This past week was one of the highlights of my internship so far!

My organization has a program that supports social enterprises looking to scale their businesses. At the conclusion of the program, participants present their business pitches to the SEA Change staff, and a select few are chosen to advance to a panel of judges where they compete for up to $100,000 to grow their businesses.

This week, I had the opportunity to sit in on every pitch presentation. I evaluated each venture using a scoring rubric that focused on areas such as the strength of the business and financial models, growth potential, market demand, and overall impact. It was fascinating to see the wide variety of innovative products and services entrepreneurs have created to solve meaningful problems in the world.

As someone with a strong interest in finance, I especially enjoyed hearing founders explain how they overcame financial challenges and defended the sustainability of their financial models. One of the most rewarding parts of the experience was participating in the follow-up meeting where our team discussed each venture and selected the finalists. I truly valued being included in the decision-making process rather than simply observing. I also learned a tremendous amount from my colleagues. Their ability to identify strengths, weaknesses, risks, and opportunities gave me new perspectives on evaluating businesses and measuring social impact.

In addition, I continued creating social media content for the upcoming Festival For Good. I edited videos and designed graphics using Canva for the organization’s social media platforms. These projects have strengthened both my technical and creative skills. Beyond content creation, I have gained a greater appreciation for brand management by learning how color schemes, visual identity, and storytelling shape an organization’s image. It’s been interesting to notice these branding strategies in everyday life when I interact with different businesses.

Finally, I have continued working on HR and program operations by identifying opportunities to refine processes and improve efficiency. This has become one of my favorite aspects of the internship because I am very interested in pursuing a career in operations. These projects have given me practical experience analyzing workflows, identifying areas for improvement, and thinking critically about how organizations can operate more effectively.

Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed my internship experience and can’t believe I am already halfway through it. Looking back, I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to contribute in meaningful ways while developing skills in finance, operations, marketing, and strategic decision-making. I am excited to see what the second half of this experience has in store and to continue growing both personally and professionally.