At ESI, we understand the value of internships in shaping future careers. That’s why we offer hands-on, real-world experiences that go beyond the classroom. ESI asked its summer interns to reflect on their time with the firm, share what inspired their academic paths, and offer advice to those who may follow in their footsteps as future members of the ESI team.
What got you into your major?
Sofia Rebelo, Drexel University Class of 2026: I got into marketing because I was interested in understanding consumer behavior, what causes people to make a purchase or decision.
Nasya Tandiono, Drexel University, Class of 2028: I got into economics because of the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the field.
My Nguyen, Drexel University, Class of 2025: I found it incredibly engaging to study the broader dynamics of economic growth, labor market, public policy, and how these elements interact with each other to shape our everyday lives.
Sanil Kagalwala, Haverford College Class of 2027: I grew up in Singapore, a small country with limited resources that transformed into a global hub through smart economic policy, it showed me the real-world impact economics can have.
Roan Spencer, Haverford College, Class of 2026: I chose to combine History and Economics because I find them to complement each other perfectly in developing informed perspectives of the world around us. I was excited by the chance to combine economic analysis with meaningful and relevant projects at Econsult.
Lauren Anderson, Haverford College Class of 2026: Going into college I knew I liked math and business. At my liberal arts school, the closest major to business was economics. After taking a few classes, I really enjoyed the in-depth insights into how societies use resources and make decisions. I was drawn to the analytical thinking and modeling when making decisions. So, ultimately stuck with the major and really enjoy it.
Madeline Ruder, Temple University Class of 2025: As an Economics and Global Studies student, I became fascinated by how small events can influence both local and global economies. I was drawn to economic development as a way to apply policy, research, and practice to improve quality of life, and I’m committed to making an impact in this field.
What are some skills you feel you have developed or improved while working at ESI?
Sofia: I’ve developed and improved in my communication, problem solving and graphic design skills.
Nasya: I improved my writing and developed a new understanding of spatial analysis on ArcGIS.
My: I have improved my technical skills in using Excel and R, and in writing and editing reports and deliverables.
Sanil: My data gathering and research skills have definitely improved.
Roan: I have been able to improve my writing skills by contributing to reports while receiving feedback from analysts and directors. This process has really helped me to become clearer and more concise. I have also been able to expand my horizons with Implan and using R to make data collection and analysis more efficient.
Lauren: I have strengthened my research, data collection, creating data visualizations, overall approach of economic impacts studies and how they are applied to the real world, report writing, and using Implan and R to model impacts.
Madeline: I’ve strengthened my data analysis skills using Excel, R, and ArcGIS. I’ve also enhanced my writing through contributions to economic impact reports.
What are you hoping to achieve with the remaining time of your internship?
Sofia: I’m hoping to continue to improve, learn, develop new skills, and most importantly increase ESI’s engagement.
Nasya: To explore more tools on ArcGIS and see the completion of a project I worked on.
My: I would love to work with analysts whom I haven’t had the chance to work with yet, and continue building on my technical skills, especially in mapping, R, and Excel.
Sanil: I want to learn more about making maps, I enjoy picking up new software and tools.
Roan: I would love to keep getting exposer to the firm’s litigation practice area while continuing to strengthen my writing and research skills.
Lauren: I am hoping to help achieve a completed report, analyze Implan model outputs, and learn some mapping with ArcGIS with the remaining time of my internship.
Madeline: I hope to gain more hands-on experience working with large datasets and deepen my proficiency in R and ArcGIS within the context of ESI’s projects. I’m also eager to contribute to a variety of projects to maximize my learning.
What do you like most about the firm’s office culture/work environment?
Sofia: Everyone is kind and always willing to offer guidance and share their knowledge.
Nasya: Everyone is very welcoming, kind, and generous with their time, advice, and expertise.
My: I have really enjoyed the firm-wide meetings and trainings, which help interns and staff understand the broader scope of our work and strengthen out skillset.
Sanil: I love how friendly and welcoming it is, I really enjoy how we always chat for a few minutes after meetings about our weekends or what’s going on.
Roan: Everyone is always willing to include you on projects and take time out of their day to teach you a new skill.
Lauren: I enjoy how easy it is to ask questions and how we regularly have teamwide trainings.
Madeline: I appreciate the collaborative environment where everyone is open to sharing knowledge.
What’s one piece of advice you would give future interns?
Sofia: Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Nasya: To double and triple-check everything.
My: Come in with an open mind and a willingness to learn.
Sanil: You’ll get as much out of the internship as you put in, apply yourself and stay curious.
Roan: Don’t be afraid to jump into projects that you are interested in.
Lauren: When receiving tasks and project descriptions, always write down the information and make sure you understand your task.
Madeline: I would tell future interns to stay curious and engaged.
ESI wishes to thank all of our summer 2025 interns for their hard work. Each individual brought their own perspective, skills, and curiosity to the table, contributing to assignments large and small while learning in a professional setting. Learn more about their time at ESI by viewing this short video!
Sofia Rebelo, Business Development & Marketing Assistant
Sofia Rebelo is a Business Development and Marketing Assistant at ESI. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing at Drexel University.