A Day of Consulting

Monday morning marked an exciting milestone as the Middle School Jumpstart interns officially began working with the entrepreneurs they will support throughout the week. Students excitedly stepped into the role of global consultants, ready to learn about the businesses they will help strengthen through their microgrant proposals.

The highlight of the morning was interns' first virtual meetings with their Nigerian Business Partners. These conversations gave students the opportunity to hear directly from entrepreneurs about their businesses, the challenges they face, and the goals they hope to accomplish. After each call, teams came together for a debrief session where they reflected on what they had learned, shared key takeaways, and started identifying ways their ideas could make a meaningful impact.

Building on those conversations, Marc Zavarro led an Introduction to Consulting session that gave interns a look into the mindset and skills of professional consultants. Students learned how to analyze business challenges, ask thoughtful questions, and turn information into practical recommendations. After the presentation, interns rotated between an interactive Consulting Game and a Canva Workshop. The Consulting Game encouraged teams to think strategically, communicate effectively, and work together under pressure, while the Canva Workshop introduced students to design techniques that will help them create professional presentations later in the week

After lunchtime, interns visited the Embassy of Austria, where they had the opportunity to learn about Austrian culture, history, and the country's role in international affairs. They learned how diplomacy and international cooperation help strengthen relationships between countries and support economic growth. Followed by a session with Leadership Initiatives' Nigeria Country Director, Umar Muhammed, who shared an inside look at Nigerian culture, business practices, and the everyday challenges entrepreneurs face. Together, these experiences encouraged interns to think from a global perspective and recognize the importance of understanding different cultures when solving real-world business challenges.

Back on campus, marketing professional Nekara Dumas introduced interns to the basics of branding, customer engagement, and effective communication during the Introduction to Marketing session. Students explored how businesses use marketing to connect with customers and build strong relationships before meeting with their Team Leads to ask questions, share ideas, and continue developing their projects.

The day ended with entrepreneur Nikki Hendricks, who shared her journey of building a sustainable fashion brand through creativity, resilience, and determination. Her story reminded interns that innovation often comes from overcoming challenges and adapting along the way. After the session, students spent the evening exploring Georgetown, reflecting on everything they had learned, strengthening new friendships, and getting ready for another day of leadership, collaboration, and global impact.