In this post, Benjamin Diaz Del Castillo MBA 2026 explains how he secured his summer internship in Africa and shares his learnings from his first year in the MBA.
I was born in Venezuela but spent the last fifteen years of my life in Colombia, where I studied and built my professional career in finance. Before IESE, I worked in private equity with a focus on the healthcare sector. While I enjoyed the experience, I felt the need to broaden my perspective: not only to explore other industries, but also to understand different areas of business in a completely new geography, alongside a diverse cohort.
That is exactly what drew me to IESE. I did not come in with a rigid career plan; instead, my main goal was to try new things, expose myself to different paths, and let the experience shape my long-term aspirations.
The First-Year Experience
My first year at IESE turned out to be much more than I expected. People often say that the MBA years are among the best of your life, and I went in with that expectation. What surprised me was how holistic the experience was.
Academically, I grew a lot. I explored areas I had never considered as interesting before, such as marketing, where IESE has some of the best professors I have ever had. Socially, I met classmates from all over the world and from very diverse backgrounds, which gave me a completely different perspective not only on business but also on life. Along the way, I built friendships that I know will last far beyond the MBA. Personally, the program gave me clarity about some things and more uncertainty about others, but in retrospect, I value that growth enormously.
If I had to highlight specific moments, I would point to the very first week meeting my team. A strong team can make your MBA experience so much better, and in my case, I was lucky to have an incredible group. And of course, there are as many trips and parties as you want to join, there is truly something for everyone. The biggest surprises were how intense the first two weeks were and how quickly time goes by.
Searching for an Internship
When it came to my internship search, I wanted a role that would allow me to leverage my background in finance while also exploring new areas of business. More specifically, I was determined to find something in Africa. I felt it was a region I would hardly be able to experience outside of an internship, and one where I could truly have an impact.
In terms of industry, I was drawn to renewable energy and financial services, but honestly, I did not know where to start. That is where conversations made all the difference. I first spoke with classmates from Africa, who gave me guidance on where to look. I also reached out to IESE’s Africa Business Club, whose leader shared valuable insights. But the real turning point came during a casual conversation with a Colombian friend. After I told him that, as a Venezuelan, I wanted to do something different in Africa, he said: “I actually know a Venezuelan living in Namibia who runs a fintech startup.” I could not believe it.
I was excited to find out about JABU which seemed like the perfect opportunity for me!
That is how I was introduced to Jabu and its CEO, David Akinin. I reached out with a genuine message, not only sharing my background but also expressing interest in learning about his journey. When I finally spoke with him, I was able to clearly articulate what I could bring to the company and what I was hoping to get from my internship. Here, IESE’s resources around defining your value proposition were crucial, because I knew exactly how to position myself.
Ultimately, IESE’s career resources are extremely valuable, but they are only as useful as you make them. They cannot be customized to each student’s exact goal, so it is up to you to take what is offered and use it strategically to pursue your own path.
Living and Working in Africa
After my initial conversation with the CEO, I went through a demanding selection process. Fortunately, I made it through and was offered the chance to work across several countries where the company had operations or was considering expansion. My internship ended up taking me to Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
The company is transforming the way cash is digitized in Southern Africa, which is a massive pain point in the region. When I first arrived in Zambia, I was immediately struck by how rich the culture was. For example, I learned how important tribal identity is in the country. Zambia recently elected its first president from the Tonga tribe in its entire history. Observations like these helped me understand the unique social and cultural context in which the company operates.
My first assignment was direct and challenging: “We have an opportunity to expand, how should we do it?” The rest of my internship was focused on how to grow operations in Zambia and how to evaluate expansion opportunities in other countries. It was fascinating because it required me to go beyond finance. I had to think about marketing, operations, and product strategy. I needed to understand how the product fit into each country, assess the financial viability of expansion, and figure out the operational model for each context.
In essence, my role was strategic, but it allowed me to touch multiple facets of the business and see how a similar product could solve very different problems depending on the country. It was an incredibly enriching experience, and I truly believe that Africa offers a unique and even ideal setting for an MBA internship, especially if you come from a different region like I did.
Reflections and Advice
Looking back on my journey, there are several reflections I would share with prospective students. First, the process is ultimately up to you.
IESE gives you the tools, but the outcome depends on how you choose to use them. You need to think about what you enjoy, what you are good at, or what you would like to learn, and then start searching for the place, the company, or the people that can help you achieve that.
I am glad that I achieved my goal of learning about doing business in Africa.
Second, networking is essential. It requires persistence, since you may send one hundred messages and only receive ten, two, one, or even none, but each connection can open unexpected doors. It also gives you access to opportunities with far less competition. IESE does an excellent job bringing companies to campus, but this means that for a single role you may be competing with dozens of classmates and candidates from other schools. In contrast, the roles you uncover through networking are often ones where you are the only candidate, or at least where the competition is much smaller.
Third, make the most of IESE’s network. This does not only mean professors or mentors, but also classmates and alumni who have pursued paths you are interested in. They can offer invaluable advice, or even opportunities you had not considered. The hardest part is being open about setbacks, whether that means a strategy that is not working or a process you failed. If you are not transparent about it, you close the door to the help your network can provide.
Finally, the most valuable takeaway from my summer was the chance to experience Africa firsthand and to understand how business is done in a completely different region. It is something I will always carry with me, and it has fundamentally shaped my perspective on how business works globally.
Written by Benjamin Diaz Del Castillo, MBA 26
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