Alumni Spotlight: Robinson Laventure
Sage Corps’ programs offer transformative international internships to top university students worldwide where they tackle real problems and build real solutions. Our fellows have used this opportunity to accelerate their careers and positioned themselves ahead of their peers in the eyes of recruiters. We’ve asked alumnus Robinson Laventure about his personal experience with Sage Corps, how his career developed after the program, and what advice he has for students.
- Tell us a little about yourself!
I graduated from Penn State University with an Engineering degree and an Entrepreneurship minor. I joined Accenture in 2018 and have been with them for 3 years. I’m a Senior Analyst now and am working on a project in the Life Science industry. Last year, I co-founded Laventure Real Estate Group & Associates.
2. What was your experience with Sage Corps like?
I was a part of Sage Corps in 2016. I worked with a BioTech startup as a Product Engineer, redesigning a product for their launch. My Sage Corps experience fueled my passion for business and entrepreneurship and led me to go into consulting.
3. What was your favorite part about being a part of Sage Corps?
My favorite part was definitely living in a different country (Chile) for two months. I grew a lot from embedding myself into the culture and learning a new language. From the experience, I’ve learned to become a fast learner and an adapter.
4. How has that experience helped you in your career journey?
My Sage Corps experience was definitely a highlight that enabled the recruiters to remember me. It showed that I was globally aware and able to adapt. I would say that it helped me a lot in the recruiting process.
5. What do you think is beneficial about working at a startup?
At a startup, you can have a more hands-on approach and have more impact. There is a lot of unpredictability and ambiguity because there isn’t a laid out plan, which means it can be challenging. It also means that your work can be very rewarding since you can see how you’re helping the company grow.
6. Do you have any advice for young professionals?
Learning is a life-long process; continue to learn even after college. Whatever career field you are going into, know that you are starting off fresh. You are not going to know everything when you go in but that’s okay. Drop all your preconceived notions and stay open-minded.
7. Do you have any advice for future Sage Corps participants?
When talking about your Sage Corps experience, highlight the soft skills that you learned. Being adaptable, adapting in a new environment, and communicating in a different language are all valuable skills that you can learn while interning abroad. Leverage those assets to propel forward!
Interning abroad provides invaluable experience that employers love to see. Join the less than 1% of college students gaining international work experience today.
