The Harbus interviews ECs on how they spent their precious three summer months.
Christina Vosbikian (MBA ’25)
Where did you work this summer?
For myself! I was (and still am) working on my women's healthcare navigation startup, which hasn't formally launched yet. I did this as an HBS Rock Summer Fellow, which was great in terms of providing me with an extra "perk" of support and community throughout the summer.
Why did you choose to pursue entrepreneurship?
I came to HBS to make a career pivot from traditional finance to entrepreneurship, so summer was a perfect time to dive into that pivot – all the way. I was a policy major in college and have remained heavily involved in impact work over the years, particularly in women's equity and health. As I took a step back to consider where I wanted my career to go, women's health felt like a natural place to focus – given some of my career and personal interests. The choice to work on something of my own also fell out naturally, as I learned more, brainstormed, back-stepped, and ideated again (over and over)! On the learning front, I would like to thank all of the incredible patients, doctors, nurses and healthcare workers who have fielded my (many) questions this year!
What is your advice for RCs looking at similar internship opportunities?
Take a bet on yourself! It's impossible to figure out the "when / how / what" of entrepreneurship. I definitely don't have it all figured out – but I think the only way to try is head-first and all the way! So get out there and explore what you're interested in – and start trying to make an impact in that space. The rest will work out, if you keep at it (at least I think and hope so!).
Johann Farhat (MBA ’25)
Where did you work this summer?
This summer, I had the privilege of working as the Marketing Strategy and Innovation Director for Chelsea Football Club, reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer. The move from being a Chelsea fan to a Chelsea employee over these three months has been truly exceptional, with a lot of learnings on the behind-the-scenes of marketing projects at Chelsea FC.
Why did you choose to work with this organization?
Soccer has been a central part of my life from the moment I started walking. My family fondly remembers me constantly having a ball at my feet, no matter where I was.
Throughout high school, I played on the varsity team and at 17, I had the opportunity to play for a first division team in Lebanon. Although I was offered a professional contract a couple of months later, I declined it due to the limited prospects for soccer in Lebanon. Over time, it became clear to me that I wanted to combine my passion for soccer with my professional career. My whole HBS application was about my soccer journey and how I wanted to get back to soccer post HBS for work.
What was your experience like and how does it influence your post-HBS goals?
My experience was nothing short of a dream: I worked with several teams within several departments – Strategy, Marketing, and Commercial – on different projects for the current season and the next one. One project that stood out was the Chelsea vs. Inter Milan friendly. I was co-leading the organization of the event from a marketing perspective with a goal to reach commercial targets in terms of revenue and attendance. It turned out to be the best friendly in Chelsea history, overachieving commercial targets and recording the highest attendance in history. The fans loved meeting the new players and manager for the first time at home. We even had Chelsea's ex-captain and legend John Terry among the match’s key attendees, which was very well appreciated by the fans. This experience confirmed my initial thoughts of wanting to work in the soccer industry. Working in your passion is truly rewarding; you don’t feel like you’re really working and always give 150% of yourself at work.
What is your advice for RCs looking at similar internship opportunities?
One key piece of advice: Build your network in the industry. I had zero connections in the soccer industry prior to joining HBS, and the minute I started at HBS back in August 2023 I set myself a mission to grow my network over a period of nine months. Building my network entailed sending 150+ cold emails, attending 40+ sports conferences and events, and connecting with 300+ individuals working in European soccer clubs on LinkedIn.
I faced numerous rejections from several European soccer clubs along the way. Despite these setbacks, I stayed motivated, continued reaching out to people, and kept building my network.
You have to be “obsessed” with your goal to really make your way into the soccer industry in Europe, especially if you start with zero connections in the industry. Keep pushing and always believe in your goal.
Arianna Camacho (MBA ’25)
Where did you work this summer?
I worked at the IFC (International Finance Corporation), which is the private-sector arm of the World Bank. I was working with the venture capital team, a small team within the IFC that makes equity investments (mostly at the growth stage) in startups that service Latin America, South / East Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. My time was divided between the fintech, edtech, and medtech teams, both working on live deals and doing broader market research and analysis to uncover investment opportunities.
Why did you choose to work with this organization?
My background is in management consulting, and I was interested in exploring an investing role over the summer. I was interested in growth stage venture, but I was also curious about impact investing. The IFC role provided the perfect mix that I was looking for. I was able to experience venture investment, but also see how the IFC incorporated “non-financial” criteria into their investment and portfolio management decisions. Additionally, I love Washington, DC and was thrilled to spend my summer there.
What is your advice for RCs looking at similar internship opportunities?
My biggest piece of advice for RCs is to treat the internship as an opportunity to test a hypothesis. It doesn't have to be a role you're 100% certain about, because the whole point (at least to me) is to explore something new and step outside of your comfort zone. If you're curious about a particular area, don't let uncertainty hold you back – this is the perfect time to experiment and gain insights into something different.
I would also advise RCs to be upfront during the interview process about the type of work they're interested in, whether that's within a specific industry, region, or area of expertise. It’s important to communicate your preferences early and continue doing so throughout the internship.
Lastly, remember that internships are also about building relationships. Take the time to network with your colleagues, ask thoughtful questions, and seek feedback. By doing so, you not only gain valuable insights into the organization but also position yourself for future opportunities.
RuiLin Guo (MBA ’25)
Where did you work this summer?
