Exploring Social Entrepreneurship
By: Rohan Krishnan, Wharton ’24
Rohan’s workspace for the summer.
Ashoka – Mexico City, Mexico
Before starting my first semester at Penn, I made a list on my phone of all the different experiences I wanted to try over the next four years, from spectating the Penn Relays to finally studying Hindi. The Global Research & Internship Program was at the top of the list. I entered Penn without any idea as to what I wanted to study and explore as career options. Even as my first semester came to a close, I still had not found any particular area that piqued my interest. As a rising sophomore, I still have plenty of time to explore and ultimately decide on a path of study. Yet, I still wanted to take on new experiences that allowed me to experiment with different fields.
What attracted me to GRIP was the opportunity to connect with great organizations, build my foreign language skills, delve into a new field with hands-on work, and, in a normal semester, immerse myself in an entirely new country and culture. I spent my Winter Break poring over the 2021 GRIP opportunities, looking to build on years of studying Spanish and my burgeoning interest in social entrepreneurship. I soon discovered Ashoka, an organization that connects an international community of social entrepreneurs with financial, business, and intellectual support for their innovations. As a Venture and Fellowship intern for their Mexico City office, I would have the opportunity to interact with fascinating, budding social entrepreneurs applying to join their community, as well as Ashoka’s pre-existing international network of successful social entrepreneurs. As I sought inspiration to help guide my coming years at Penn, working with Ashoka was bound to be an invaluable experience.
When I heard back from GRIP regarding my placement for the program, the news was initially bittersweet, as I was accepted to work with Ashoka but not in person at their Mexico City office due to the pandemic. However, now as I’m two weeks into my internship with Ashoka, I realize that working virtually has been a blessing. While thinking about my summer options, I was torn between enjoying a more relaxed summer at home with family and seeking work experiences that would give me some academic and career inspiration. GRIP’s virtual format gave me the best of both worlds, as I have the chance to work with such a cool international organization right from my hometown. I can work through meetings and projects throughout the day and still have time for family dinners or hiking around upstate New York with friends.
I’m extremely fortunate to have this opportunity to work with Ashoka and I’m certain that navigating new fields and responsibilities over the next ten weeks will be a source of growth and inspiration.
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.