Poras Shokeen pursued an entrepreneurial project with his brother to identify partnerships between government and private sector organizations to support educational pursuits for students in India.
How did you get your internship?
I had the opportunity to intern at a company I co-founded with my brother called ShivArjunPoras IT Solutions Private Limited (SAP). This internship was deeply personal because it allowed me to channel my entrepreneurial drive while contributing meaningfully to the education industry in India, a sector we identified as having significant potential for innovation and growth.
Why did you choose it?
I chose to pursue this venture because I was passionate about addressing inefficiencies in the education system and wanted to contribute to the growth of accessible and impactful learning opportunities. The idea came to me from recognizing the gaps in quality of the education and our shared ambition to introduce modern solutions to bridge those gaps. To start the business , we conducted extensive research into the current education sector, identifying areas where government and private partnerships could make a difference. We networked with educators and administrators to understand challenges at the grassroots level. This is when we started to see a vision for SAP as a platform that focuses on government projects and educational development initiatives. Throughout this journey, I applied theoretical knowledge from my coursework in Applied Humanities to navigate real life entrepreneurial challenges.
What is unique about your situation that influenced your internship selection or experience?
What makes my situation unique is my dual perspective as an international student studying in the United States and someone deeply connected to the education system in India. Having attended high school and university in two different countries allowed me to see the different strengths and challenges of each system. This perspective helped me identify opportunities for growth within the education sector back home and motivated me to take action. My experience of understanding and navigating cultural adjustments as an international student taught me resilience and adaptability.
What new knowledge and skills did you learn pursuing this entrepreneurial venture?
My internship helped me gain several valuable skills such as project management, leadership and strategic planning. Along with this I was also able to expand my knowledge about the education sector in India and government projects. I learned that starting a business in the education industry requires navigating diverse challenges like understanding government regulations and building partnerships as a means of problem-solving.
How was the internship related to your Applied Humanities degree?
My internship was related to the Applied Humanities degree because it required work in the areas of business administration and cross cultural communication. I was able to directly use the knowledge about intercultural communication and cultural nuisances for my work at SAP. This helped me in handling client meetings and making my communication more effective.
What is the impact of your internship experience?
The internship has definitely helped me gain several valuable transferable skills as well as increase my entrepreneurial knowledge. I learned many things that would help me no matter what I pursue in the future. The internship also helped me in honing my time management skills, increased my self-confidence, and gave me a sense of discipline that I will carry forward with me in the future.