Summer Internship Spotlight: Clarisa Putri (MBA’26), International Finance Corporation

Each year, our students spend their summers in Washington, D.C., across the nation, and around the world working in corporate, nonprofit, and government organizations. Meet a few of our graduate and undergraduate students in our Summer Internship Spotlight series.

Clarisa Putri (MBA’26) spent her summer interning with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. Here, Putri shares insights into the impactful projects she worked on, the skills she developed, and what it’s like to contribute to a global development finance organization. 

Tell us about your internship.

This summer, I interned with the IFC through the Global Internship Program (GIP) at the Washington, D.C., office. I was part of the Infrastructure Global Transport E-Mobility team. I had the chance to be involved in several transactions across various regions, which helped me better understand different transaction structures, investment cycles, and business models. The program also included weekly sessions for all GIP interns about IFC and the World Bank Group. These sessions were incredibly valuable, especially for anyone considering a career at the company.

How did your internship relate to your professional or personal interests?

Prior to starting the MBA program at Georgetown McDonough, I worked at a government-owned development finance institution in Indonesia that focused on infrastructure financing. I enjoyed how impactful the work was and knew I wanted to stay in this sector. I sought the MBA program to grow professionally and gain broader exposure to projects with varying levels of complexity in the industry. IFC gave me a great start and reaffirmed my interest in this field.

How did you find your internship?

While exploring potential career paths in development finance, I came across the IFC GIP while researching potential employers. The McDonough Career Center was also very supportive, helping me keep track of application deadlines and sharing information sessions about the program.

What is the most interesting or impactful thing you worked on during your internship?

Working at IFC headquarters gave me a unique opportunity to be involved in projects across different regions. I was exposed to transactions in various emerging markets, which helped me understand how business models need to be adapted based on each country’s local context. It was fascinating to see how the investment team approached restructuring to make projects work in different environments. I was also involved in some upstream engagements related to Indonesia, including preparing internal decks. It was meaningful to see how the organization views investment opportunities in my home country. Because e-mobility is an emerging sector, I also had the chance to collaborate with other teams like the venture capital and mining units, an exciting experience that exposed me to new sectors. 

What did a typical day look like working in global finance?

Every day looked different. Sometimes my mornings started very early due to calls with the Asia region, and other days I attended late-evening meetings with another region. Most of the time, my work involved meetings, preparing decks, drafting transaction documents, conducting research, and developing business cases. Another highlight of my experience was the climate business teams’ weekly teach-ins, which were open to teams from across divisions and helped me learn more about sustainability initiatives across the organization.

What advice do you have for other students when it comes to MBA internships?

Be curious and proactive. Ask questions and explore projects outside of your immediate team to gain a broader perspective. Lastly, don’t wait until your internship ends to start networking. Coffee chats during the internship are just as important as the work itself. The summer goes by quickly, so take every chance to understand the company culture and build relationships.