A Career Runs Through an Internship
Since the Chamber launched the INTERN SBR Summer Connect program a decade ago, some 1,300 interns have participated in experiential learning, peer connections and social experiences. Over the past 10 years, interns have connected, learned, laughed and received a glimpse at what our region has to offer.
In 2019, Shivangi Tiwari from Hyderabad, India, an enFocus intern, participated in the INTERN SBR Summer Connect program. “I came to the U.S. as I had the opportunity to study abroad and graduated from Purdue University in 2020, with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance. Currently, I’m pursuing my MBA from Purdue University—a program designed for working professionals,” said Shivangi. Today, she is employed full-time as a financial analyst at enFocus.
Her responsibilities as an intern set her up well for her current position. “As an intern, I was supporting a strategic initiative for a nonprofit in Elkhart geared toward science and education. My Fellow at the time, who was my direct supervisor, was working toward a three-pronged strategic solution to improve efficiency and innovation by doing a deep dive with finance, operations, and marketing,” said Shivangi. “I was brought in to lead with a marketing plan, which involved performing a current-state analysis of marketing efforts, learning about best practices within marketing from peer organizations and providing our sponsors with a short-term and long-term implementation plan based on a prioritization matrix. Being a part of business school, this project was extremely relevant and tangible with my undergraduate coursework and a really fulfilling experience!”
In her role today at enFocus, she manages a portfolio of civic projects, working with municipalities in the region, such as the High Skill Immigration Fund initiative, and led enFocus’s immersion into Greater Niles. “I support Innovation Fellows to solve crucial challenges through assessment of the current use of technology and platforms across the portfolio of projects. Due to my interests, the projects I work on have a strong financial component,” she said.
Shivangi’s career journey not only netted her a great job but lifelong friendships. “One of my peer interns I met during the (INTERN SBR Summer Connect) program is one of my closest friends. I also connected with other students and grew my network, so it was never a dull moment to have professional development and social activities with peers,” she said. “Going through the program gave me the ability to understand if I would be able to call South Bend home following college. I enjoyed the community aspect of the program, which really spoke to how the South Bend community actually is.”
Today, Shivangi lives in Mishawaka and enjoys the ease of life and connectivity she finds here in the region. She loves our coffee shops, yoga, and spending time with her friends. “I have always lived in a big city with tall skyscrapers, and now enjoy a simpler but fulfilling life with a sense of community. I have been able to find that here in South Bend through my work and connections.”
