Early Life
Bertil Hult was born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1941. Growing up, he faced challenges with dyslexia, which made traditional learning methods difficult for him. This personal experience later influenced his approach to education.
Rise to Success
Hult's entrepreneurial journey began in 1965 when he founded EF Education First. The initial concept was to offer language trips to England for Swedish high school students. Recognizing the effectiveness of experiential learning, Hult focused on cultural immersion. Under his leadership, EF expanded into a global enterprise offering language training, educational travel, academic programs, and cultural exchanges, serving over 15 million students worldwide. He served as CEO until 2002 and chairman until 2008. His boat EF Education won the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1998.
Key Business Strategies
Hult's success stems from a focus on experiential learning and cultural immersion. EF's growth was driven by a commitment to providing high-quality educational experiences, expanding globally, and adapting to the evolving needs of students. The company's success is in part, due to focusing on important things and maintaining a lean organizational structure.
Philanthropy
Beyond business, Hult is actively involved in philanthropy. He supports causes related to drug abuse prevention and dyslexia education. He is the benefactor of the Hult Prize, a $1 million annual competition for student-led social enterprises. Hult has also supported the Mentor Foundation.
