So here's a fun sentence to say out loud: this summer I joined a scam-fighting nonprofit, and my entire job was to figure out how to make it money. CheckMate is a Trust & Safety AI startup that uses AI to protect people across Southeast Asia from scams and misinformation, and I came on this summer as their Product & Strategy Fellow.

• Read more about Teaching a Nonprofit How to Charge Money (and Other Adventures)

This summer, I interned with Data for Change: The PARIS21 Foundation, a Geneva-based organisation that works to strengthen data systems in low- and middle-income countries, with a particular focus on Africa. In particular, they work closely with climate and gender data, two types of data that are under-captured and therefore difficult to work into policy.Coming into this internship, I wanted to bridge my background in data strategy in the private sector with the world of international development.

• Read more about Fundraising in Times of Scarcity: Lessons From Geneva

This summer, I had the opportunity to join the Sea2Carbon team, a venture founded by INSEAD 24D alumni Utsav Oza and José Gomes. Sea2Carbon’s mission is clear and ambitious: harness the power of marine biomass to drive climate action, foster economic empowerment, and support environmental restoration.

• Read more about The Future of Climate Innovation: My Summer Story

Fundación Grisi works to improve the well-being of Mexican families, with a special focus on inclusion, disability, and health. Its programmes address critical needs such as support for childhood and breast cancer patients, and it runs VAPORTI, Mexico’s pioneering initiative dedicated to pancreatic cancer.

• Read more about Shaping and Scaling a Programme for Young Cancer Survivors in Mexico

Hoja is a young startup that has already attracted over 40,000 students to its platform. With a mission to make learning more engaging, the company is building the foundations needed to scale sustainably. Joining at this early stage gave me the chance to contribute to the fundraising efforts, measuring Hoja’s success and translating it into clear communications for new investors.

• Read more about Hoja: From Metrics to Meaning to Storytelling

Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to dive deep into several thematic areas at the intersection of fintech, financial inclusion, and emerging market infrastructure.

• Read more about Connecting the Dots: Lessons From a Summer in VC at Quona Capital: Expanding Financial Inclusion Through Financial Technology

Before INSEAD, I co-founded and spent six years building an edtech startup that helped commerce graduates bridge the skill gap and secure jobs. Most of my work focused on employability, training, and building futures, downstream in the education journey. This summer, I found myself exploring the very start of that journey: where access to basic education is still a daily struggle.

• Read more about Teaching on the Footpath, Learning Along the Way

The Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) has set an ambitious goal: to increase the cancer survival rate in Spain to 70% by 2030. Achieving this will require a long-term commitment to accelerating research, improving patient outcomes, and facilitating the transfer of scientific discoveries to clinical application. As part of its Strategic Plan 2025–2028, the Foundation is focusing on how to fund innovation more effectively in later development phases, particularly those that are high-risk and capital-intensive but essential for reaching patients.

• Read more about Strategic Investment Planning for Oncology Innovation: My Internship at the Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer

This blog is authored by Erica Wallace, Florence Coghlan, Isadora Rial and Monica Song.In February 2025, about 25 INSEAD MBA students representing 15 nationalities swapped the lecture halls of Fontainebleau, Singapore and Abu Dhabi for the snow-capped peaks and vibrant streets of Kathmandu, Nepal. We arrived excited (not just for momos) and with a shared goal: to extend our learning to a real-world, impactful context while helping to improve access to care for children born with clubfoot.

• Read more about Scaling Impact One Step at a Time: INSEAD and MiracleFeet in Nepal

When I started my internship at Pureland Global Venture, I had no idea just how much it would shape my understanding of venture capital and the dynamic world of med-tech. Pureland, a venture capital firm co-founded by an INSEAD professor, focuses on groundbreaking med-tech innovations and operates in both Singapore and China. Over six months, I was immersed in various projects that challenged my analytical skills, broadened my perspective, and deepened my passion for healthcare innovation.

• Read more about Navigating Med-Tech Innovation: My Journey at Pureland Global Venture