Welcome to the International Leadership and Business Program!

On Sunday, we welcomed interns from all across the country to Georgetown University’s campus for an exciting upcoming week! Their first day on campus marks the beginning of a memorable week where lives are transformed and lifelong friendships are made.

This week, interns will have the opportunity to work closely with businesses from Bauchi State, Nigeria, while also hearing from various business leaders in both the United States and Nigeria. Interns will have the opportunity to work closely with mentors that will guide them as they assist various businesses in Nigeria.

After all of the interns had arrived and settled into their dorms, they were welcomed into the program with a keynote speech by Marshall Bailly, Leadership Initiatives’ Executive Director, who outlined expectations and rules crucial for the success of the interns. Following the keynote speech, interns were introduced to Jessica Bailly, the Director of the International Leadership and Business Program, where interns were introduced to the team, project coordinator, and business partner they will be working with for the remainder of the week. 

Following Marshall’s keynote address, interns were introduced to Umar Muhammad, Leadership Initiatives’ Nigeria Country Director who introduced the problems with businesses in Nigeria and development around the world. Interns learned about the economic landscape in Nigeria which ultimately helped interns understand why the work they would be doing is so impactful.

As the excitement continues, interns took a bus to the National Mall, where they explored the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial with their respective team for the week. This allowed the interns not only the opportunity to reflect on the significance of these historical sites, but also a chance to bond with their teams before meeting their project coordinator and business partner for the first time tomorrow. 

After a busy day filled with traveling, meeting new people, and learning about the businesses they will be working with for the week, day one of the International Leadership and Business Program was concluded. From Marshall’s keynote address to enjoying a visit to the National Mall, the first day was a promising start for the exciting week ahead!