Oluwadamilola Akintewe - Salzburg Global Internship
In Her Opportunity Story, Oluwadamilola Akintewe shares her insights and experiences as a Communications Intern at Salzburg Global. Applications for the Salzburg Global Internship open every year around September - October.
Oluwadamilola Akintewe
Oluwadamilola is the founder of Project Rebirth, a social enterprise that provides skills acquisition and impact investment in women—and youth-led businesses from underserved marginalized communities across Nigeria. She also runs Forbidden Topics, a young feminist collective that amplifies youth voices against gendered violence.
Oluwadamilola Akintewe is passionate about women's rights with a focus on economic empowerment, development policy, and human rights. She was recognized by Women of the Future and Financial Times as a 2024 Top 50 Rising Stars in ESG and also emerged as a top 10 finalist of the 2021 Global Student Prize.
Before the Internship
What inspired you to apply for the Salzburg Global internship and what steps did you take to prepare yourself for the application?
I’ve always wanted to work in an international environment that focuses on public policy, development and global change. These are areas I am very passionate about. Salzburg Global just felt like the right place to go. I loved what the organisation stands for as I’ve followed some of their programmes virtually in the past. So, I applied.
Did you have any concerns or fears about applying? If yes, what influenced your decision to continue with your application?
I was never really worried about my qualifications. The only thing that I thought might be a disadvantage was that I didn’t have a master’s degree (the application form in the year that I applied stated that master’s degree students would be prioritized and I only had my bachelor’s in law). For other criteria, I had them locked in. In the past, I’ve done similar work in relation to the role I applied for (communications). I shot my shot at the opportunity, hoping my background was enough. It was.
Can you share any steps you took in preparing a competitive application for the internship, considering the intense competition for these applications?
I already have 4 years of experience working with non-profits and social enterprises. In my own space, I am the founder of Forbidden Topics, a feminist collective that amplifies women’s voices on social justice and equality matters and I also run Project Rebirth, a social enterprise that invests in women-led businesses. So, I was not a greenhorn. As an undergraduate, I participated in a lot of extracurriculars making sure my university experience was not limited to the four walls of a classroom. I served as the first female lead of Enactus in my school and built a great skill set like leadership, communication, time management, and problem-solving that were useful when applying. That’s why I always encourage undergraduates to invest in themselves while in school. Don’t wait until after you graduate.
What influenced your decision to apply as a Communications Intern? How did you tailor your experiences to the internship requirements?
Confession time: I actually applied for 3 different openings (yes, I’m that tenacious). They were Communications, Programs, and Development internships, and in each of these applications, I submitted a different CV and cover letter. I didn’t copy and paste. Rather, I designed each of my applications to fit into the requirements of each role. As an undergraduate, I worked with the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative as a campus coordinator on advocacy against Gender-Based Violence. That experience went on my Programs internship CV and not the Communications one. It was easy for me to cherry-pick which and what experience I wanted on my CV because I already had numerous.
How many stages are involved in applying to the Salzburg Global internship? What aspects of the application process did you find the most challenging, and how did you overcome this?
A few weeks after submission, I received a rejection for the Program and Development application. Then, a few days later, I received an email saying they would like to proceed with my Communications Application which was even better as communication is my forte. So, I had a test where I had to listen to and summarise a 1:30 hr video from Salzburg Global on education policy and development into a 350-word essay. That was very tasking and I had a 2 days deadline. I was also preparing for my final year law exams at this point but I did what had to be done. After this, I got an email that I proceeded to the next stage which was a call with some of the staff. The call was an interview to get to know me and other incidental matters. A few weeks after the call, I received a formal offer from them.
Were there any particular skills or knowledge areas you focused on developing before starting your application to make yourself a stronger candidate?
Yes. Since I applied for communications, I improved my creative writing skills and submitted 2 previously written works in the application. I also improved my public speaking skills but that already was inbuilt. In addition, I did my homework and read about the organization and this was very useful during my video interview with the staff. One of them said and I quote “You really have done your homework, Oluwadamilola”. This person was my team manager when I was in Austria and we worked greatly together.
I knew when they were founded, their history, how many changes they underwent over the decades, which particular program interests me on their calendar, etc. I am not a lazy applicant. I wrote my essays myself without AI, I personalised my answers like what I wanted to gain from the internship and obviously, it worked.
Many young Nigerians are scared to apply for global internships because of the potential costs and processes involved. How did you prepare for your travel requirements, accommodation, and general costs for this internship?
This internship is fully funded (100%). They paid for my flight, gave me accommodation on a beautiful property in Salzburg, Austria where I lived with the other interns, paid for my residency permit and authorization cost in Austria and even refunded my visa application fees in Nigeria (I kept my receipt though which was why I could request for a refund) As a Nigerian, I understand the fear of applying for global opportunities. The competition is very tight but I believe we miss 100% of the opportunities we do not apply for. Salzburg Global is fully funded and that’s an advantage. So, go for it.
What areas of the application process should prospective applicants give utmost attention to?
