Monday’s Path to Purpose

The second Monday of the International Leadership and Business Internship was packed with insight and forward motion as interns engaged in three cornerstone sessions designed to sharpen their entrepreneurial mindset and collaborative toolkit.

The day began with branding specialist Carla Brooks, who returned to challenge interns to reimagine how identity and storytelling shape the foundation of a successful venture. Through lively discussions and illustrative examples, interns explored the subtle art of branding, gaining new language and frameworks to express their ideas with authenticity and strategic flair.

Next, Eric Rosenstein led a hands-on session that unpacked the building blocks of business planning and model development. Using relatable scenarios and open dialogue, Eric invited interns to think critically about the structure behind a sustainable business. His approach blended theory and practice, encouraging students to speak up about their own entrepreneurial experiences and connect business models to real-world needs.

Following a midday work block, interns regrouped for a deep-dive lecture on SWOT analysis led by Zac Clark. With engaging prompts and visual aids, Zac helped interns understand how analyzing Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats can illuminate a business’s path forward. Shortly after, interns put theory into practice during their mentor meetings, where they applied the SWOT model in real-time. With guidance from professionals in international development and entrepreneurship, students began mapping out SWOTs tailored to the specific goals and constraints of their assigned businesses. These conversations helped interns identify actionable opportunities, recognize structural limitations, and refine their proposals with sharper insight.

Once again, Monday served as more than just the beginning of the program as it was also a launchpad for innovation, empathy, and meaningful impact.