Sage Corps: International Internships at Startups

My time abroad with SAGE Corps was both professionally and personally transformative. As a marketing intern at MiAltar, I gained hands-on experience in blogs, email campaigns, and social media outreach, while also leading meetings and contributing ideas in a small team where my work made an impact. Living in Lisbon challenged me to adapt quickly, from navigating public transportation to engaging with locals, which made me more independent and confident. I also built friendships with both peers and locals, giving me a deeper appreciation for Portuguese culture. This experience pushed me to take risks, step outside my comfort zone, and grow in ways a classroom could never replicate.

The past summer living and working in Madrid, Spain, was transformative, allowing me to grow professionally and personally beyond my expectations. Interning at an early-stage startup exposed me to real-world applications of strategy skills with a supportive team, and Sage Corps was integral to this successful experience! From modules to check-ins and help always a text away, I felt I had all the resources I needed to feel comfortable in this new role. Besides the professional factor, Sage Corps also provided me with a cohort and a new group of friends, whom I saw daily during my time in Madrid. From trips to the coast to dinners together, this cohort really defined my summer as unforgettable. Sage Corp fostered these friendships through cultural outings, picnics, and dinners together. Overall, I could not recommend my experience enough to others and am so grateful to Sage Corps for an amazing summer abroad!

My internship at Deepfile has been instrumental in shaping my future career goals. Working at the intersection of business strategy and technology gave me firsthand exposure to how startups grow, adapt, and bring innovative products to market. I learned how to analyze industry trends, communicate complex ideas clearly, and think strategically about customer and investor needs, all of which are skills that are directly transferable to careers in business, finance, and technology. Most importantly, the experience showed me the value of working in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments where I can take on responsibility early and contribute meaningfully to a team’s success. It confirmed my interest in pursuing a career that combines problem-solving, strategy, and innovation, whether in the startup world, consulting, or a larger firm focused on technology and financial services.