The education sector plays a crucial role in shaping societies and driving progress, and it is essential to have diverse perspectives and leadership within this field. In recent years, women have been making significant strides in educational leadership, bringing their unique experiences and expertise to transform institutions and empower the next generation of learners. One such inspiring figure is Priyanjali Jain, Senior Director of Enrollment, Hult International Business School.

Priyanjali's life and professional journey have been marked by diverse experiences and a passion for education. As the Senior Director of Enrollment at Hult, she spearheads the growth of the Master’s market in South Asia. Priyanjali and her team of 12 have made remarkable contributions to student engagement and recruitment in the region. Beyond her role in education, Priyanjali is also an international cricket player. She represents the UAE Women's National team. Her multifaceted background, coupled with her experiences living in six different cities across the globe, has shaped her into a dynamic and well-rounded professional.

Throw some light on the prior industry experience that you bring to the table. What are some of the most important business lessons you have learnt through your journey?

I have lived in six different cities. I was born in India, grew up in Singapore, pursued my Bachelors in Hong Kong, worked in Dubai, completed my Masters in San Francisco, worked in Boston and eventually got promoted and returned to Dubai. This journey has shaped who I am today. Before Hult, I gained experience in manpower recruitment and business development at NES. I collaborated with clients such as Shell and Siemens. Additionally, I worked on business development and account management for a building material company called Greenspace in Dubai. Throughout my journey, I have learned the importance of stepping outside one’s comfort zone. The NES recruitment role scared me initially, but that is specifically why I took it. I saw an opportunity to fill a gap in my skillset, and I embraced it. Ultimately, this decision helped improve my negotiation and persuasion skills which led to my job at Hult.

Introduce us to Hult International Business School. What responsibilities do you shoulder as the Senior Director of Enrollment at the educational institution?

Hult is a prestigious triple-accredited institution known for its 6 global campuses, student diversity and practical education. With 150+ nationalities on campus, the school offers a global and practical environment where students learn through simulations, case studies, and business challenges with companies like L'Oreal, Nestle, and Ferrari. As the Senior Director of Enrollment, my focus is on driving student engagement and recruitment, prioritizing both quantity and quality of talented students. Hult has been growing steadily, and the school has graduated exceptional students who have either secured positions at renowned companies such as Amazon and Deloitte, joined start-ups or even started their own firms. Hult’s faculty includes real-time practitioners that have been C-level executives, entrepreneurs or management consultants for the Fortune 500. They prepare students for the real world by bringing their experiences into the classroom.

In your opinion what has been the most chal­lenging aspect of your current role? How do you overcome the roadblocks?

The pandemic was the most challenging period for me. However, it taught me to adopt a solution-oriented mindset. I started looking at challenges as opportunities. Reflecting on my experiences and mistakes has helped me put in place better processes for my team. This has allowed us to grow the market significantly. These experiences have made me mentally stronger and more empathetic towards my team and their challenges at work.

Tell us about the top three milestones you have achieved throughout your professional journey? What has been your ‘mantra for success’ as a business leader?

The milestones I have achieved have been pivotal points in my career. For example, in my first year at Hult, I enrolled the highest number of students globally, earning me the "Rookie of the Year" award. This milestone led to my promotion to a managerial role. The second was achieving 105% growth in the MBA South Asia market post-COVID, which was also 70% higher than 2019. I was globally awarded for this, and it led to me managing a significantly bigger team. The third milestone was when my region won awards for achieving the highest market growth globally but also for onboarding excellent students. This was a real team effort, and it solidified our team culture of achieving high standards by supporting each other.

As a business leader, my mantra for success is to empower the team, allowing them to reach their full potential. Doing so leads to exceptional outcomes. I have been privileged to work with Regional Heads that have supported me in my growth, so I understand the importance of this. I also emphasize focusing on the process, which is controllable, rather than the results, which are often uncontrollable. By breaking the process down, one can logically identify specific issues and find targeted solutions. I was able to sharpen this particular skillset during my Master's in International Business at Hult, where Project Management was my specialization. I believe the exposure and learnings from my Masters have contributed greatly to my success.

How do you foresee higher education land­scape evolving soon? Tell us about some of the most impactful industry trends developing in the said market.

The future of higher education is characterized by a shift towards one-year Master’s programs from two-year programs. There is an emphasis on data and analytics. Stackable courses and certifications are becoming popular as students realize that upgrading themselves regularly is critical. We also believe in continuous learning at Hult. We have a Lifelong Learning program which allows Hult alumni to take one elective every year for the rest of their lives at no tuition cost.

Priyanjali Jain, Senior Director Of Enrollment, Hult International Business School

With a diverse background in manpower recruitment and business development, Priyanjali has made remarkable contributions to student engagement, and Shaping South Asia's Education Market