Anne Nguyen ‘26 Explores an Unexpected Entrepreneurial Summer Experience
Name: Anne Nguyen
Class Year: 2026
Major: Mathematics
Hometown: Hanoi, Vietnam
Internship Organization: The Paradigm Forum GmbH
Internship Title: Research Intern
Location: Zurich, Switzerland (Remote)
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
My research internship focuses on 1) understanding how to prepare emerging technical talents and innovators, in terms of skillsets, mindsets, and toolsets, for various change-making roles, and 2) creating a functional multidisciplinary community of learning and practicing. We identify the gaps between the STEM education emphasis in technical skills and what it takes to drive change in the real world, and we explore innovative and experiential approaches to learning that are art-integrated, value-based, and change-driven.
Right now, we are taking the first steps in building this experiential learning community. My team and I are putting together all the necessary materials to create a convincing statement of mission and an introductory experiential on-boarding system, as well as making a curriculum of exercises and practices addressing each topic of change-making.
Why did you apply for this internship?
When I first saw this internship, I knew it was perfect for me. I have always cared about education and my involvement in children's leadership development the past few years has fueled my devotion to making change through education, formal or informal. That involvement has given me the skills and experiences I believed would fit this internship position and I was sure that I could make valuable contributions to this project. I believed I possesed the qualities this internship was looking for and I also wanted to practice my entrepreneurial skills further, which is one of the coolest parts of this internship so far. In short, I applied because the internship was very compelling to me on a personal value level and I was certain that if I were to be accepted, I would be meaningfully challenged and I would do a great job.
Working remotely for the first time? What has that experience been like for you?
Not my first working remotely, but definitely my first time working remotely with teammates and supervisor from 4 different time zones! Despite that, we worked out the best time for meetings and set up a communication channel that has been working well for us. It's definitely a lot harder to have lots of interations and time for bonding because of the time difference and remote working, but I really enjoy working with my teammates and I really appreciate their intellect and ideas. I'd love to soon meet them in person and hang out over tea/coffee or a meal!
What is most rewarding about your internship?
The most rewarding thing about my internship is being able to work on a project that I personally care about and feeling that I'm making some impact. Every hour put into thinking, planning, and doing research for this project is enriching mentally and intellectually, and every spark or encounter of an interesting idea inspires and motivates me. "Wow, this idea is so cool and important, I wonder if and how we could apply this or empower people through this", or "This seems like a problem needed to be addressed, how?" turns to more research, more reading, and more thinking, then they become solid working plans. All of that is very rewarding.
Another very rewarding aspect that is significant to me and I believe is important for my professional and personal growth is the mentorship our supervisor–Tabi, one of the coolest adults that I'm very grateful to have met and gotten to work with and a ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï alum–gives us. And I have only given the Coolest Adult tittle to very few people, including my dad, Leslie–the instructor for the Entrepreneurship Intensive by the Career Center, also a ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï alum–and Tabi. Having the right, wise, really experienced and knowledgeable mentors who are willing to pass on their wisdom to you would make it tremendously easier to figure out something that would have taken much more time, effort, and resources had you done it yourself. So I'd encourage my fellow Mawrters to reach out to people you admire or look up to and utilize the resources that you have, such as those at the Career & Civic Engagement Center.