From Intern to Innovator: My Experience at GSD Africa

Internship stories come in many forms - from the mundane to the most salacious.

But I’m not going to bore you with coffee fetching marathons or 50 shades of boardroom grey, I’m going to tell you what it feels like to step into a whirlwind of innovation, impact, and sheer excitement.

From the get-go at GSD Africa, you're not just an intern; you're part of a team that's driving groundbreaking projects around the world, especially the African continent and I’ll tell you why this isn't your typical coffee-fetching internship. At GSD Africa, you dive straight into the deep end, working on initiatives that genuinely make a difference by getting sh!t done - and in case you didn’t know, GSD stands for Get Sh!t Done!

I am confident your journey will begin just like mine spending the first week on a crash course on who’s who and what’s what - and boy meeting the team was like joining a league of superheroes, each person bringing a unique superpower to the table, especially when you see the magnitude of some of the projects they handle. 

This brings us to the project exploration phase where the magic truly starts. You get to peek into the diverse range of projects, from health ventures to market expansion strategies. It’s like choosing your adventure, but with the added thrill of knowing your work could change countless lives.

As daunting as this is, once you’ve picked your project, the real action begins. You’re no longer an observer; you’re a key player. Working alongside seasoned professionals, getting your hands dirty, tackling real-world problems and coming up with innovative solutions. Everyone on the team was super helpful and you will always find a mentor available to offer guidance, while giving you the freedom to explore your ideas and run with them. Expect some regular check-ins to ensure you’re on track which feel more like strategy sessions where you brainstorm, pivot, and make sh!t happen.

Without a doubt, the final week was the most bittersweet. Reflecting on everything I’ve learned, realising how much I’ve grown in just a few weeks. One must take solace in the fact that you’re not just walking away with a fancy line on your resume; you’ve gained leadership skills, mastered project management, and sharpened your analytical thinking. Plus, you’ve become more culturally competent, understanding the nuances of working in diverse settings - in some cases, while doing it remotely.

I believe that for MBA and Masters students, interning at GSD is like striking a goldmine. It’s the perfect blend of consulting, business development, and strategic leadership. For aspiring consultants, it’s a crash course in the real, real world. You learn to navigate complex projects, develop business programs, and create partnerships that have a lasting impact. And if you’re someone driven by the desire to make a difference and Get Sh!t Done, then GSD Africa can be the playground of your wildest imaginations!

Take the GSD Health Ventures, for instance, where one is not just identifying gaps in the healthcare market of emerging nations; you’re conceptualising innovative solutions and piloting them - maybe for tech that is being introduced at scale for the first time in the world!. Or the Startup Safari Program, where you spend some time on the ground, in a target market, developing comprehensive entrepreneurship skills that bridges your virtual experiences with the real world, giving you a front-row seat to Africa’s business landscape.

And let’s not forget the team. They’re a mix of brilliant minds and passionate souls, all working towards a common goal. The culture at GSD Africa is inclusive, dynamic, and downright inspiring. You’re encouraged to think outside the quadrilateral parallelogram (see what I did there?), challenge the status quo, and push the boundaries of what’s possible when doing cool sh!t with cool people!

So, if you’re on the hunt for a unique and exhilarating internship, then GSD Africa is the place for you. It’s not just an internship; it’s a launchpad for your career, a crash course in innovation, and a chance to make a real impact. Check out the careers page for the latest postings and get ready for an experience that will redefine your professional journey.