This summer I had the opportunity to participate in the Business Innovation Program through CIBE. The BIP internship was an incredible experience that challenged me to grow both personally and professionally while giving me hands-on exposure to real-world business problems.
One of the highlights of the program was working with my team to develop Crew Trip, a group travel service designed to simplify and streamline trip planning for fraternities, sororities, and other student organizations. I took on the responsibility of leading all the financial aspects of the project, from budgeting to building out projections in Excel. This allowed me to sharpen my skills in finance while also learning how to translate numbers into strategy for a startup environment. It was a unique challenge to balance creativity with practicality, but the process helped me become more confident in my ability to manage financial decision-making. Another aspect of the internship I valued was the opportunity to hear from professionals like David Riggs, who has already accomplished exciting things at a young age. Conversations like these opened my eyes to career paths I hadn’t seriously considered before. I learned more about investment banking and private equity—fields I previously knew little about—and began to see how they connect with my interests in finance and real estate. At the same time, learning about startups sparked a passion in me. I realized that building something from the ground up is not only exciting but also a career direction I want to pursue. This experience also gave me the chance to put my Clifton Strengths into action. My strengths in Relator and Ideation helped me connect with teammates and think creatively about solutions, while my Activator strength pushed me to take initiative and keep the project moving forward. Looking back, I can see how these strengths align with my long-term goals of working in finance, exploring real estate opportunities, and eventually starting a business of my own.
Overall, the BIP internship gave me clarity about what I want to do with my career and the skills to take the next steps. I am grateful for the support that made this opportunity possible and for the chance to grow alongside an outstanding group of Wabash men.
