I completed a 325-hour hybrid internship at a tech startup based in Spain, working across business operations, supply chain, and product development. In a small, fast-moving team, I coordinated with international manufacturers and suppliers, reviewed product specifications, prepared internal financial documents, and conducted cost and margin analyses to support real-time business decisions. Conducted partly in Spanish, the internship brought my Economics and Accounting coursework to life, allowing me to apply financial analysis and macroeconomic thinking to real decisions being made across European markets. The startup environment demanded constant adaptability, and I quickly learned to thrive in ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and communicate across cultures and languages.
Interning at a startup meant that no two days ever looked the same, and being scrappy was basically the job description. Plans changed completely halfway through the day and I had to pivot without much notice, which honestly became one of my favorite parts. I now see learning to expect the unexpected as one of the most valuable lessons I could have gotten from an internship.
Mason Helkenberg
Senior| UC Santa Barbara | Spain | Economics and Accounting