My Internship Experience with SIC
By: Rayya Haider (CAS + Wharton ’27)
GRIP: Swicorp Infra Capital (SIC), Tunis, Tunisia
I stepped out of my taxi and into Lac II, the financial district that runs along the lake in Tunis. The building was tucked into a quiet corner, its glass windows catching the full force of the Tunisian sun. Inside, I was introduced to a small, close-knit office — just my supervisor, two experienced interns, and one empty desk waiting for me. All the desks faced each other, which instantly made the space feel collaborative. Everyone was welcoming, and pretty much right away I was told to start learning about a solar PV project in Kenya that the firm is working on. No slow start, just straight into something real.
This summer, I’m interning at Swicorp Infrastructure Capital (SIC), a private equity firm that invests in renewable energy infrastructure across the Middle East and Africa. It’s a great match for me as a Huntsman Program student concentrating in Finance at Wharton and studying Arabic at CAS. And doing it all onsite in North Africa takes the experience to a different level. The firm has a large project pipeline, from green data centers to solar PV systems with battery storage to wind projects in countries like Egypt, Kenya, and Tunisia. Since we’re so close to many of these sites, the senior team actually visits them regularly, which truly brings the work to life.
Even in just the first two weeks, I’ve gotten to work on such a wide mix of things. I’ve been reviewing investment memos, running sensitivity analyses in our financial models, reading through legal docs, and helping with a pitch deck for potential investors. Some moments have been really validating, where I could directly apply what I’ve learned from my classes, and others have pushed me to learn completely new things on the spot. Just yesterday, one of my supervisors explained how production, capacity, and consumption are measured for a data center that’s powered by both solar PV and the national grid. I had zero background in that, but I’ve found infrastructure surprisingly intuitive. It’s technical, but very real and grounded.
One of the best aspects of this firm is the “doing things together” culture. Every day, all of us head out for lunch, and they’ve been introducing me to amazing Tunisian dishes like kafteji, merguez, and chapati. The 20-minute walk in the heat doesn’t stop anyone, and the spots we go to are always packed with other finance folks from nearby firms. Back at the office, it’s just as collaborative. We talk through tasks together, and asking questions is totally normal. The other interns, who’ve already been here for a few months, have been incredibly helpful and supportive as I get settled in.
Overall, my first two weeks here have already been fulfilling. I am excited for these next ten weeks and what I will accomplish!