It was approximately two months
ago when I landed in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, also the city where I
grew up and spent most of my teenage life. I am back in Jakarta for my 12-week
WDI Internship with Endeavor, a non-profit organization that works with
high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging markets and helps accelerate their
businesses.
To give you a
background of organization, below is a great story on Endeavor from the website:
“The story of
Endeavor began fifteen years ago from a conversation between Linda Rottenberg
and Peter Kellner who then wrote their vision in a tissue paper: Endeavor would
be a new kind of non-profit organization dedicated to selecting and
accelerating the growth of entrepreneurs in emerging countries that will create
new job opportunities and improve societal welfare. People initially thought
the concept of High-Impact Entrepreneurship in emerging markets was
unrealistic. No one believed there were entrepreneurs in developing economies
let alone mentors who would support them. However, Linda and Peter along with
their small but passionate team ultimately convinced business leaders in Latin
America to dedicate not only their money, but also their time and networks to
Endeavor and its entrepreneurs. Endeavor then began its expansion to South
Africa, followed by Turkey and a succession of countries in the Middle East. Currently,
Endeavor operates in 15 countries, and has become an organization of, by, and for
entrepreneurs. More than 80% of our entrepreneurs give back to their local
affiliates by serving as mentors and members of worldwide boards. Over 100,000
jobs have been created with billions of dollars contributed back into local
economies and hundreds of role models now exist for young people in rapidly
developing economies The Endeavor Entrepreneurs continue to remind us that with
the right resources, big ideas can happen and generate transformative change in
economies around the world.”
When Jennifer Hsieh,
my section 5 classmate at Ross and a former intern at the Endeavor office in
NY, told me that Endeavor just opened its Indonesian office on February 1,
2012, I was really excited and applied immediately for a summer internship
position. I talked with Sati Rasuanto, the Managing Director in Indonesia,
through Skype several times to learn more about the opportunities in the
Jakarta office. Our conversations confirmed my interest with Endeavor and here
I am now back in my home country working with an exciting organization and
great group of people!
More stories on my first several weeks at Endeavor next!
Twitter:
@Endeavor_Indo
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