Written by Mrinali Padiyar, HEX Ambassador

My HEX experience in Vietnam was honestly one of those experiences where I came back feeling like I had grown a lot more than I expected.

Going into the program, I was excited but also a little nervous because I knew I would be putting myself in situations that were unfamiliar. From meeting a completely new group of people, navigating Ho Chi Minh City, speaking to founders and investors, and working on an idea from scratch, there was always something happening that pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Finding a new community

One of my favourite parts of HEX was definitely the people.

Our cohort came from different universities, countries and backgrounds, and everyone brought something different to the table. We spent a huge amount of time together, travelling, working, eating, pitching and exploring the city.

Some of my favourite memories were actually the smaller moments in between the program activities. Conversations over food, exploring the city together, laughing when things didn’t go to plan, and hearing everyone’s different perspectives and ideas.

Those moments made the experience feel very different from anything I had experienced at university.

Learning to test ideas in the real world

The startup side of the program was also very different from what I had experienced at university.

Instead of being given a case and trying to find the “right” answer, we had to go out and test our assumptions with real people.

We did customer interviews, spoke with founders and investors, gathered feedback and constantly challenged our ideas.

At first, this was uncomfortable because I wanted to have everything figured out. But I slowly realised that changing your idea is not failing.

Sometimes it means you are actually listening.

That was one of the biggest lessons I took away from the experience. I learned to stay open-minded, ask questions and explore the city and the people around me instead of being afraid that my original plans might change.

Pitch Night

Pitch Night was probably my most memorable moment.

Standing up and pitching an idea I had spent the whole program developing was already a huge personal milestone for me. Winning the pitch made it an incredible way to finish the experience.

But the biggest takeaway wasn’t just the result.

I learned that pitching is also about how you communicate, tell a story and make people believe in both the idea and you.

I also came home with a much better understanding of myself. I realised that I actually enjoy being put into situations where I have to think on my feet, meet new people and figure things out as I go.

What HEX Gave Me

HEX gave me a lot more confidence in my ability to adapt and back myself, even when I don’t have every answer.

For anyone thinking about doing HEX, I would say go into it open-minded and say yes to as much as you can. Talk to people you wouldn’t normally talk to, ask questions, explore the city, take feedback seriously and don’t be afraid if your original plans change.

The most valuable parts of the experience were often the ones I could never have planned for.

And sometimes, getting out of your comfort zone is exactly where the growth happens.

Written by Mrinali Padiyar, HEX Ambassador