My sincere answer is everything. See an application as an opportunity to showcase yourself to someone who has never met you. Since I wasn’t the one who reviewed my application, I cannot specifically state which part carried more weight compared to others. This is why an applicant must ensure they prepare a well-rounded application.
During the Internship
Being an intern in a new country can be pretty daunting. How did you immerse yourself in this (new) experience, socially and culturally?
I shared a flat with 4 other interns who were South Koreans, Filipino, and Nigerian. However, Salzburg Global has one of the most culturally diverse staff I’ve ever seen. There were Germans, Italians, Poles, Americans, etc. It was a beautiful cultural melting pot. For me, it wasn’t difficult to integrate, my co-interns were amazing human beings. Also, the staff members I worked with were incredible. It was easy to relate and have a chat with them which helped me. During my first few days in Austria, I did a walking tour of the city. I was lucky to meet a local white elderly lady who volunteered to show me around on my second day. I understand this may not be the general norm but once you open yourself to it, it gets easier.
What were you most excited about as you began your internship as a Communications Intern at Salzburg Global?
I love movies and the organization building (Schlos Leopoldskron) was used as a filming location in one of my favourite movies of all time, The Sound of Music (I mentioned this during my interview and it was a great icebreaker). On one of my free days, I visited a lot of the filming locations in the city. It was also my first time living in Europe for an extended period as my previous visits were often a few days at most. I was very excited about that. The best part was meeting people from around the world who travelled to Salzburg as a fellow. It was like seeing the world through their eyes and they were never condescending to interns. I enjoyed having a conversation with some of the fellows, especially in the Public Policy New Voices Fellowship as the cohort was for young professionals like me. The winter was however brutal but picturesque.
How would you describe a typical day in your life as a Communications Intern?
Work begins at 9 am ET. My flat was right above the office space which meant I could wake up by 8:30 am and still make it to work on time (just kidding). Sometimes, there are staff meetings which could be online (via teams) or physically in the conference room and this usually runs from 10 am to 10:30 or thereabouts. As a Communications Intern, my work was based on deliverables. Salzburg Global hosts fellows on different themes across the year. When fellows are around for their on-site program, my assignment is to interview them and create articles based on their responses. (My articles are on the Salzburg Global website).
You get to design your daily schedule such as when to meet with the fellows, interview them and create your articles. Lunch is from 12 pm - 1 pm which is free for all the staff. There is also a kitchen where you can make your coffee and get snacks as you like. After lunch, you get on with your deliverables to meet up with your deadline. Work closes by 5 pm. Usually, I take walks after work or go into the city to get groceries (you get free weekly grocery vouchers from the organization. So, you don’t even have to spend your own money)
Are there any specific training programs, workshops, or resources provided during the internship that helped you adapt to your role and contribute to your professional growth?
Absolutely. We had an immersion training on the second week of resumption. We also took some cyber security courses to protect against phishing scams because the European Union is very strict with cyber security. The staff were also happy to show you how to navigate the office database, the laptop and other software used. It did not feel difficult. Now, I have mental resources on websites to use as a Comms officer to improve my work.
What were the most challenging parts of your day-to-day work during the internship, and how did they contribute to your overall learning experience?
The most challenging part of my role was approaching the fellows for an interview. In some of the programs with senior-level professionals, it can be daunting to strike up a conversation. Once, the Dean of Harvard University Law School was available and I was to interview her. You can guess how nerve-wracking that was for me as a fresh law graduate. However, you eventually see that behind all those successes are interesting everyday people.
After the Internship
After the completion of your internship, how did you apply the experience to your various career and academic engagements? How has it influenced your present and future endeavours?
The articles I wrote during my internship were credited to me on Salzburg Global’s website which gave me a sense of ownership of my creative capacities. So, I could cite them in my other professional aspirations and applications. In addition, I received publicity support from the organization even after my internship ended. This year, I was honoured by Prince Williams, the Prince of Wales with the Diana Legacy Award in London for my work championing women’s rights in Nigeria. Salzburg Global covered my award on their website which was incredible.
However, the best part was me gaining clarity on my post-graduate education aspirations during my internship. I spoke with some of the fellows and received valuable insights on which programs better fit my goals and aspirations.
What advice would you give to future applicants about preparing a strong application for the internship?
JUST DO IT. Send in that application, especially if you’re a woman. Statistics have shown that women tend to wait until they’re 90% qualified for an opportunity before they go for it whereas men shoot their shots even if they have just 50% or less of the qualifications. So, do not automatically disqualify yourself because you think you’re not good enough. Of course, do your due diligence with the application you’re submitting. If you don’t have all the qualifications on your CV, show your enthusiasm via your cover letter. Let them see with your words how you’re looking forward to learning with and contributing to the organization. You never know, you just might be exactly what they’re looking for.
Applications will open next year, and I encourage you to apply here.
Her Opportunity Story spotlights Nigerian women who have landed transformative opportunities and provides detailed insights for other Nigerian women who would be applying for those opportunities.
Previous Edition of Her Opportunity Story: Read Kaitochukwu Chukwudi’s journey to becoming a recipient of the fully-funded Mastercard Foundation Scholarship to the University of Cambridge here.