Text and Pictures by Hult Prize at NCKU
The Hult Prize at NCKU, under the theme "Cultivate Young Leaders to Change the World," represents a transformative journey for the 2024 cohort. Mid-November 2023 marked the beginning of this journey, uniting a diverse group of international students from different disciplines with a singular vision: to empower peers to thrive in the global Hult Prize competition. Organizing, promoting, and executing each event was an enriching hands-on experience for the committee, revealing both the challenges and rewards of such an undertaking. A key partner throughout this journey was Atelier Future, whose support proved instrumental to the cohort’s success.
The Hult Prize, held in partnership with the United Nations and Hult Business School, stands as the world’s largest social enterprise competition. It challenges students to tackle pressing global social issues through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year's theme, “UNLIMITED,” provided participants with unprecedented creative freedom, contrasting sharply with previous years that narrowed the structure to specific topics.
Building the Foundation: Strategy and Collaboration
The 2023/2024 session marked the second Hult Prize OnCampus Program at NCKU. With the foundation of the first year, the core mission of this cohort was to create a community that fostered professional growth, global impact, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Reestablished in mid-November, the program faced a compressed preparation period due to academic schedules, leaving just over a month to gather manpower, plan, and execute all events during the academic year’s peak.
Image 2-3. In-Class Promotion for Hult Prize at NCKU
The pressure was immense. The timeline was tight, and the stakes were high. Despite the challenges, the committees pushed forward with determination and resilience. A week prior to the official start, core members conducted recruitment for the organizing committees. Within two weeks, the team finalized three main strategic plans:
Establish an Effective Timeline and Event Content: Craft a program featuring three workshops, two online mentoring sessions, and a final in-person pitch day.
Marketing Strategy: Focus promotion on English-speaking students with a business or sustainability interest, primarily targeting master's and final-year bachelor's students.
Financial Planning: Secure sponsorships and resources from potential corporate partners.
Many committee members not having business backgrounds—coming instead from fields like engineering, finance, and languages—yet the strategy planning and entire program served as a platform for them to share and give insights based on their diverse backgrounds to each other relating to sustainability, business, and event planning.
Overcoming Obstacles: Partnerships and Perseverance
With multiple events planned, balancing ambition and financial constraints became crucial. The initiative started without any initial financial support, relying on outreach to several companies for backing. The committees felt the pressure of financial uncertainty as they worked tirelessly, sending email after email, hoping for a breakthrough. As the date for the first workshop approached, financial constraints were looming, and tension was palpable. The future of the program seemed uncertain until, finally, a breakthrough partnership emerged with Atelier Future. Leslie Tsai, the CEO of Atelier Future, resonated with the vision of sustainability and quickly became a pivotal partner.
The relief among the committee members was immense, as they finally had the support they needed to move forward. Leslie not only provided financial backing but also offered insights into sustainable business practices. The collaboration led to the successful launch of the first workshop titled "Global Sustainability and Resilience" in mid-December. The event engaged experts across disciplines, featuring panel discussions and one-on-one consultations that provided participants with a deeper understanding of sustainability challenges and problem-focused and solution-validating thinking.
Image 5-7. Hult Prize at NCKU first to last Workshop.
Unfortunately, the success of the first workshop didn’t last long. As final exam week came, the academic pressure was intense, and not all committees could withstand it, especially considering the short deadlines for upcoming events. Many disputes occurred between the team due to different expectations, conflicted schedules, different working cultures, and language barriers. Eventually, some people left the team, leaving vacancies in important roles. It was the hardest time for the committees, as they had to take turns on key responsibilities during exam season.
The Power of People and Networks
After observing everyone’s working style and habits for a few weeks, the team reshuffled their positions to get the best team dynamic. Three members stepped up as leaders of each department, and the committees changed their working approach from doing everything together to a “project-based” approach. With four events left, they divided the team into two: those with earlier exam schedules were in charge of looking for the first-round judge, mentors, and workshop 3, while the rest took care of the second workshop and grand final. It was a true team effort, with each member stepping up when needed and trying to fill in for one another to ensure both team and individual goals were achieved.
Through the Atelier Future network, Hult Prize at NCKU managed to get connected with Viola Jardon, the program director of Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership (CISL), as a judge of the first stage who gave a quick, thorough review with constructive feedback for the teams. The quick review from Viola allowed the committee to shift focus to securing mentors for the top five teams. Given the broad "UNLIMITED" theme, finding mentors aligned with each startup idea proved challenging. January became a month of tireless outreach, with hundreds of emails and LinkedIn messages sent to secure support. The sense of urgency was ever-present, and the committees were fueled by their shared commitment to the teams.
The committees were able to bring in mentors from diverse fields: Josephine Liang (CEO of CauliBox), ChangI Peng (Senior Supplier Quality Engineer of SCRG), Alex Chang (Associate Professor, IMBA NCKU), and Shihfeng Qiu (Deputy Director of NCKU IHQ Startup Accelerator). These mentors brought critical guidance and industry expertise to the participating teams, strengthening their business acumen. The relief among the committee members was evident as they finally saw their hard work culminate in valuable mentorship opportunities for the teams.
Based on the feedback from the first workshop participants, the committee iterated and improved the subsequent sessions. They modified the initial workshop plan from financial-business theory to the fundamentals of social enterprises and sustainable businesses. This adaptive approach continued through the final workshop, culminating in the OnCampus Program’s Grand Final on February 25th. The weeks leading up to the Grand Final were a blur of activity, filled with rehearsals, last-minute adjustments, and a sense of anticipation that brought everyone closer together.
The final event featured distinguished judges, including Professor Ping-Sheng Wu (NCKU Senior Vice President), Dan-Wei Wen (Assistant Professor at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology), and Eliza-Li (Partner at PwC and Chairman of Sustainability and Climate Change). The judges were impressed by the dedication and creativity of the teams. The winning team, Colelpis, earned the opportunity to represent NCKU at the Boston Summit, supported by Bank SinoPac. At the same time, the runner-up, PetaNetra, advanced to the Dubai Summit through an open application. Atelier Future led the preparation for the summit, providing comprehensive training, arranging mentorship from sustainable business experts, and ensuring the teams had the resources they needed. Despite the intense competition, team PetaNetra emerged as one of the six finalists at the Dubai Summit, showcasing the impact of the dedicated preparation of the team.
Legacy of Growth and Success
The Hult Prize at NCKU's journey showcased the committees' ability to learn, adapt, and overcome challenges through teamwork and partnerships. The support from Atelier Future, along with other collaborators, enabled the teams to thrive at the international summits. The months of hard work, sleepless nights, and unwavering commitment culminated in recognition of the committee's efforts, as they received a nomination from the Hult Prize Foundation as the Asia-Pacific Best Program of the Year. This nomination was a moment of validation, a symbol of all the sacrifices and challenges that the committee members had faced together.
This journey is a testament to the power of determination, adaptability, and collaboration. The committees not only successfully executed the Hult Prize OnCampus Program but also created a space for growth, community, and leadership. Thanks to Atelier Future's and other partners' support, the Hult Prize at NCKU 2024 left a lasting impact on all participants, inspiring a new generation of sustainability leaders ready to take on the world's challenges.
