Early Life
Bertil Hult was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on February 10, 1941. He struggled with dyslexia as a child, which influenced his educational journey. After dropping out of school after junior high, he moved to London, where he learned English through immersion. He then re-entered the educational system, attending Lund University for a short period.
Rise to Success
Hult founded EF Education First at the age of 23 in the basement of his university dormitory in Lund, Sweden. He started EF as a language study and travel abroad organization for Swedish high school students going to England to learn English. Under his leadership, EF expanded globally, becoming a multi-billion dollar corporation with over 40,000 employees in 53 countries.
Key Business Strategies
Hult's key strategy was to emphasize cultural immersion as the most effective way to learn a language. This focus on experiential learning and travel was a core component of EF Education First's offerings. Hult also expanded the company through various programs, including language schools, cultural exchange programs, and educational travel.
Philanthropy
Bertil Hult is actively involved in charitable work, particularly in promoting dyslexia education. He supports the Bertil Hult Prize, awarded annually to a Swedish school for its efforts in dyslexia education, and sponsors the Hult Prize, a $1 million award for a global business school case competition supported by the United Nations.
