GRIP, Internships Abroad Business & Communications Student Highlights

Global experiences in business and communications can provide key opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience and apply their knowledge and skills in a new context. Through the Global Research & Internship Program (GRIP), Penn students from across schools have spent the summer abroad, taking on exciting research projects and professional opportunities. Let’s explore the past experiences of GRIP participants within the fields of business and communications to gain insight into the student experience abroad and how Penn students can make the most of these opportunities.

Making Connections and Gaining Perspective

Just a few short weeks into her internship at KK Fund in Singapore, Stephanie Xie (Wharton ‘21) already had countless opportunities to interact with company founders and venture capitalists from around the world at conferences, demo days, and over meals. Prior to arriving in Singapore, Stephanie had expected her internship to be largely research-based, so she was pleasantly surprised by the more hands-on and interactive role she discovered there. The experience opened her eyes to new ideas, business models, and exposed her to the cutting edge of various industries. “The trust and the freedom that I am given at KK Fund has not only sharpened my critical thinking skills but also made me become more open towards going into certain industries that I had not seriously considered before,” she reflects.

For Weston Wendt (CAS ‘22) and Kevin Yang (CAS ‘20), working with Keru, a consultancy organization that helps grassroots non-profits and social enterprises in rural China and Southeast Asia to increase impact, allowed them to meet people and explore new ideas that changed their perspectives in ways they had not experienced within the traditional classroom. For both Weston and Kevin, some of the most impactful experiences during their internships took place during their time spent in rural villages working on consulting projects. As much as they both had studied what life in some of these villages is like before their time there, the hands-on experience was much more impactful than they could have imagined. 

Developing New Skills

For Shelby Dugas (Wharton ‘23), a summer internship with InterKapital, an investment banking firm based in Medellín, Colombia, served as both an introduction to the finance industry as well as an opportunity to advance her Spanish comprehension skills. Shelby spent her initial days with InterKapital familiarizing herself with the buy-sell process in Latin America before moving on to conducting market research, forecasting revenue and industry trends, assisting with financial analysis and mid-market valuations, updating financial models with mid-year statements to factor in the effects of COVID-19, and translating memos, teasers, and the company’s website in order to expand IK’s buyer network to the American market. She appreciated the relatively small size of the firm as it allowed her to work directly with partners and analysts and on many aspects of the acquisition process. The experience confirmed her interest in pursuing a career within the finance sector.

At Ashoka, a nonprofit in Mexico City, Mexico, João Campos do Vale Dourado (CAS '21) was tasked with working on large, impactful projects, which he discovered to be both a challenge and an invaluable opportunity for personal and professional growth. One of his major projects involved utilizing an information presentation platform that no one within the organization knew how to navigate. João read countless manuals and watched video tutorials in order to learn the platform. When he finally presented his work, others within the organization were impressed, and his boss asked him to create a guide that others could use to model his work. What started as an intimidating challenge, ended with fulfillment in his lasting impact, increased resilience and independence, and a new marketable skill.

Exploring a New Environment 

In Ho Chi Minh City, Leechun Zhu (CAS ‘21) quickly realized how even the most routine of tasks, grocery shopping, can become a wonderful adventure when you’re placed in a new environment. During her first trip to a Vietnamese market, almost everything seemed unfamiliar: the layout of the market, the foods being sold there, the language spoken, and the currency exchanged. Yet despite the difficulty of navigating these unfamiliarities, she felt amazed and happily spent hours appreciating the incomparably fresh food, fast-paced activity, and kind vendors.

The hybrid in-person and remote work format of Sophie Shen’s (Wharton ‘22) role at StartSomeGood in Sydney, Australia provided endless opportunities for her to explore all that the city has to offer. On days outside of the office she often visited various coffee shops and study spaces at the University of Sydney. Outside of work, she embraced visiting both touristy attractions and less frequented spots. Her favorite adventures included taking train rides outside of the city to visit natural spaces such as the Blue Mountains, Bondi Junction, and Manly Beach. Her explorations of Sydney and its surrounding areas inspired her to take that adventure-seeking spirit back with her to Philadelphia.