A Technological Journey in Singapore
By: Katherine He, Wharton ’26
GRIP: Business Development in Singapore
Joining a tech startup this summer has been a meaningful experience, filled with opportunities to work on varying projects and learn valuable lessons in and out of the office. Over these 8 weeks, I worked as a business development intern at Pand.ai and gained experience with projects focused on consumer-based products as well as client-tailored solutions.
Pand.ai specializes in conversational AI and creates tailored chatbots. My projects focused heavily on bot auditing, to ensure accuracy and seamless UI/UX. We also conducted field research by conducting surveys to gain more insights regarding Pand.ai’s target demographic. In early July, I was assigned a direct client project. Working directly with an engineer stationed in Malaysia, I helped provide feedback to polish the bot to process and analyze financial data. In conclusion of the project, I was assigned to create a demo delivered to the company’s CFO – it felt exhilarating delivering something on behalf of the company to a client. At the end of the internship, I had the valuable opportunity of representing Pand.ai at a tech forum where leaders and CEOs of established companies and startups congregated. To end on a personal high note, I represented Pand.ai and delivered a demo in front of those attending as the only female speaker among a male lineup. Through this variety of projects, I’ve gained exposure to the hard and soft skills of this industry.
During the daily 9-6 office hours with a 20 minute commute to and from work, I’ve learned to adapt to the fast-paced work environment of Pand.ai, located in an innovation hub in the central business district. In this space, there were over ten other tech startups, with each occupying a row of office tables, and communal work spaces and phone booths. The entrepreneurial and driven energy within the office definitely added to my experience. Admittedly, every day, I always excitedly looked forward to the 1 hour lunch break that wavered between 12:30 and 2pm. We would always rotate between three lunch locations – hawker centers Lau Pa Sat and Amoy and a food court called Asia Square. These times off would be close bonding time with my coworkers and cointerns.
Amidst these projects, the startup environment unveiled a series of life lessons. The result-driven nature of the work called for spans of attention longer than I was used to, regular check-ins and updates with my boss, and increased proactiveness and communication to forge a bridge of understanding between visions and actions. Through this internship, I’ve learned to better thrive under pressure and adapt to changing dynamics. Every challenge was a canvas for developing soft skills. Interacting with colleagues, clients, and superiors fostered a web of connections that enriched every project. Yet, the most profound lesson was embracing ambiguity. Vague instructions in a time-sensitive setting were not uncommon and, near the end the internship, were no longer daunting but invitations to think independently and innovatively. I’ve witnessed the importance of fusing fresh perspectives into the company’s existing work and being motivated to make my own mark in projects as a visible contribution.
In retrospect, my time at Pand.ai in Singapore was a transformative journey of growth. Through projects like bot creation and auditing and opportunities to attend tech forums, I witnessed the convergence of innovation and human connection. As I officially close off this summer, I have no doubt that this experience and the lessons learned will accompany me into the future.
The Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to intern or conduct research abroad for 8 to 12 weeks over the summer. Participants gain career-enhancing experience and global exposure that is essential in a global workforce.