Summer Internship Spotlight: Jay Hawkins (MBA‘25), Venture Fellow at Halcyon Venture Partners

Each year, Georgetown McDonough 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 2024 Summer Internship Spotlight series.

Tell us about your summer internship.

I am a Georgetown Venture Fellow. My fellowship began in January 2024 and continues through August 2024. The timing was fantastic – I applied to Halcyon just as they were preparing to split into Halcyon Venture Partners (HVP) (the fund) and Halcyon House (the nonprofit incubator). When I interviewed for the role, the principal informed me they needed support on the HVP team, providing a perfect opportunity for me to get involved early. My job includes sourcing limited partners, conducting due diligence for companies, and other entry-level venture capital tasks like market research, portfolio management, report writing, and financial analysis.

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

My mission is to create conditions for historically underrepresented communities to thrive. I came to business school aspiring to build something like Halcyon before I even knew it existed. Halcyon’s focus on supporting underrepresented founders in sectors like equity-tech, healthcare, and climate aligns perfectly with my values and career goals. 

My focus has always been to help people solve social issues through business by gaining access to capital, closing the wealth gap, and improving health outcomes. In my business school application, I wrote about the power of entrepreneurship to uplift underserved communities and my passion for empowering social entrepreneurs of color. Before Georgetown, I researched health disparities, did DEI consulting, and worked on mental health system innovation. I also co-founded a nonprofit and taught mindfulness-based meditation. 

How did you find your internship?

I can’t recall exactly how I first learned about the opportunity, but it likely happened while discussing my interests with someone who then suggested Halcyon to me. This kind of serendipity and networking has often led me to worthwhile professional experiences. When the venture fellowship opportunity at Halcyon opened up, I was thrilled to apply and even more thrilled to be accepted because it aligned with my genuine interests perfectly.

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

People are always the highlight of any experience. Halcyon House hosts various accelerator programs and intensives. The highlight of my experience so far was meeting the resident fellows, attending their pitch practices and skill series training, and then watching their progress as they presented on stage at the end of their intensives. I had a personal stake in their success, and it was fantastic to go from being strangers to friends exchanging ideas and learning from one another. 

Given the small team size, I also gained valuable insights from working closely with the managing partners at HVP. This provided a more comprehensive view of developing an early-stage fund, which was the experience that I was hoping for. 

What did a typical day look like?

During the day, I work full-time wearing my impact investor hat as a Venture Fellow, unwind a bit, and then start the second part of my night as a social entrepreneur. In May, an idea hit me while driving home from school, leading to my acceptance as a 2024 Georgetown MBA Startup Fellow. The two fellowships really provided some amazing synergistic benefits. I couldn’t have asked for a better summer experience and I’m grateful for the supportive network at Georgetown that made this possible. 

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

My advice to incoming students is to get clear on the intersection of your strengths, the world’s needs, and what brings you personal satisfaction. Then, share your aspirations with others and let your network work for you. Albert Einstein said, “If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 90% of my time defining the problem and 10% solving it.” I like this quote because to me, it highlights the importance of spending time clarifying what you really want before you fully commit to the “doing.” Reflect on what truly matters to you in life to guide your journey, utilizing school resources and your network for support and growth. 

Lastly, don’t be afraid to pivot and be a student in something new again. Think about what will matter most to you at the end of your life and design your path accordingly. Life is shorter than we think, and considering this perspective can help clarify your direction amidst countless options. Take full advantage of all the resources that the school provides, utilize your own network, and trust the process. It’ll work out.