clean air and calm surroundings can offer the healing touch needed to reduce stress. No worries about planning and schedules Part of our day-to-day stress can come from things like waiting in line, commuting, organizing schedules, planning meals, and making reservations. Eliminating these factors during your retreat means you can totally focus on the experience and your wellbeing. A new network of friends Its easy to surround yourself with an echo chamber of people who are similar to you—sharing your own thoughts, beliefs, and worldview. While retreats tend to attract individuals with similar concerns or interests, theyre likely to come from different backgrounds and have different experiences. Opening up to a new support system can help you to positively challenge your assumptions, grow in knowledge, and share your own ideas. And, most importantly, you can create valuable connections and friends for life. Enjoying real me time and investing in yourself This is the most important factor of the retreat experience. Each day of the retreat is designed to allow you to focus on yourself, prioritizing your physical and mental wellbeing and teaching you how to build the habits needed to reach your full potential. A coaching retreat not only helps individuals while attending the retreat, it teaches them how to continue healthy habits at home. For support, AQAI participants can join the online community and attend online coaching sessions. If youre interested in finding out more about my startup and upcoming AQAI retreats, visit aqai-lifestyle.com *This article originally appeared in the Hult student-run magazine, The Hultian.   Interested in learning more about how a Hult degree can help you bring your own entrepreneurial ambitions to life?  Download a brochure. Hult offers a range of highly skills-focused and employability-driven business school programs including a range of MBA options and a comprehensive one year Masters in International Business. To find out more, take a look at our blog The Hult Business Challenge: What I learned from the experience. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn 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! .