Early Life and Education
Bertil Hult was born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1941. As a child, he struggled with dyslexia, which significantly impacted his early education. After junior high, he left school and worked in London, where he learned English through immersion. This experience shaped his belief in experiential learning.
Rise to Success
In 1965, at the age of 23, Hult founded EF Education First (EF) in Lund, Sweden. The company initially organized language study trips for Swedish high school students to the UK. Recognizing the power of cultural immersion, Hult expanded EF to include educational travel, language training, and cultural exchange programs. Under his leadership, EF grew to become a multi-billion dollar corporation, with over 40,000 employees operating in numerous countries.
Key Business Strategies
Hult's success can be attributed to his innovative approach to language learning and his understanding of the value of cultural immersion. His focus on providing quality educational experiences, combined with his ability to identify and capitalize on market opportunities, allowed EF to thrive. Hult's vision extended to creating a global infrastructure for language and cultural exchange, with EF expanding its offerings to encompass academic programs, online language platforms, and international high school exchanges.
Philanthropy
Bertil Hult is involved in charitable causes. He has been involved in charities combating drug abuse and supporting dyslexia education. He co-founded the Geneva-based Mentor Foundation focused on drug prevention. Additionally, Hult sponsors the Hult Prize, a $1 million award for a global business school case competition.