From pitch to boardroom

The Hult Prize, one of the world’s largest student movements for social entrepreneurship, offers a vivid example. Each year, millions of students compete to build for-profit businesses that deliver measurable social and environmental impact. Only the strongest ventures advance to the Global Accelerator and ultimately the Finals, where one team secures $1 million in seed funding.

This summer, the co-founders of 24 student-led ventures gathered at Ashridge House in the UK for the Accelerator. Representing 23 nationalities, they refined solutions across health, climate, energy, and innovation, while practicing how to present their ideas to investors.

For many, this was their first real test in front of decision-makers: a chance to pressure-test their thinking and build connections that could shape the future of their ventures. Yet the challenge often extended beyond business models and strategy. Success depended on being able to communicate clearly in English, the shared language of global business.

As the co-founders of LOCOL in Thailand explained:

Recognizing that in the past strong teams may have been held back from effectively pitching by language barriers, this year the Hult Prize partnered with EF Corporate Learning to provide English training as a key part of preparation for the Finals. For many participants, it meant finding the right words under pressure, the confidence to pitch clearly, and to be judged on their ideas rather than their language.

Jelle, co-founder of Ætheria in the Netherlands, noted the impact of confidence:

Basmala, CCO of EcoPack in Egypt, highlighted the challenge of precision: "Having the correct words to describe everything we’re doing is quite hard. It’s really important to be fluent in English to be able to deliver what you feel and what you want to say.” She added that because her English is the strongest in the team, she is usually the one pitching. "When judges and investors don’t find us all pitching, they actually give us lower scores in the team aspect.”

This is a reminder that in any global setting, whether a competition or a company, gaps in language skills can hold back not just individuals, but whole teams.

Investors echo this point. Adam Phillips of SeedLegals, who mentored the teams in the Accelerator, commented: “When they pitch, I think the most important aspects are that they can clearly identify and articulate the problem and also how their business is a solution to that problem. And then the third one is building as much excitement as possible. Without clarity in language, you cannot build confidence in the investor’s mind. A lack of confidence in language can come across as a lack of confidence in the business itself.”

Mentors also stressed that pitching is more than words – it is a performance, where tone, emphasis, and even pauses shape how an idea lands.

What the Hult Prize reveals in a competition setting reflects what happens every day in global organizations: without effective communication, even the strongest ideas risk being overlooked. Employees may hold back in meetings, struggle to gain support for projects, or be passed over for leadership roles when language becomes a barrier. 

The lesson is not simply about presentation skills, but rather access, opportunity, and business performance. When language is treated as a core part of talent development, organizations are better able to recognize potential, enable genuine collaboration across markets, and ensure that the right ideas reach the people who can act on the