build4good | Developing the Next Generation of Public Interest Technology Leaders

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Video summary

The Build4Good internship program is designed not merely as a traditional work experience but as a comprehensive leadership development initiative aimed at cultivating the next generation of public interest technology leaders. Unlike standard internships, this program focuses on equipping participants with well-rounded skills necessary to navigate the often isolating and challenging environment of the social impact sector. By blending the extensive resources of a large-scale organization with hands-on, individualized work, the program empowers interns to take autonomy over their projects while providing a supportive system that offers guidance and guardrails. This unique approach allows students to choose their specific paths for growth, translating theoretical knowledge into real-world products and processes that address complex, messy societal issues rather than simplified classroom simulations. A central pillar of the experience is the program's balanced emphasis on both technical proficiency and human-centric values, a combination rarely seen in other social impact tech initiatives. Interns are encouraged to consider the long-term effects of their work on organizations and communities, fostering deep collaborative thinking that goes beyond immediate deliverables. The curriculum heavily utilizes hackathons as a critical learning environment where students must step out of their comfort zones and learn to communicate effectively with diverse teams they have never worked with before. These experiences teach vital lessons in vulnerability and teamwork, showing that admitting knowledge gaps is the best starting point for learning and that successful collaboration requires honest conversations about individual strengths and weaknesses to compensate for collective deficiencies. Beyond technical and collaborative skills, the program places significant weight on emotional intelligence and genuine communication, defining success not by how well one speaks but by the ability to truly listen and connect with others on a human level. Participants report profound shifts in their perspectives regarding future careers, finding themselves more open to opportunities that align with their passions while utilizing their technical abilities for social justice. The mentorship provided creates a supportive ecosystem where students can fail safely, try new things, and learn from mistakes, instilling project management skills and resilience that they carry throughout their lives. Ultimately, witnessing the tangible progress of interns over the summer is described as incredibly rewarding, highlighting how this holistic approach transforms students into confident leaders ready to tackle real-world challenges.

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Built for good interns in general aren't here just to do an internship. The purpose of this program is more to provide well-rounded sort of leadership skills to work in the sector because it can be fairly isolating and challenging. >> [music] >> It's the best of both worlds. I think it's the blend of the resources of a larger intern program with the individuality and the >> [music] >> hands-on work. >> Oftentimes you're the only technical person on the staff, so it gives you a level of power and autonomy to how you want the project to go. Once you get used [music] to that and accustomed to it, I find it to be very conducive to a lot of growth. I mean, I can choose the path I want to go down and spend the time learning the proper skills >> [music] >> and then actually implement it right away. >> Real projects are way more complicated [music] and way messier than mock project in a class. Real processes are confusing and so then you're actually trying [music] to think through not just the actual data, but translating things you know [music] into a real-world product or or project. >> I very rarely see other programs even in the social impact tech space that >> [music] >> actually place pretty equal emphasis on both the tech and like human side of it. We want our interns to [music] think about how their products will affect these companies in the long run and not just what deliverable can we give them like right away. >> We try to do our best to provide an environment where they [music] have the independence to really kind of go out there and figure things out on their own, but also have the support [music] system where we can guide them and provide good guardrails. >> I think hackathons are one of the best places [music] to encourage students to out of their comfort zones and create products that have impact. >> I I the teamwork aspect [music] of hackathons is probably the most important learning how to work with different people that maybe never worked with before. So, having like take that time and be having that honest conversations with each other about this is where my skillset lies. This is where my weaknesses lie. How can we like mend together to like make up for each other's deficiencies? >> It can be difficult [music] to admit that you don't know enough about the topic that you're focusing on, but I think that's the best position to come from to learn more. >> [music] >> Communicating isn't when you sound the best, but it's about when you're genuinely listening to the person [music] who you want to talk to and you understand where they're coming from and you really connect to your heart. You pull on those heartstrings. So, these skills are like kind of life-changing. [music] >> This honestly feels like the first time I've actually gotten to >> [music] >> interact with pure science students or data science students who have a strong [music] commitment to social justice. >> It really changed my perspective on like future career or just kind of being more open to opportunities or like just going with what I love, but also, you know, using the technical skill. >> I love the mentorship that comes from it and the kind of just all the support from everyone. [music] >> I think they get to deep dive into very fast collaborative thinking that may not be so available in a classroom. >> It's okay to fail. It's okay to try things and it's okay to learn. So, those project management skills are coming with me till I die. >> Seeing the way that they progress over the course of the summer is just it's so rewarding.