Hack the Future
The Global Hackathon for Administrative Professionals
25 March 2026 | Global Online Event
The future of the administrative profession will not be decided for you.
It will be designed by you.
Hack the Future is a global working Hackathon created to bring administrative professionals together to solve the most important challenges facing the profession and to take those solutions all the way to the global stage.
This is not a theoretical exercise.
This is not a brainstorming session.
This is applied, structured innovation designed to influence research, standards, and leadership conversations worldwide.
Winning teams will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Berlin, with expert coaching provided in advance, to present live at the World Administrators Summit in October 2026.
Entry is $25 per person.
All proceeds fund scholarships to ensure global representation at the summit.
Apply as a team of four, or apply individually and we will match you
A concise, manager-ready justification covering cost, time commitment, and organisational value.
What Hack the Future Is
If you have never taken part in a Hackathon before, here is what this means in practise.
Hack the Future is a one-day, structured working session, held online, where small teams focus on solving real challenges facing the administrative profession.
On the day, participants will:
Work in a team of four
Be given a clear challenge and judging criteria
Use guided prompts and frameworks to explore the issue
Develop a practical solution or proposal
Submit a short summary, a simple pitch deck, and a three-minute video
This is not about coding, technology, or having a “big idea”
It is about applying professional judgement, lived experience, and strategic thinking to improve how the profession works.
Most participants will be taking part in a Hackathon for the first time. Structure, support, and guidance are provided throughout.
One day. One focused challenge. One shared outcome.
Why ‘Hack the Future’ has Been Created
Administrative professionals sit at the intersection of everything that is decided and everything that actually happens.
You understand how work really flows, where systems fail, and where organisations lose time, energy, and effectiveness. Yet too often, the future of the profession is shaped without the people who live its reality every day.
Hack the Future has been created to change that.
This Hackathon creates a structured, credible way for administrative professionals to:
- Turn lived experience into practical solutions
- Collaborate across borders, sectors, and experience levels
- Influence how the profession evolves, globally
The outcomes of this work will not disappear after the event. They will feed directly into white papers, global discussions, and future frameworks used across the profession.
What You Will Gain by Taking Part
Hack the Future is designed as serious professional development.
By taking part, participants will:
- Work on profession-level challenges, not just role-level tasks
- Build confidence in strategic thinking and judgement
- Practise structured problem-solving and collaboration
- Strengthen communication and presentation skills
- Collaborate with peers from different countries and sectors
- Contribute directly to work that shapes future research and standards
For many participants, this will be a defining professional experience.
Teams of Four, by Design
Hack the Future is built around teams of four.
This structure allows for:
Teams may be formed within organisations, across professional networks, or internationally.
Applying Individually? We Will Match You.
Participants do not need a pre-formed team.
Those applying as individuals will be matched with other participants to form balanced teams of four. We intentionally build teams with a mix of experience, geography, and perspective.
Some of the strongest Hackathon outcomes come from teams that would never normally work together.
If you bring experience, judgement, and curiosity, that is enough to begin.
Powered by Miro, Our Technology Partner
Hack the Future is supported by Miro, our confirmed technology partner.
Miro provides the shared digital workspace where teams will:
- Develop ideas visually
- Collaborate in real time across time zones
- Structure and refine thinking
- Build and present solutions clearly
No prior Hackathon experience is required. Structure, guidance, and support are provided throughout.
Time Commitment, Clearly Explained
There is no open-ended expectation.
Three Global Waves
APAC Wave
Start: 09:00 Singapore (SGT, UTC+8)
UTC: 01:00–08:00
Ends: 16:00 SGT
What that looks like elsewhere:
- Tokyo: 10:00–17:00
- Sydney: 12:00–19:00 (AEDT/AEST depending)
- India: 06:30–13:30
EMEA Wave
Start: 09:00 London (GMT, UTC+0)
UTC: 09:00–16:00
Ends: 16:00 London, 17:00 CET, 18:00 EET
What that looks like elsewhere:
- Madrid/Paris: 10:00–17:00
- Dubai: 13:00–20:00
- Johannesburg: 11:00–18:00
Americas Wave
Start: 09:00 Los Angeles (PDT, UTC−7)
UTC: 16:00–23:00
Ends: 16:00 LA, 19:00 New York (EDT)
What that looks like elsewhere:
- New York: 12:00–19:00
- London: 16:00–23:00
- Singapore: 00:00–07:00 (next day)
Participants select the wave that best fits their location.
What Happens After Hackathon Day
Hack the Future is not a one-day event. It is an 18-month journey.
Following Hackathon Day:
- Regional judging panels shortlist teams
- Global industry experts select finalists
- Finalist teams enter a structured incubation phase
- All finalists receive coaching from industry experts to strengthen their ideas and presentations
Final presentations are showcased during our ES Global event in June, before final judging.
The Prize: Presenting in Berlin
Winning teams will receive:
The World Administrators Summit takes place only once every two to three years. It is a working meeting of leaders from across the world, shaping the direction of the profession.
Representation in that room matters.
Entry Fee and Global Equity
Entry is $25 per person.
Every dollar is used to fund scholarships and travel bursaries so representatives from developing countries can attend the World Administrators Summit.
Hack the Future is deliberately designed to ensure that the future of the profession is shaped by global reality, not by geography or affordability.
Who Hack the Future Is For
Hack the Future is open to anyone who works in administration:
Participants do not need to identify as “innovators.”
They need experience, judgement, and a desire to improve how the profession works.
Why This Moment Matters
This Hackathon’s outcomes will influence global conversations, research, and future frameworks for years to come.
If administrative professionals do not shape this work, others will do it for them.
Apply for Hack the Future
Applications are open to:
- Teams of four, or
- Individuals, who will be matched into teams
Apply now to be part of Hack the Future
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