What inspired you to work for Intern Abroad HQ?
I was initially inspired by my love for everything travel-related. But what truly made the difference for me is the impact that we can have on our interns' professional and personal lives: we help them obtain a high-quality, engaging internship abroad in their field, while also providing them with an experience that will enhance their cultural awareness and give them a new perspective on the world.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is absolutely learning so much about the different destinations where we have internship programs. I have loved immersing myself in so many different cultures, so that I can help our interns who choose those destinations with their cultural adaptation. Another major favorite is travel: every year, we travel to some of our destinations to "live like an intern" and explore the placements, accommodation, food, and everything else that is relevant to that destination.
Veronica visiting our internship programs in Morocco
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I studied International Business, as I have always been interested in learning as much as I can about the world and the way different countries and different cultures work. This background has helped me immensely in my current role, as being able to work around cultural and societal differences between people from completely different countries is key to being a good Program Manager.
What challenges do you often face, and how do you overcome them?
A challenge that often arises is helping interns overcome the anxiety that inevitably comes from going abroad for a professional internship. Not only must they face a completely new culture, new place, new food, and new ways of doing things, but in many cases, they must speak a language that is not their native one.
My job is to ensure that these challenges become part of the intern's personal growth, as they realize their own strength and resilience, as well as to reduce the anxiety as much as possible by providing safe, well-supported programs.
Veronica visiting our local team and a medical intern in Cordoba, Argentina
What advice would you give your pre-travel self?
I would reassure myself that I am stronger than I believe. I can overcome challenges, and discomfort does not equal being unsafe. I would tell myself not to hesitate: the personal growth that will come from having an experience where everything I will face is unknown will be one of the best decisions of my life, and bring some of my most treasured memories.
Why should someone choose Intern Abroad HQ over competitors?
There are so many reasons, but the main one is the people. At Intern Abroad HQ, we genuinely care about our interns, we are passionate about what we do, and we want every participant to have a successful and enriching experience that they will treasure for a lifetime. The incredible portfolio of programs and destinations we offer is, of course, another reason to choose us - the hard part will be choosing where to go, as they are all incredibly exciting places in their own way!
What makes Intern Abroad HQ easy to market to potential participants?
What makes us stand out is the difference that we have been able to make in so many of our interns' lives: we constantly receive testimonials from interns who have completed their program, telling us not only how much they learned with their host organization, but how much they enjoyed and grew from being in a different country and the life-long friendships they established with fellow interns. For someone considering one of these opportunities, hearing about past participants and how much they value their experience is invaluable.
What is your organization's mission, and how do you continue to work toward it?
At Intern Abroad HQ, we organize meaningful, comprehensive international internships that help participants advance their dream careers through global work experience. I make sure that our interns truly gain valuable professional experience at their host organizations and that they feel truly supported every step of the way. I have personally traveled to four of our destinations so far, ensuring the quality of the accommodation, support, and internship placements we offer there.
Veronica visiting Machu Picchu, one of the optional add-ons offered for Peru
What is your organization's mission, and how do you continue to work toward it?
At Intern Abroad HQ, we organize meaningful, comprehensive international internships that help participants advance their dream careers through global work experience. I make sure that our interns truly gain valuable professional experience at their host organizations and that they feel truly supported every step of the way. I have personally traveled to four of our destinations so far, ensuring the quality of the accommodation, support, and internship placements we offer there.What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I want participants to not only leave having gained professional experience for their CV, but also having acquired much more confidence in themselves and in their ability to overcome the unknown and any challenges they may have faced. The personal development that comes from someone truly embracing a new country, culture, and sometimes even language is something that will stay with them forever.
How do you help support participants?
Having completed two study abroad programs myself, both in countries where I had to speak a different language, helps me understand most of what our interns are going through. I am very familiar with the usual feelings of anxiety, discomfort, and insecurity that can arise from being somewhere completely unknown, so I try to help them navigate these feelings and reassure them that we are always available to support and that it is a completely normal part of the experience.
If you could participate in one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I would definitely choose somewhere completely different from the places I have been to. We offer so many destinations that my preference is always changing, but currently I have been so interested in South Africa - it has everything I could want in an internship abroad: high-quality internship programs, friendly culture, and once-in-a-lifetime sightseeing opportunities to make it an unforgettable experience.
Veronica visiting the Rainbow Mountain, one of the optional add-ons offered for Peru
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Our world becomes more interconnected every single day. Traveling and experiencing new cultures is the best way to open your mind to other perspectives, points of view, and ways of looking at the world. This not only makes us more empathetic and understanding human beings, but is also becoming increasingly necessary for doing business in the world.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Do not let your fear get in the way of you achieving your dreams and enriching your personal and professional life! It is definitely scary to put yourself out there somewhere new, especially to complete a professional experience; this is precisely the reason why it is so valuable, as it helps your confidence and resilience grow in a way that staying in your comfort zone never could.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means understanding that you will gain a lot from this experience, but you can also give back at the same time. This can be done in many ways, from understanding cultural nuances and respecting the specific customs of the locals to supporting sustainable tourism practices and even giving back to the communities in a more tangible way. This is definitely the best and most life-changing way to travel.
