From Spreadsheets to Construction Sites: My Summer in Medellín
By: Ishika Narsingani (CAS ’28)
GRIP: FinTech in Medellín, Colombia
When I landed in Medellín for my GRIP internship, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I knew I’d be working with a large construction and real estate company, but the day-to-day reality ended up being much more dynamic and hands-on than I imagined. Within my first week, I found myself alternating between Excel spreadsheets in the finance department and walking through active construction sites in a hard hat; a balance that gave me a fuller picture of how the business operates from both the office and the field.
In finance, my main responsibility was managing and updating detailed Excel workbooks that tracked project budgets, expenses, and cash flows. These spreadsheets weren’t just for internal record-keeping; they were live tools that influenced planning and decision-making. Learning to navigate and structure them taught me how financial accuracy directly impacts project timelines and resource allocation.
Beyond the numbers, I also did a bit of coding to help improve the company’s internal database. This meant writing small scripts to make data entry and retrieval faster, which reduced repetitive manual work for the team. Although it wasn’t the largest part of my role, it gave me the satisfaction of knowing I’d left a small but lasting efficiency behind.
The construction site visits were an entirely different kind of learning. I walked through unfinished buildings, met with engineers, and saw first-hand how the projects I was tracking in Excel were progressing in real time. It made the financial data feel tangible. Instead of abstract numbers, I could see exactly what those budgets were funding.
One of my biggest takeaways from this internship was how much independence it required. While my supervisors were always available to answer questions, I was trusted to own my projects and solve problems on my own. This helped me become more confident in navigating unfamiliar tasks and making decisions without constant direction.
I also had the opportunity to immerse myself in the local culture. Outside of work, I learned salsa and bachata, which was not only a fun personal goal but also a great way to connect with colleagues socially. Those shared experiences — whether at the office or on the dance floor — helped me build relationships that made my summer even more fulfilling.
Looking back, my favorite part of this internship was how varied it was. I gained technical skills in finance and coding, developed my adaptability and independence, and learned how different aspects of a business fit together. More than anything, I left with a deeper appreciation for the value of seeing work from multiple perspectives — both in the spreadsheets and out in the field.