During my summer at AMES Foundation, an organization focused on biodiversity and nature conservation, I worked on designing and implementing a comprehensive fellowship program. The program aims to engage students and professionals interested in conservation work and supporting the foundation's efforts, and directly aligns with AMES Foundation's mission of promoting environmental stewardship and awareness. I also developed key pitch decks, informative resources, and onboarding materials to facilitate the smooth integration of our fellows into the ongoing conservation work. Within a few weeks, we successfully launched the fellowship program and onboarded the first fellow, which marks a relevant milestone for the organization.

Additionally, I played a key role in structuring activities and centralizing information related to our new research camp. I also actively pursued collaborations with universities, discussing potential joint projects and submitting applications for research partnerships, expanding AMES's network. Beyond this, I provided support for urgent biodiversity tasks and administrative activities, ensuring that conservation efforts remained on track and well-managed. Through expanding our conservation activities, reach, and impact, my work at AMES Foundation directly contributed towards AMES's mission of making conservation work sustainable and scalable.

During my fellowship, I actively applied the skillsets I acquired from my extra-curricular activities and specific classes at CBS. As a club member at numerous clubs related to social impact and sustainability, such as Pangea, I gained valuable insights into the opportunities available at CBS and honed my ability to connect with relevant individuals at the school for potential partnerships. These experiences broadened my perspective and equipped me with the network necessary to engage with the university community effectively. Besides, LEAD taught me how to take on responsibilities with confidence and lead inclusively, fostering an environment of collaboration and respect. These skills have been instrumental in my approach to teamwork and leadership during the fellowship and made me more aware of potential biases we need to factor in when designing our fellowship. Moreover, the Leader's Voice class provided me with essential tools to articulate and present our fellowship program confidently when discussing potential collaborations with universities. During pitches, I was able to effectively tell a story and communicate the value of our fellowship to build partnerships with academic institutions.

The independent nature of my role was amazing for me as it allowed me to spend time visiting my family and friends while working for AMES at the same time. However, not being in the same room or office with the people I needed to talk with made my work more difficult at times, especially when it was hard to get hold of them when I needed their feedback or input. Similarly, given that the organization currently only has a few full-time employees and depends on its voluntary supporters, some projects sometimes couldn't be completed as fast as we would have liked given limited resources. This, however, made me take on more responsibility and allowed me to make many smaller decisions independently. I was thus able to shape the fellowship program and related tasks I was driving considerably, which was very rewarding.

I am very grateful that the Tamer Center allowed me to spend my summer working for this organization. Throughout the fellowship, I had the opportunity to delve into the world of conservation and gain a deeper understanding of AMES'diverse activities in South Africa. I really enjoyed working in such an impactful field and truly felt like I spent my time in a meaningful way. This experience reaffirmed my belief that aligning my passion and profession leads to a more rewarding and intrinsically motivating career and reinforced my desire to focus on sustainability professionally after my MBA.

Working with AMES also exposed me to the entrepreneurial spirit of a smaller organization, which was an insightful and enjoyable experience. The startup-like setup increases the agility and speed of the organization and allows individuals to create and shape a lot. Besides, learning by doing is very different from learning from a supervisor or senior team member. Moreover, this experience once more highlighted the pivotal role of the people we work with. Being part of a team of motivated, inspiring, knowledgeable, and likable individuals significantly enhances the overall experience for me as it boosts my motivation and work satisfaction whilst providing an environment to thrive.

In conclusion, the fellowship provided me with invaluable insights into the world of conservation work, solidified my passion for sustainability, and demonstrated the significance of finding purposeful work that aligns with personal values. Working with a dynamic team further underscored the influence of people in creating a fulfilling and rewarding experience. This fellowship has reinforced my commitment to making a positive impact in the field of sustainability.