During my summer internship with il Lago di Pane, I supported the consolidation of a business plan focused on the emerging reality they are developing and launching. I was tasked with reviewing the first draft, integrating it with further activities. I also aided in developing marketing material for fundraising towards local enterprise and taxation material for the renewal of a building that will host the new organization. Additionally, I acted as an external consultant available to support the leadership in whatever needs were coming up, which allowed me to work in different fields and significantly bring value to the organization. All of these projects directly supported the organization's mission to aid children in need by contributing to their further development and creating a structured basis for their new soon-to-be organization.

While interning with il Lago di Pane, I was able to implement several skills I learned through my time at Columbia Business School CBS (CBS). These included intercommunication skills within the nonprofit sector, strategic know-how, and accounting. Leveraging my collected experience gained through CBS, including a summer internship with Italia Nostra, REAP, and Pangea advisors, I understand the importance of adapting one’s approach based on differing environments and perspectives. This aided my ability to effectively communicate with numerous people across the il Lago di Pane organization. Along with my experience at CBS, I utilized my strategic know-how gained through consulting work. I heavily relied on this skill throughout my internship to support the organization’s goal of framing their ideas into a structured business plan. While I did not directly use accounting during my time with il Lago di Pane, the mindset and key principles I learned through this core course at CBS greatly aided me in my work.

One of the main challenges I faced involved taking big ideas and putting them into a feasible business plan. With numerous ideas taken into account, we made sure our key factors were highlighted. The implementation phase was another hurdle we had to overcome. It was crucial to bring ideas into fruition and ensure the entire team was on board. With my consulting background, I am accustomed to a specific environment and work culture. Through ample time and effort, I learned to adapt my approach.

My biggest takeaway has been seeing the need for growth and further manpower in the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits do not often have access to the resources many for-profit companies do, such as hiring large teams and closely focusing on the marketplace. I am motivated to continue supporting these organizations. Even dedicating a small amount of my time on weekends could make a significant difference. Helping them achieve their goals and improve their operations is a rewarding endeavor that can lead to meaningful change and greater impact in the nonprofit sector. Finally, I was touched to see the passion of the organization and its ability to bring impactful results to real lives.