Meet the Business Partners!

On the first full day of the International Leadership and Business Internship, interns met their business partners and began building strong relationships to help make the businesses they would be working with as successful as possible.

To kick off the day, interns attended a presentation led by Program Director Zac Clark, who provided an overview of the week's schedule and what they could expect throughout the program. They then heard from Umar Muhammad, who shared valuable insights into Nigeria, the realities of doing business there, and what interns could expect while working alongside their Nigerian business partners.

Next, interns met virtually on Zoom with the Nigerian business owners they will be collaborating with throughout the week. During this introductory meeting, interns introduced themselves and got to know both their business partner and project coordinator. They asked questions about their partners' backgrounds, families, and businesses to better understand how they could tailor their marketing and infrastructure proposals to meet each business's unique needs.

With curiosity and empathy, interns continued the conversation by learning how each business was founded, the challenges its owners have faced, and what success looks like to them. These discussions were essential in laying the groundwork for customized marketing and infrastructure proposals designed to create a meaningful impact. Many interns left the meeting inspired, not only by the entrepreneurial spirit of their business partners, but also by the opportunity to collaborate across continents to solve real-world challenges.

The morning concluded with two engaging lectures before lunch. Marc introduced interns to the Consulting Across Business Industries in his presentation, helping them understand how business consulting and how consultants create value across different busines functions and industries. Following this, Carla presented an Introduction to Branding, where interns explored the importance of creating a strong brand identity and learned how effective branding can help businesses stand out and connect with customers.

The connections formed and knowledge gained on Monday laid the foundation for a week of meaningful collaboration, fueled by insight, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to helping real-world businesses thrive.