GMBA團隊入圍Hult Prize全球峰會，為身障就業發聲

院行政辦公室

撰文者／Haruethai Suksasil

Unforgettable experiences in the GMBA program at NTU. We are Oh My Job (OMJ), formerly known as CoSEA, a team composed of Chichee, Eric, Clover, Poom, and Sel, all from GMBA R12. Our journey began with winning the on-campus round of the Hult Prize Competition. This victory led us to receive the invitation to attend the Hult Prize 2024 Global Summits Bangkok.

 

The Hult Prize, often dubbed the “Nobel Prize for students,” is a global competition that challenges students to solve the world’s social issues through social entrepreneurship. Partnering with the United Nations, the competition typically focuses on specific themes. However, this year the topic is “Unlimited”.

As all of our team members have personal connections to people with disabilities, we decided to address employment challenges faced by disabled job seekers. Through extensive interviews, we discovered that many companies were hesitant to hire disabled individuals due to concerns about their capabilities. This insight inspired us to create “Oh My Job (OMJ)”, an employment-focused platform matching disabled job seekers with employers.

Our journey truly began after winning the on-campus round in January. With the guidance of our mentor, Yayun, an NTU alumna who founded the “Tong Niao(彤鳥)” disabled training school, we engaged deeply with the disabled community to understand their challenges. We also met with various organizations and companies to build relationships and refine our project. This preparation phase was invaluable, offering learning experiences we would not have encountered otherwise.

We were shortlisted from among 9,400 startups, and only 360 startups were invited to the Hult Prize 2024 Global Summits. We were selected to compete at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand from June 21-24. The first day featured orientation and cultural activities, including trying the Thai game “Mak Kep.” This provided a warm and engaging start, allowing us to meet teams from countries such as Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, Nepal, Pakistan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

The second day marked the start of the competition, where teams were divided into four leagues. We watched a variety of passionate pitches, covering topics from the environment to the economy, and society. The diversity of ideas was truly inspiring. Our feedback from the judges was very positive, as they said our presentation was clear and concise. It was worth our effort.

On the third day in the morning, we attended an SDG workshop, where we gained a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between the environment, economy, and society. We learned that to build a better world, we must work together to improve all aspects simultaneously, rather than addressing them one at a time. In the afternoon, Hult selected two winners from each league to advance to the finals, where they presented their startups to a panel of judges and audiences. The final day featured speeches from Hult Prize alumni, who shared their experiences and insights. The winners of the Bangkok Summit were then announced. Although we did not become finalists, we cherished the opportunity to dine with other teams, creating lasting memories.

Despite not advancing to the final round, we were invited to participate in the Second Chance Round Online Interview with the Equal Innovation Organization as a selection process for the Hult Prize 2024 Global Accelerator Program. Recognizing our project’s potential, we had to pitch to them online. The interviewer asked us for detailed information about our business plans and financial projections. Although we ultimately did not progress further, we were proud of our efforts and the recognition from the judges. This experience has only strengthened our resolve to continue striving for success.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us throughout this journey. We are especially grateful for the help and support from our College of Management Dean Shing-Yang Hu, Professor Ming Daw Cheng, Professor Ling Chieh Kung, Professor Kuan-Chou Ko, Ya Yun Chiu, the Ideal Venture Studio, Yeh Hsin, and many more. Without their kind support, our journey would not have been possible.

Our journey has imparted many valuable lessons, from teamwork and communication to understanding and empathy. The experiences and life lessons gained have shaped us into better individuals, committed to creating a better world for everyone.

Website: www.ohmyjobtw.com     Instagram: ohmyjob.tw