Meet the Hult alum set to transform the service industry across South America

Gustavo Huenelaf launches Big Blue People, a digital marketplace for services, on May 1st. We spoke to the Argentinian national and Hult EMBA Class of 2017 grad to mark the launch and hear how an Executive MBA at Hult unlocked his entrepreneurial spirit. Congratulations on your upcoming launch! What led you to launch Big Blue People? My career has led me to many countries around the world. From the Argentinian navy, to finance for Microsoft and Pfizer in Ireland. Then on to Belgium and now Switzerland, where I’m working for Novocure as Director for Global Treasury EMEA Business Finance. So I know how tricky the â€Å"settling in† process can be. Each time I moved to a new country, Id have to ask local contacts for recommendations for local services. Everything from an electrician or cleaner to a hairdresser. Throw in the confusion of learning a new language I figured technology must offer an easier way. How does Big Blue People simplify the process? Big Blue People puts all of these services in one marketplace and incorporates reviews, price comparison, a booking portal under one roof. Kind of like an Airbnb for services. We’re launching in Argentina this month. Then we’re targeting Colombia and then Brazil. We already have over 10,000 followers in each of these countries. We can’t wait to get started and learn along the way. We also want to give back to the community so we’re allocating 1% of our net income to NGOs that build student housing. This is a major issue in Argentina as well as other countries across Latin America, where universities are public but some people can’t afford the fees to cover rent. How did you get started? My Executive MBA was a major factor. It really was a transformative experience. I originally chose to pursue an EMBA so that I could get to the next level at work. I got the promotion but I also discovered my passion for entrepreneurship. I chose to pursue an EMBA so that I could get to the next level at work. I got the promotion, but I also discovered my passion for entrepreneurship. A number of friends from my EMBA cohort are involved. Pavel Dmitriev is the company’s lawyer. Sofà ­a Pineda, from Mexico, is assisting on the Strategy side as well as Alina Tavasiti, who is looking to gain experience towards her own startup. The name Big Blue People actually comes from a concept I learnt at Hult this is what we became after we went through our transformation process. I used the business model for one of our challenges. And I learnt so much from my teammates who brought diverse skillsets with them. Now I think I can honestly say that I am not just a finance person–I have a well-rounded skillset and I draw on all this experience daily. Why did you choose to study in London? I enrolled to Hult London when I was living in Brussels. It was easy to take the Eurostar to class once a month. During this time a former boss contacted me about a role in Switzerland so I moved there part-way through my studies. I liked that Hult was so flexible in terms of study location. My new company supported my studies so I would travel to the Dubai or Shanghai campuses for some classes and combine this with a ‘working holiday.’ London is a great place to be for finance people. It was easy to travel from Brussels to London campus for class once a month. I also attended Dubai and Shanghai campuses and combined these trips with working holidays. What was your biggest challenge? We have had people challenges in the startup. When you put together all these different nationalities, time zones, skills, backgrounds and when some are paid while others are doing it for free there are bound to be some personality clashes. Naturally, we need to work hard to keep the team cohesion. But these are all part of the ongoing dynamics of a startup. The diversity at Hult was definitely a good test run to prepare me for this! How would you describe the diversity at Hult? The diversity on campus is just amazing. In my cohort only a few nationalities were represented more than once. Colombia, Argentina, U.S., Europe, Israel And I felt a different regional demographic in the Dubai and Shanghai campuses. We have different backgrounds but we all have things in common. You need to step back and consider why someone might think differently. I did have challenges. But different perspectives are what enriches a project. You need to step back and consider why someone might think differently. Different perspectives are what enriches a project. What’s your advice to incoming EMBA students? Really make the most of your time on campus. I know we’re busy with our personal and working lives but there’s so much to benefit from on campus with your classmates. Contribute as much as you can and don’t be afraid. Embrace this opportunity and get out of your comfort zone so that you can improve yourself every month. The Hult EMBA is really a transformation that will unlock your motivations. You can make friends for life here. I did. Two of my former classmates recently came to Switzerland and we ran a marathon together. Four of us are meeting up in Wales for our next one. What are you most looking forward to? Launching in Argentina! We know there will be obstacles along the way and we’re just eager to get there now. I can’t wait to see the market reaction. Our technology is easily scalable and we are passionate about covering South America and then bringing the service over to Europe. Find and follow Big Blue People  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hults business degree programs instill an entrepreneurial mindset so that Hult grads thrive both in and out of the workplace. Find out more about our award-winning, top-ranked business programs and  download a brochure here. Make the most of what your career has to offer with a Masters in International Business from Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Hult ranked 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! .