I was in Seoul, South Korea working as a Global Strategist intern with Samsung Global Strategy Group (GSG), Samsung’s internal consulting division. Samsung GSG drives strategic recommendations and solves key business challenges globally, with projects in corporate development, new business opportunities, product strategy, and more.
Why did you choose to work there?
I wanted an adventure! I was looking to try something different, diversify my skills, and gain an interesting life experience. After working mainly in Canada, Samsung's global nature was appealing – I spent the summer exploring Seoul and working on projects spanning the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
This role also matched my interests in technology and strategy, and allowed me to expand my skillset. Prior to HBS I had extensive experience in brand management in consumer health, so Samsung gave me a broader strategic business view beyond marketing. It was a chance to go from an operational to advisory role and from CPG to technology.
What was your experience like and how does it influence your post-HBS goals?
The project I worked on was developing Samsung’s global D2C (Direct to Consumer) e-commerce expansion strategy. I created a market sizing model for the global electronics market and conducted market research and data analysis to identify key e-commerce trends. I also deep-dived on specific markets and developed a comprehensive expansion proposal and action plan for Samsung India.
This experience exposed me to different working cultures and diverse global teams, and enhanced my strategic mindset, analytical skills, and business/technology acumen. But the best part of my experience was certainly living in Seoul, an amazing, vibrant city to explore, and a base for my travels in Korea and Japan.
I’m still exploring my post-HBS goals, but this experience provided valuable insights into consumer technology and strategy, a new industry and function for me. It’s also clarified what truly matters to me, in terms of the importance of finding purpose (and a supportive culture) in my work.
What is your advice for RCs looking at similar opportunities?
Be open to the new and unexpected! This is a chance to experiment, whether with geography, industry, or function, and find new learning opportunities.
Culture is vital – finding an environment that suits your working style, has people you connect with, and allows you to be your authentic self makes a huge difference in your day-to-day happiness. Chatting with alumni and employees can help gauge these intangibles.
Lead with purpose – I’ve realized that above all I need to believe in the mission of my company and feel like I’m making a positive impact on society. Weaving your purpose and passion, whatever it may be, into your storyline can also help in the recruitment process.
Chaitanya Jain (MBA ’25)
Where did you work this summer?
I worked on the Bitcoin Strategy team at MicroStrategy, a publicly listed enterprise software company that adopted Bitcoin as its primary treasury reserve asset four years ago. Today, the company holds approximately $15 billion worth of Bitcoin. As part of this lean team, I worked closely with the leadership across capital markets, treasury, and investor relations functions.
Why did you choose to work with this organization?
Primarily, I wanted to explore the bitcoin space, and MicroStrategy is unique as it is by far the largest corporate holder of bitcoin globally and is led by a visionary billionaire founder, Michael Saylor. Secondly, I wanted to work at a larger organization as opposed to working at a startup. Lastly, this opportunity matched my skillsets from my prior role in private equity.
What was your experience like and how does it influence your post-HBS goals?
It has been a very positive experience overall. I plan to continue working part-time for MicroStrategy during the EC year and join full-time post-HBS. This is what I aspired to achieve through HBS – a triple pivot from being an investor in Indian PE to managing a bitcoin treasury in a US corporate.
What is your advice for RCs looking at similar internship opportunities?
I recommend reaching out to people via Twitter and LinkedIn. If you're pivoting to a niche sector, make sure to leverage the HBS brand name and build a body of work during your time at HBS, like publishing articles (including in the Harbus, of course), and speaking at conferences, to establish your credibility and interest. Lastly, increase your luck surface area by reaching out to HBS professors and alumni working in or interested in the space.
Veshal Arul Prakash (MBA ’25)
Where did you work this summer?
I took the Rock Summer Fellowship and decided to work on my own startup in the marketing tech space. I've been doing a good number of discovery interviews and technical discussions with engineers. I also built out a prototype as well as a pitch deck, which I'm now going to use to try to find company partners that could provide feedback on my product.
What was your experience like and how does it influence your post-HBS goals?
Overall, I've enjoyed my summer experience. I thought it was really good in the sense that it was fruitful at the end of the day. Early on I was struggling a bit, because the initial idea I came up with did not seem to be that viable.
So, I had to really rethink and dig deep into all the different types of problems I've encountered working as a product manager and on a growth team before, as well as my pain-points as a consumer. That process was very reflective, and I think it was healthy. But at the same time, there was tons of ambiguity. I'm glad I I gave myself enough time to think through the different options first, and then pivot to discovery. I now feel like I've built up really good momentum. So overall, it's been a great summer.
What is your advice for RCs looking at similar internship opportunities?
I'd say the most important thing is to explore something that you haven't done before and take some risks there. It's okay to walk into an opportunity where you don't really know that much. I think now is the best time to explore. At the minimum, you'll walk away knowing what you like and what you don't like.
The second thing: talking to your peers, your RC peers and EC peers, is really helpful, not only for learning about what type of job that they did and getting the detailed perspective, but for continuing to build your network.
Prior to joining HBS, Abhiram Karuppur (MBA ’25) worked in Houston, TX at Ara Partners, a private equity fund focused on energy transition and decarbonization technologies. A New Jersey native, he graduated with a B.S.E. in Chemical & Biological Engineering from Princeton University in 2019. Outside of class, you can find him biking around Boston’s many trails, dominating (sometimes) at pub trivia, or trying out the local food scene.
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