Creating impACT the power of entrepreneurship for social good

In light of far-reaching global issues like climate change, political unrest, and economic uncertainty, business leaders have begun looking closer at the societal impact their organizations can have. Prominent multinational corporations from Adidas to Unilever are seeking to build sustainable business models, which balance profit margins with a vision of a better future for all. But it’s not just large, established businesses that have the power to create positive systemic change. A growing number of today’s startups are borne out of an entrepreneurial ambition to tackle major social issues. Through meaningful collaboration—sharing knowledge, resources, and networks—these social startups have the potential to inspire and drive global change. Providing a platform to facilitate this collaboration is the idea behind impACT. Launched in 2017, impACT organizes conferences and pop-up events to support grassroots movements and encourage social entrepreneurship. Bringing together forward-thinking business people from different sectors and corners of the globe, these events are designed to promote cross-border ventures that have a real and lasting impact, leading to systemic change on a global policy level and positively altering the narrative of fragile states. Hult Executive MBA  candidate Tobias Straube  is among the globally minded entrepreneurs helping to spread the impACT initiative in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and beyond. Tobias is an entrepreneur and advisor in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. Originally from Germany, he’s studied and worked in Latin America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Among other initiatives, he has also been involved with large-scale projects between the German government and the African Union. We dont want to be just another conference, Tobias explains.  We connect different startup ecosystems to promote social entrepreneurship, identify new ideas, and  facilitate the implementation of these ideas.  We want to actually create impact—not just talk about it. We want to actually create impact—not just talk about it. Tobias Straube, Hult EMBA candidate The background of impACT: inspiring a new narrative In the spring of 2017, a terrorist bomb in the diplomatic district of Kabul, Afghanistan killed more than 150 people, left hundreds more seriously injured, and caused devastating damage to the German embassy. In the aftermath, Nicole Bogott, co-founder of women’s leadership and peer coaching program Philia; Ahmad Fahim Didar, founder of AGHAEZ and organiser of the Google Startup Grind Series in Afghanistan; and Matiullah Rahmaty,  co-founder of BookClub Afghanistan, came together to discuss the need to create a new narrative in Afghanistan in response to such atrocities. Social entrepreneurs themselves, they saw the potential within the growing Afghan startup scene to reshape the economy—creating jobs, attracting overseas investment, and fostering a far more positive vision of the country. This sparked the idea for the initial impACT conference, which was quickly organized for August that same year. impACT Kabul was an enormous success. Through a number of different workshops, networking sessions, and inspiring speakers, the event focused on what it takes to grow a business and succeed as an entrepreneur. The event featured workshops and panel speakers, including impACT co-founder Matiullah Rahmaty, migration expert Sebastiaan Boonstra, Manizha Wafeq from the Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Afghanistan, and Yousuf Dawran, founder of Pace Group of Companies. Attended by over 250 participants, impACT Kabul gave successful and aspiring entrepreneurs, including a large number of returning migrants to Afghanistan, the platform to tell their story, build new networks, share resources, and gain knowledge. According to the impACT team and research driven by Dr. Branko Woischwill and Nicole Bogott, building and maintaining the power triangle—networks, resources, and knowledge—is the key to concrete, influential, and powerful action. Attendees at impACT Kabul participated in team building activities. â€Å"Thank you for this meaningful event. It was a wonderful day spent listening to great speakers. A great way to awaken our mind from our ordinary life and see if we are making real meaning with it.† Nasima, impACT Kabul attendee Building momentum with impACT Following the success of impACT Kabul, a three-day conference in Berlin was organized for November 2017. With help from Tobias and his network,  impACT Berlin brought together Afghan startups with the dynamic German social entrepreneurship scene, as well as Afghan migrants living in Germany, facilitating an inspiring exchange of ideas and resources. Berlins own fragile past and current prosperity made it an ideal host city for impACT. Over the course of three days, attendees listened to practical and motivational  Power Talks  from Afghan and German businesspeople, and then participated in Hack Sessions  to solve problems or pitch ideas.  Bootcamps  set the stage for a lively exchange between established actors in the development scene, entrepreneurs, and grassroots initiatives, all sharing insight about what it takes to launch a new project. This latter part of impACT Berlin was known as the â€Å"Unconference.† Its specific aim was to develop ideas and projects that could be implemented immediately and involve ongoing, meaningful collaboration between Afghan and German stakeholders after the event.  Out of the intensive Berlin Unconference, seven new projects and business ideas are now taking shape. Between talks, attendees could explore a moving photo exhibit by Andrew Quilty: â€Å"Coming Home–Snapshots of Return, Loss, and Hope in Afghanistan.† Paving the way for suitable, concrete, and sustainable action is ultimately the goal of the impACT initiative.  And its emphasis on collaborative innovation is a distinguishing factor that sets it apart. â€Å"ImpACT is a great platform that builds a strong bridge and network between Afghan startups and professional entrepreneurs.† Samira, impACT Berlin attendee Creating startup success, globally The momentum behind impACT has grown exponentially since the Berlin conference. Most recently, the impACT team organized a pop-up event in Beirut, testing a successful three-hour conference format that will allow the initiative to go global, faster. impACT Beirut brought together 150 participants with expert speakers and exhibitors representing Lebanons vibrant social startup scene. Through condensed  Power Talks and Panel Discussions, the event examined the opportunities and challenges of social entrepreneurship in a post-conflict setting. Dima Jamali from UN Global Compact and Karim Samra, COO of the Hult Prize Foundation, were among the expert speakers sharing their insight and inspiring the next wave socially motivated entrepreneurs in Lebanon. impACT Beirut was attended by key stakeholders from the Lebanese startup scene, including Ramy Bujadweg from Berytech, Dr. Teresa Chahine from Alfanasr, Youmna Naufal from Y Chats, Abdallah Absi from Giving Loop, Sami Abou Saab from Speed@BDD, A’laa Chbaro from WonderEd, Rami Panayoti from Middle East Venture Partners, impACT co-founder Nicole Bogott, Karim Samra from the Hult Prize Foundation, and Hannah-Sophie Wahle from the IOM (UN Migration Agency). A’laa Chbaro, founder of  WonderEd, a  Beirut-based startup that teaches young children invaluable life skills from nutrition to coding, is part of the impACT team and was co-leader of the Beirut event. We were able to make impACT Beirut happen within four weeks, she explains, highlighting how quickly the team moves. It was a huge event, we had an incredible line-up of speakers including top-notch executive—lots of people flew in to be a part of it. In less than 12 months, imPACT has become a movement, offering an invaluable platform for the collaborative innovation that creates social impact. Looking to the future, the team is already planning a series of conference events throughout 2018, taking the initiative to cities including Hamburg, Baghdad, Amman, Delhi, Cairo, and Geneva. Interesting in finding out more or getting involved?   Visit impactheworld.com  to read about upcoming events and find out how to attend or become a collaborator. Be the change you want to see in the world. To learn about how Hult empowers students to channel business for social good,  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 Advice from a serial entrepreneur: Meet Hult masters alum Luca Rubino. 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! .