Mandipa, a Global Responsibility & Leadership student from Botswana, shares her experiences with the Living Lab and Internship Minor. Engaging with ChapterZero NL , Mandipa assessed sustainability practices of top Dutch companies, contributing to a toolkit for non-executive directors. Keep reading to gain insights into Mandipa's experience, her projects, and the challenges and rewards of corporate work!

Hi Mandipa! Could you tell us a bit about yourself and what landed you in the Netherlands?

My name is Mandipa, and I'm a third-year student of Global Responsibility & Leadership, originally from Botswana. The Netherlands had always been on my radar for my studies, especially due to the region's approach to climate change and other relevant current topics. The programme was a perfect fit for me, especially because of the Living Lab and the capstone project. I wanted to apply my knowledge outside the university and make an impact beyond just academic papers.

Let's step back to your second year's second semester and your Living Lab project. For those not in the GRL programme, the Living Lab concept might be familiar but unclear. Can you please expand on it?

The Living Lab is a research internship that encourages collaboration between students and external organizations, such as NGOs and regional or national institutions. In this setting, students assist these organizations, working on projects to achieve their goals. Through these projects, students gain professional skills that complement their academic knowledge. The outcome of the internship varies depending on the opportunities provided by the organizations involved.

My personal experience was with ChapterZero NL, an initiative established by Deloitte, Baker MacKenzie, and the University of Groningen (UG). This initiative is part of the Climate Governance Initiative led by the World Economic Forum. I was engaged with the Dutch chapter, which focuses on establishing a network for non-executive directors of Dutch companies to empower them to engage in discussions about climate action.

Our research centered on analyzing the top 25 AEX companies in the Netherlands by examining their annual reports to assess their sustainability practices and values. The goal was to determine if these companies were actively discussing and implementing sustainable practices. This led to the creation of a toolkit in which non-executive directors can use to benchmark their own companies against the sustainability maturity of the top 25 companies we assessed. 

Throughout the internship, we conducted research autonomously, mainly using online resources. Our supervisor provided valuable insights based on her expertise and experience, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.

Our team was formed based on our preferences, with the UG facilitating the selection of case studies. After agreeing on the scope and themes with a board member of the initiative, we had the freedom to design our assessment methodology.

❝ The Living Lab is a research internship that encourages collaboration between students and external organizations, such as NGOs and regional or national institutions. ❞

Moving on to your Minor, can you expand on your experience?

For my minor, I chose to do an 'Internship Minor.' I went for it because, firstly, transitioning from Botswana to the Netherlands was a big change, and I wasn't ready for another big change with a Minor abroad. Secondly, I was really eager to improve my professional skills.

After my experience with the Living Lab, I still wanted to work with Deloitte. They were looking for working students at that time, so I reached out to my supervisor expressing my interest in continuing to work with them. I applied and got the internship. Being proactive played a major role in making it happen!

Much like during my Living Lab, during my internship I worked on Chapter Zero Netherlands, with the same supervisor. However, this time I approached it from the Deloitte perspective, focusing on project management. I commuted to Amsterdam twice a week while still living in Leeuwarden.

How was your overall experience?

It was challenging because I was transitioning from university to the corporate world, so I had to change my approach to tasks. The experience was very different from academia, where you have more control over your deadlines. In the corporate world, tasks depend on others, and communication with your supervisor is constant. This was something I had to learn in order to improve my work experience. At university, you strive to know everything, but at work, it's okay not to know everything. Changing that perspective and destigmatizing not knowing things was key.

❝ At university, you strive to know everything, but at work, it's okay not to know everything. Changing that perspective and destigmatizing not knowing things was key. ❞

What were your main takeaways from this experience?

I believe it helped me improve my organizational and communication skills and become more assertive without sounding arrogant.

I also think I got better at writing emails and learned to “eat the frog,” that is to get things done and move on to the next task. Now, they have extended my contract until the end of July and shifted my role, which aligns more with what a junior consultant does. I get to work with sustainability projects within the business, and I really enjoy it!