The first few weeks of my summer in London has already been a meaningful opportunity to grow personally and professionally. As someone coming from the U.S., I was interested in experiencing a place that felt both familiar and different. The UK shares a language with the U.S., but it quickly became clear that working and living here offers new perspectives on work-life balance and urban living. I have gained valuable insights from working in a different office culture and seeing firsthand how diverse values bring performace to a workplace.

I’m interning at Carbon13, a venture capital firm that, in their own words, “builds and backs ventures addressing Earth’s critical life support systems. Initially this means addressing the most urgent problem of our time – climate change.” What drew me to Carbon13 was its unique focus on supporting early-stage founders whose ideas tackle climate challenges at scale. One of the highlights so far was attending a conference in Cambridge, where I got to hear directly from startup teams working on technology with the potential capacity to reduce carbon emissions by 10 million tonnes per year. It was energizing to see how much urgency and creativity is being brought to climate work, and how international companies and innovators can transform markets.

My day-to-day schedule involves a hybrid work structure with plenty of travel and exploration of London. This flexibility can be rewarding, but it also brings challenges. Finding productive workspaces outside the office—whether in a quiet café or a public library—has been a valuable learning experience in time management and focus. The experience has pushed me to become more self-directed and reflective in how I work.

Outside of the internship, I’ve taken time to explore London and beyond. I visited Westminster Abbey and toured the UK Supreme Court (an especially meaningful stop given my interest in law and public policy). I also had the chance to travel to Edinburgh, where I hiked Arthur’s Seat and explored the castle. Being in places with such layered history has made me think more deeply about how institutions evolve, and how cultural context shapes the way we govern, organize, and build.

Professionally, I came to London wanting to better understand what it takes to start and sustain a mission-driven company. But I’ve also been thinking more broadly about what it means to work internationally. Whether I eventually pursue law, finance, or even launch something of my own, I want to understand how to contribute meaningfully in a global environment as well as how to adapt to different ways of thinking and working.