Hult BBA follows his passion to Go Pro

Many students come to Hult with a clear career path already in mind. And many aren’t so sure—they come with an idea for a startup, or a rough direction, or simply a keen desire to make a difference in the world. Our expert career advisors and faculty love nothing more than to help students find and channel their passion into a viable way forward, for life. We caught up with BBA Class of 2016 graduate Guzmà ¡n Colilla to learn more about how he honed in on his niche at Hult, and made a successful career out of following his passion. Guzmà ¡n was not going to make it as a top skier: â€Å"I would have loved to be a professional skier, because it is one of my biggest passions,† says the Spanish national. â€Å"But as I wasn’t a top skier, I knew I had to prioritize my studies.† When it came time to graduate high school, Guzmà ¡n knew he had to make a decision. â€Å"I didn’t know what to do with my life,† he remembers. Several injuries had taken him out of competitive skiing altogether. And so he started his own line of ski clothing, ALLIC. â€Å"There was a gap in the market,† he says. â€Å"Big brands owned the ski industry, but they weren’t doing anything to reinvent their products. They had big names and big numbers, and they were happy in their comfort zones.† Guzmà ¡n saw an opportunity for change in the market. â€Å"So I decided to study business at Hult,† he says. Guzmà ¡n developed his business model and launched a new brand of ski wear while majoring in Finance at Hult in London and San Francisco. Guzmà ¡n taking in the Golden Gate Bridge during his time at Hult San Francisco. â€Å"When we arrived at Hult San Francisco, I met Professor Hap Klopp—the Founder of The North Face,† Guzmà ¡n recalls. He was sure the sportswear mogul would be far too busy to help him with his new business venture—which had started selling online and in local shops around Spain. â€Å"But Hap Klopp is a passionate entrepreneur,† says Guzmà ¡n. â€Å"I showed him this project and he was willing to help.† Klopp became Guzmà ¡n’s mentor for his final thesis—a business plan for ALLIC—his fledgling ski wear company. From there, the concept took off. â€Å"I really thank Hult for connecting me with such an amazing mentor and professor,† Guzmà ¡n says. Klopp is still working with Guzmà ¡n and ALLIC as a mentor, and has become the â€Å"godfather† of the business. The team plans to launch a Kickstarter this winter, after receiving their final collection of clothing designed with the help of Klopp’s partners and designers. Guzmà ¡n (second from right) and the team at his ski wear company ALLIC meet with his mentor, Professor Hap Klopp (front right)—Hult faculty and Founder of The North Face. While launching his first company was already a pursuit of passion, Guzmà ¡n discovered a new potential path while studying at Hult. â€Å"While I was studying in San Francisco, a friend from Spain came for some meetings with GoPro in California,† he recalls. Guzmà ¡n accompanied his friend to the GoPro offices in San Diego—a road trip that changed his life. â€Å"I saw the best working environment of my life,† he says. â€Å"I went on a tour of the GoPro offices and after that day I knew I wanted to follow my passion. After seeing that environment, I could never imagine continuing to pursue a career in finance.† He knew he had to work for GoPro, no matter what it took. And it took a lot. â€Å"There were no internships or junior positions in the USA,† Guzmà ¡n says. â€Å"But there were three internships available in Munich.† He applied to all of them. â€Å"I just wanted to work for GoPro no matter the job.† But after several rounds of successful interviews, he had to turn down the opportunity he’d worked so hard for. Guzmà ¡n indulges his sporty side with a Hult classmate in San Francisco. â€Å"They told me that if I could start on June 1st, I had the job,† he says. â€Å"But I couldn’t. I had to finish my exams and my degree at Hult—I was in San Francisco and I had finals.† After finishing his studies and graduating with his degree, Guzmà ¡n hadn’t given up on the hope of a position. â€Å"My dad told me not to give up. He said to contact GoPro and tell them I was going to go visit my aunt in Munich this week and ask to see them while I was there,† he says. The department head emailed him back to say she could meet him that Thursday at 3pm. â€Å"Right after I read that email, I bought a ticket to Munich, and I went to see her.† Guzmà ¡n enjoying his office space during his time at GoPro, Munich. Arriving in the GoPro offices, Guzmà ¡n was expecting a quick chat, a tour, and nothing more. â€Å"But when I arrived, an intern asked me if I was the Spanish guy coming for the interview that afternoon,† he says. â€Å"When I entered the meeting room, I had to tell her.† Guzmà ¡n confessed that there was no aunt in Munich, and that he had come just for the opportunity to meet with the department head he wanted to work for. â€Å"After that I was hired,† he says. The position was for a six-month internship, after which Guzmà ¡n’s contract was extended to a year. â€Å"Timing is everything,† he says. â€Å"My boss went on maternity leave, and so I had much more responsibility than a normal intern.† â€Å"It was the best year of my life,† he adds. â€Å"I learned so much, met so many people, and grew so fast.† But at the end of that year, Guzmà ¡n realized his time with GoPro had come to an end. â€Å"There was no more space for me to grow,† he says. â€Å"I had seen everything on the inside, and there weren’t any opportunities for promotion in my department or openings in other departments for me. I decided I had to move on if I wanted to grow.† Two months on and Guzmà ¡n is now at Real Madrid C.F., working as a video specialist. He works with major brands like Facebook, YouTube, Google, and of course, GoPro. Guzmà ¡n says that it was the mindset he learned while at Hult that helped him in each step of his path towards finding opportunities in sports-related companies and building a career with his passion. Guzmà ¡n lays his hands on the coveted Supercopa de Espaà ±a at his new workplace, Real Madrid C.F. â€Å"You can always find a way to connect your passions to your work,† he says. And it’s worth it. â€Å"Even on the bad days, you can forget that you are working, because your job is something you love. Working with a passionate team all together is one of the best things in life. I could never work doing something I don’t like.† Guzmà ¡n says having passion gives you the edge. â€Å"The thing is, almost everyone takes the easy path,† he says. â€Å"Everyone tries to do the same thing. If you have a passion, you have an advantage. Capitalize on that, because if you have a passion, you will put all your effort into it. You will want to be the best, and you will find new ways to succeed.† To find out more about our undergraduate programs and global campuses  download a brochure.   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 7 steps to working out what you want and how to get it, or give your employability a huge boost with an MBA in international business. 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. Mel Cloney is a staff blogger working in London, and is passionate about the Hult journey. Her writing focuses on faculty, academics, and student and alumni experiences. She’s a food, scuba, and running junkie with a penchant for all things French. 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! .