For three students—Natalia Velázquez from Colombia, Liam Velani from the UK, and Emanuele Ghidoni from Italy—internships with IE Business School have taken them to the other side of the world.
From June to December, the trio are living and working in southern India as part of the Infosys Instep program—an international internship initiative that welcomes over 100 students each year from leading institutions such as MIT, Yale, Bocconi and Kellogg. Supported by the IE Talent & Careers team, they’re turning theory into practice across AI, strategy, and innovation projects while immersing themselves in a culture that’s shaping the digital future.
Their stories offer a glimpse into the real-world impact of our hands-on learning model—where global perspective, adaptability and curiosity define the next generation of business leaders.
Natalia Velázquez: “Growth usually comes from discomfort”
For Natalia Velázquez, an International MBA student from Colombia, the move from retail to tech wasn’t just a career pivot—it was a leap toward reinvention. “I’d never worked in tech before, and with everything happening around AI right now, I felt like this was the perfect moment to jump in,” she says. “Infosys is one of the biggest tech companies in the world, so being here felt like a great opportunity to explore the space and get a feel for the future of work.”
Through IE, she discovered the Infosys Instep program, applied after an on-campus visit from company representatives, and soon found herself on the EdgeVerve AI Next team. “I’m building out their employer branding strategy—figuring out how to position them as the employer of choice for top AI talent, and how to keep current employees engaged,” she explains. “It’s been super interesting so far.”
“I’m interacting with people from over 15 different countries. It’s teaching me how to work across cultures and find common ground when everyone brings something unique to the table.”
What stands out most is the unexpected harmony of life in India: “The traffic is wild, but people are calm, welcoming, and peaceful. There’s this beautiful balance.”
Liam Velani: “You see innovation as part of everyday life”
Liam Velani, a Master in Management student of Indian and Sri Lankan heritage, grew up between London and southern Spain—so adapting to global environments comes naturally. “Having attended the IE Summer School, I chose the MIM because of its international outlook and its focus on innovation and leadership,” he says. “I wanted to grow as a global leader in the digital and strategy space.”
With the help of IE’s Talent & Careers Service, Liam applied for the Infosys internship through his advisor, Clara. Today, he’s working on AI implementation within ERP programs for a global workforce client, and helping develop digital infrastructure strategy across multiple sectors.
“Both projects connect to what I’ve learned at IE—especially in digital transformation and innovation management.”
He describes Infosys as “structured, fast-paced, and innovation-driven.” What’s surprised him most is how agile teams operate within large organizations. “There’s extensive agility within more hierarchical frameworks,” he says. “It’s about balancing long-term strategy with short-term implementation.” For Liam, living in India has also been deeply personal. “The scale and ambition of its digital transformation is inspiring,” he reflects. “Coupled with a growing middle class and developing infrastructure, you see innovation as part of everyday life.”
Emanuele Ghidoni: “It’s like doing another kind of master’s—through real work”
For Emanuele Ghidoni, another Master in Management student, the Infosys internship has been “professionally enriching and personally eye-opening.” His project—focused on the North American market—meant late-night calls and collaboration across time zones. “Each intern was assigned their own strategic project,” he says. “It was real work with real impact.”
A highlight of his experience was a 24-hour AI Hackathon, where mixed business and STEM teams tackled live challenges from Infosys leadership. “Our final challenge came directly from the founder, Narayana Murthy,” Emanuele recalls. “He asked us, ‘How can we attract and retain talent in India?’ It was a real issue with no easy solution.” His team reached the finals, presenting their LLM-powered dashboard solution and even joining Murthy for lunch afterward. “He told us, ‘The problem of India is India itself.’ It was shocking, but also very real.”
“It felt like a bubble—clean, safe, everything you needed. On weekends, we traveled all over India.”
From hiking in the mountains to visiting Mumbai and Delhi, the experience has changed how he sees global opportunity. “You realize how lucky we are in Europe,” he says. “And you see what’s possible when a country wants to grow.”
Learning without borders
For Natalia, Liam and Emanuele, India has been more than a professional stepping stone—it’s a reminder that business today knows no boundaries. Each of them found their placement through IE University’s Talent & Careers platform, showing how global connections translate into real-world outcomes long before graduation.
As Natalia puts it, “Don’t overthink it—just do it. There’s so much to learn from being in a different culture.” For Liam, the lesson is about vision: “Working in India had always been a faint idea for me, but aligning with my interests in digital infrastructure, it’s already been deeply rewarding.” And for Emanuele, the advice is simple: “Yes, I 100% recommend it. You open your eyes—and see what’s possible.”
Benjamin is the editor of Uncover IE. His writing is featured in the LAMDA Verse and Prose Anthology Vol. 19, The Primer and Moonflake Press. Benjamin provided translation for “FalseStuff: La Muerte de las Musas”, winner of Best Theatre Show at the Max Awards 2024.
Benjamin was shortlisted for the Bristol Old Vic Open Sessions 2016 and the Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize 2023.
