After a rigorous four-stage application process with three interviews, I finally made it into the Libra Internship Program (LIP). But the story doesn’t start here. It began with an email from Suzanne Hunter, the Program Manager at MCF-ALA when I was in my third year. She sent out a general email to the scholar body about the foundation’s affiliation with the internship program. Being a travel fanatic, I applied but was unsuccessful because I did not fit the profile at the time.
It wasn’t until I saw a mutual friend, who had gotten into the program, living his best life in New York City, that I made it my life’s mission to be better prepared for when the opportunity presented itself again. I enrolled in courses on strategy and marketing and received funding to participate in the diiVe internship program in management consulting. After all that, I knew I had to put my foot down and go for it again. I was ready to face the music and listen to every note, but this time I was going to do it differently. I drew on my experience with diiVe to strengthen my LIP application, which made a significant difference. I reached out to alumni for expert advice, followed LIP on every social media platform, and stayed updated with key insights. These steps paid off, as I eventually had the chance to kick-start my career in marketing.
Visiting iconic cities like NYC and London had always been a dream of mine, and here was my opportunity to do so. I had already ticked Paris off my bucket list—NYC and London were next. Out of a pool of about 700+ applicants, 28 talented interns from 12 different nationalities were selected for this prestigious program, and I was one of them representing Open Dreams and Cameroon at large.
To give you some background on the program, the Libra Internship Program (LIP) was launched in 2011 during the Greek economic crisis and has since evolved into a global initiative, providing opportunities to hundreds of interns from across the world. Today, interns represent more than 50 countries and are placed within Libra’s 20 businesses across 6 sectors, including philanthropic initiatives. The goal is for interns to learn about Libra’s businesses, strategy, and management philosophy while developing skills that will shape their future careers.
My first stop was NYC, where I gallivanted around downtown Manhattan with two huge suitcases, looking every bit like a first-time visitor. It must have been obvious from the way I kept looking up at the skyscrapers. While New Yorkers glanced at me, I was too caught up trying to take it all in and trying not to get lost in this foreign utopic land. I have always said that NYC is the future that today is trying to build, and I got to experience it firsthand.
I spent a week at Libra Group’s headquarters, learning about the organization’s structure, connecting with the team and fellow interns, and attending workshops focused on leadership development and practical skills (business etiquette, goal-setting, self-awareness, public speaking, and decision-making). The highlight for me was meeting the Executive Chairman of the group and hearing his views on life, his vision, and how he built partnerships and organizations that are successful today. I was drawn in by his aura as he commanded the room effortlessly. It hit me that time was his most valuable resource, and every second for him mattered.
On the eve of the day, I was to travel to London, I finally met up with a friend I had been in contact with for years but had never met in person. I rallied two other interns, and we headed out for a “boys' night out,” exploring the gems of NYC. We started at Grand Central Station, then moved on to Times Square, the 9/11 Memorial, the World Trade Center, and eventually ended up at the Brooklyn Bridge. In an attempt to recreate the famous Rocky Balboa training montage from the Rocky movie, we jogged up the bridge, trying to stay warm in the biting cold while gasping for air. At the highest point of the bridge, I experienced snow for the first time. To be honest, it wasn’t as magical as I had expected—it was freezing, and the cold was unbearable! Still, the entire night felt surreal, and every moment made me feel like the protagonist in my movie. Stay tuned for part two: “From London with…”
Theodore Kanjo | Open Dreams
It's truly amazing to see you get to live out your dreams, Theodore!! I'm very curious to hear about here the Libra internship landed you and what you're doing now! I still remember when you were a bright-eyed scholar in Bamenda when we used to kick the soccer ball around on the dirt fields! My, how far you've come! You've made us proud - keep going after your dreams! 😁😊