MEET OUR AMBASSADORS
Connect with a Sage Corps alum who has interned abroad. Read more about our current ambassadors and fill out the form at the bottom of the page to be connected with a specific alumni or we will connect you with an alum who can help answer your questions.
Emma Scznsny
Emma, a Data Science and Anthropology double major at the University of Michigan (LSA), interned at Stockagile in Barcelona as a Data Intern. She worked with the marketing team to create buyer personas and competitor battle cards. Her main project involved building databases of businesses and analyzing their websites for compatibility with Stockagile’s services. Reflecting on Sage Corps, Emma shares: “Sage Corps is unique because it not only provides students with incredible opportunities but also helps them every step of the way. The whole Sage Corps team works to help find a startup that is right for you.”
Bryce Kilburn
Bryce, a Communications major at the University of Michigan (LSA), interned at ClickView, an education tech company, during his summer in Sydney. His projects included extensive research on marketing data and brainstorming strategies to boost social media and email marketing. Reflecting on his experience, Bryce shares: “I think Sage Corps is so amazing! I could truly say this past summer was the best in my entire life. I met so many people around my age with some of the same goals as me. We traveled together, and shared our goals! It was a great opportunity to gain connections around the world. I loved every second of my time in Sydney. I have gained so much knowledge from this global experience. After this trip, I want to never stop traveling.”
Niko Makris
Niko, an Economics major at the University of Michigan (LSA), interned at Xelda in Dublin, an accounting service for small to medium-sized businesses. His projects ranged from business development and coding to data enrichment, including designing business cards and brochures. He quickly compiled a list of Dublin’s most popular restaurants and hotels. Niko values Sage Corps for its unique global internship opportunities and supportive community, stating: “The chance to live with other college students from across the company was incredible and made it so that being away from home was less intimidating.” His goal was to broaden his horizons through work experience and immerse himself in European culture, cherishing the meaningful relationships formed during his adventure.
Sophia Kestelman
Sophia is a psychology major from the University of Michigan (LSA). She interned in Lisbon at SheCodes, working on marketing, copywriting, and content creation. Sophia helped the CEO launch a new blog and wrote the first article, as well as a newsletter promoting a communications channel to 800,000 readers. Her strong performance led to a part-time role as a copywriter and content creator. Sophia shares that: “Sage Corps is unique because not only did it help me find an internship opportunity, but it also helped me prepare for interviews, reorganize and better my resume, gave me opportunities while abroad to meet new people, and helped me take on a memorable experience that has shaped me as a professional.”
Aria Brauchli
Aria attends the University of Colorado – Boulder pursuing a degree in creative technology and design. She was a graphic design intern at Pearl Jars in Lisbon this summer, her responsibilities included: editing books for publishing, creating logos, 3D modeling, and photography. Aria shares: “What made Sage Corps so unique for me was how it really bridges the gap between students and the global workforce. Their mission of making real-world, hands-on experience accessible to students from all backgrounds resonated with me. It wasn’t just about gaining skills for the job market, but also about experiencing a different culture and way of working.”
Jack Pender
Jack, an Economics major at the University of Southern California, spent his summer in Amsterdam as a marketing and sales intern at Struck. One of his key projects involved creating a company dashboard to track daily user and website data. He also played a pivotal role in expanding Struck’s presence in Europe, particularly in Amsterdam and the UK. When asked about his experience, Jack mentioned that: “the Sage Corps experience is more than an internship. You live in a completely different culture and continent. There’s a myriad of skills, experiences, and changes in your lifestyle that you come out with that are extremely valuable.”
San Yi
Computer science senior, San, from Georgia State University was a website design intern at Bamboo Connection in Amsterdam. His main focus was to fix errors and improve the design and functionalities of Firsty’s main webpage. He was also given the opportunity to create new page designs, search functionalities, and a QR code generator. When asked what he would tell other students wanting to go abroad he mentioned: “ I highly recommend Sage Corps for students eager to enhance their resumes and gain a competitive edge in today’s job market. The combination of practical experience, cultural exposure, and networking opportunities makes it a transformative experience that can shape your future career path.”
Sydney Bannon
Sydney, a communications major at the University of Colorado – Boulder, spent her summer in Madrid as an advertising intern at Vermena. She contributed to the startup by creating social media posts, designing informative guidebooks, and developing impactful marketing presentations for potential clients. Speaking about the impact of her experience, she mentions: “The hands-on nature of working with startups allows students to feel like they are making a real impact within the companies they collaborate with. From my own experience with Sage Corps, I not only gained valuable professional skills but also developed a deep passion for traveling and learning about new cultures.”
Jean Duffy
Jean is a strategic communications major from the University of Colorado – Boulder. She spent her summer in Madrid as a graphic design intern at Zepo. Her tasks included graphic design work, and the creation of storyboards to prepare illustrations to create all of their short video animations. Jean shares that the Sage Corps Summer Internship program: “is one of the best ways to travel abroad while in school. You are offered such a great experience with so many other people your age, and you obtain both great internship opportunities as well as the experience of traveling abroad at the same time.”
Chayton Ross
Chayton, a junior majoring in data analytics at the University of Michigan (LSA), interned at Chatiwith.io in Madrid. Given the company’s limited experience with data analysis, he took on the responsibility of developing multiple dashboards and statistical analysis charts for presentations to investors and clients, with the goal of enhancing transparency and improving communication with stakeholders. Reflecting on his time abroad, Chayton shares “ It takes a person capable and willing to work hard, open to new ideas and concepts, and strong enough to travel to another country to join this program, and you will see your life take a new direction once you complete this experience.”
Landri Bigham
Landri, a business management and psychology major from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, interned in Sydney at CityQuokka. During her internship, she helped launch the company’s Instagram and TikTok accounts and created a B2B sales campaign, onboarding over 30 businesses. As an avid traveler, Landri reflects: “For this global experience I was able to continue recognizing my passion for traveling and exploring other cultures. As a girl, going into an unknown country can be scary if you aren’t sure what to expect safety-wise. Sage Corps was able to ensure comfort with the experience.”
Irene Dill
Irene, an accounting major from Florida Atlantic University, interned in Barcelona with Stockagile’s marketing team, analyzing market trends and diving into complex data sets. Reflecting on her experience, Irene shared: “Sage Corps is a once in a lifetime experience that cannot be forgotten about. This program has opened my eyes to the world, not only in the workforce but culturally. I gained a new insight on life receiving this global experience that I will hold forever…The percent of students that go abroad is low but the percentage of students that go abroad for an internship is even lower, and to be a part of such a small statistic is amazing.”
Mandy Siragusa
Mandy Siragusa, an Applied Computer Science major at the University of Winnipeg, interned at PickyPal in Paris as a Website and Software Developer. Reporting directly to the CEO and CTO, their work included redesigning the website through Webflow; developing website and application prototypes using Figma; and creating front-end design for PickyPal’s chatbot application in React. Mandy shares: “The Sage Corps program is an incredible opportunity to travel abroad, meet new friends and take your skills from the classroom into the world. I recommend Sage Corps because it allowed me to push out of my comfort zone into a practice environment that was innovative, supportive, safe and fun!”
