Name: Ann Lin
Class Year: 2029
Major: Mathematics

Internship Organization: National Cheng Kung University Innovation Headquarters Internship Title: Research and Operations Intern
Location: Tainan, Taiwan

What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!

My internship consists of two main parts: research and operations. On the research side, I’ve been studying startup accelerator programs at universities around the world and comparing how they support student entrepreneurs. On the operations side, I have been rotating through different departments to learn how the center supports startups. I’ve helped organize several events, including a startup and venture capital matchmaking session, an awards ceremony for the Innovation Dreams Come True Project, a case competition for undergraduate students, and many more!

Why did you apply for this internship?

I’ve always been interested in entrepreneurship, but what made this internship unique was the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship from the perspective of a facilitator and educator rather than an entrepreneur. I was able to interact with startups at different stages and see how a startup accelerator helps them grow their ideas into successful ventures. 

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at your internship?

Communication has been the biggest challenge for me. While I am typically comfortable engaging with new people, being an intern has taught me that communicating in a professional office environment comes with its own challenges, particularly when it comes to asking for help. During my second week, I was unexpectedly given the responsibility of planning the award ceremony for the Innovation Dreams Come True. Coordinating the event required collaboration across the entire team, and as an intern, there were still many things I was unfamiliar with. At first, I hesitated to reach out to busy colleagues because I wasn’t sure if it would be impolite to interrupt them with questions. Over time, however, I realized that everyone was more than willing to help, and I just needed to learn how to communicate clearly and efficiently.

What has been your favorite part of this internship?

My favorite part of this internship has been learning about the various projects people are working on and having the opportunity to help shape some of them. In particular, I really enjoyed participating in the planning of a case competition aimed at connecting undergraduate students with real-world problems. Rather than simply giving students a business case to solve, we brought participants to the site where the problem was taking place, conducted field research, and interviewed local organizations and stakeholders. I had the opportunity to help plan these activities and contribute to discussions about the competition format and mentorship structure. It was especially rewarding to see the events come together.