Reflections from CIEE's Global Internship Conference: Expanding Access to Internships
Authored By:
Three interns from CIEE’s inaugural paid global internship cohort reflected on how international internships shaped their career paths and why expanding access to these opportunities matters.
To close the 14th Annual Global Internship Conference (GIC), attendees heard from three standout business + marketing interns from CIEE’s inaugural paid internship cohort.
CIEE’s pledge of $1 million to fund 100 paid global internships came out of the 2025 GIC in Singapore to address a key barrier to student internship participation: financial access. Cost is a major reason why fewer than half of students interested in internships participate.
Moderated by CIEE Senior Vice President for College Study Abroad, Patrick Moran, recent CIEE business + marketing interns Michayla George (Tennessee State University, CIEE Cape Town), Mya Lillemoen (University of Colorado-Boulder, CIEE Kyoto), and Samantha Michel (UC Berkeley, CIEE Monteverde) discussed the impact of their internships abroad on their professional growth and the importance of expanding access to other students and recent graduates.
Career Impact Highlights
Panelists shared how their internship experience helped shape what they want to explore in their future careers.
I'm grateful this opportunity allowed me to take it internationally and impact people, get to learn their stories, get to learn where they come from.
Samantha M.’s (CIEE Monteverde) internship reinforced the importance of relationship-building in her future career.
“This internship has really taught me that you need to start conversations and you need to be uncomfortable, and put yourself out there. If it weren't for this internship, I wouldn't have considered a career in that relationship-building sphere, or working with high school students.”
For Mya L. (CIEE Kyoto), her internship highlighted the importance of working with a company or organization aligned with her values.
“My experience abroad heightened how much I value the company's values ... I really want to be in an environment where I can be an asset to the team, where I can step in on day one and contribute, and feel valued, and feel respected, but also be contributing to a narrative, or a message that I believe in.”
Michayla G.’s (CIEE Cape Town) internship has encouraged her to look for opportunities that will allow her to be a trailblazer for others.
“I have a background in community engagement, that is where my passion lies, and so I'm grateful this opportunity allowed me to take it internationally and impact people, get to learn their stories, get to learn where they come from...I try to walk through doors maybe some people haven't walked through before, but my goal is not to shut it behind me. My goal is to keep it open and let more people through.”
Reflections on Access
Panelists also discussed the importance of paid internships and reflected on factors that may impact participation in global internships.
CIEE is leading the way with this internship program, because it's going to lower more barriers and create opportunities for people who normally wouldn't have the chance to have a life-changing experience.
Michayla G. shared that some students have limited exposure to those who have studied or traveled abroad, making it harder for them to envision that opportunity for themselves.
“There's a big cost associated with it. [For some] it wasn't even an option in their mind, and especially coming from an HBCU...I’m really grateful that CIEE is leading the way with this internship program, because it's going to lower more barriers and create opportunities for people who normally wouldn't have the chance to have a life-changing experience.”
Limited exposure to networking and mentorship also can be a barrier to participation according to Samantha M.:
“Access isn't just financial, it's about having that mentorship too. This internship taught us what it meant to network and what it meant to ask questions. Going back to my background, I'm first generation...[I wasn’t taught] to look for an internship. I didn't know what networking was, but I have so many people here that are like, hey, that's an important person, you should go talk to them. That's what access is.”
She also closed with an important message for international educators: overcoming barriers to access isn’t one size-fits-all – it’s a matter of listening.
“We have to listen to students. That's why those relationships are important to maintain. You talk to them, you listen to them, and you hear what they have to say, and what can make that experience better, and what can provide this access.”
CIEE’s paid business + marketing internship program would not have come to life without partners sharing the need for funded internship opportunities. Overcoming the cost, curriculum, and cultural barriers to study abroad must start with listening to students and responding to their needs.
We look forward to welcoming the fall 2026 cohort of CIEE business + marketing interns in August.
