Building Mountains and Bridges: Three Memories That Shaped My GRIP Experience
By: Annie Liu, Wharton ’27
GRIP: KK Fund, Taipei, Taiwan
As my internship with KK Fund comes to a conclusion, I would like to share several great memories.
Semiconductor Movie: A Chip Odyssey
One of the most memorable moments of my internship wasn’t at a pitch meeting or investor event—it was sitting in a dark theater, surrounded by fellow Penn alumni and students, watching a documentary that deeply moved me — Zao Shan Zhe: A Chip Odyssey.
Co-hosted by the Penn Club of Taiwan, the film screening took place at Eslite Art House in Taipei. The documentary traces the incredible origin story of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, told through the eyes of seven passionate, courageous engineers. These young pioneers left Taiwan decades ago to work in the U.S., carrying with them not just technical skills but a mission—to help build an industry that could uplift their entire country.
The film’s Chinese title,《造山者》, means “mountain builders”—a metaphor for the pioneers who laid the foundation of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry from the ground up, shaping not just an economy, but a national identity.
The film made it clear: their war wasn’t fought with weapons, but with resilience, sacrifice, and innovation. At a time when the world looked down on Taiwan, these engineers chose to act, not for recognition or personal gain, but out of conviction and service. That sense of purpose struck a chord with me.
Listening to former Minister of Science and Technology Chen Liang-gee speak after the film brought even more depth to the experience. He emphasized how much of Taiwan’s global standing today was built on the selfless decisions of people who took initiative when it was hardest to do so.
This documentary reminded me of the kind of person I hope to become. It taught me the value of taking initiative, of using your skills to serve something larger than yourself, and of staying resilient even when others question your path.
The story of A Chip Odyssey will stay with me long after this internship ends. It’s a call to action: to lead with purpose, and to have the grit to keep going, even when no one else sees the vision—yet.
Singapore SparksLabs Networking Event
One key moment throughout my internship growth came during the SparkLabs networking dinner, a private networking dinner organized in Singapore at the same time as the Echelon event. There were startup founders and VCs from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the U.S joining the event. It’s also my first time attending a professional networking event in SEA. I walked into the venue with excitement to connect interesting startups to my manager.
I learned the power of leveraging warm introductions. Instead of trying to meet every startup founder in the room, I focused on connecting with the event organizer. I shared my background, asked about their journey, and we found common ground in our interest in the early-stage tech ecosystem. The connections I built through this event later helped my team and me get connected to several startup founders who are interesting to my firm, sparking meaningful connections I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
The lesson was clear: in networking, depth often creates more opportunity than breadth. Building trust with connectors can unlock the entire room. I also learned to pace myself during long networking events, making sure I conserve enough energy until the very end — because the most important connection can happen at any moment.
As I continue my journey in the business world, I want to be even more intentional about every interaction I have, because every conversation is a chance to learn, connect, and grow.
Singapore GRIP Intern Meetup
Last but not least, one of the most rewarding moments of my summer was organizing a GRIP intern meetup in Singapore. As KK Fund’s internship brought me to Singapore for the week, my manager thought it’d be a great opportunity to bring together other Penn students working across different GRIP programs. I reached out, set up a group chat, and coordinated a casual coffee meetup.
What I enjoyed most wasn’t just the logistics—it was the people. Swapping internship stories and hearing how everyone was navigating their own host organizations reminded me how diverse and exciting global work experiences can be. Some interns were working in social innovation, others in a hedge fund. We were all learning, adapting, and figuring it out as we went.
As an organizer, I also learned how meaningful it can be to create space for others to connect. Sometimes all it takes is a message, a location, and a bit of coordination to spark community in a new city. It was a small moment, but a memorable one, and a great reminder that even abroad, Penn connections run deep.
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