MBA Internships: Juwon Ishola (MBA '26)

Juwon Ishola (MBA '26)

Where did you intern and what was your title?

I interned at Clearloop, a clean energy company and subsidiary of Silicon Ranch, where I served as a Products and Programs Intern.

How did you approach the internship search process, and what strategies did you find effective?

I approached my internship search strategically by focusing on organizations whose missions aligned with my interests in energy, sustainability, and technology. I combined structured applications with intentional networking, connecting with alums, attending industry events, and leveraging LinkedIn to engage professionals working in the energy space. A key enabler of this process was my participation in the Clean Energy Fellowship, which expanded my industry exposure and confidence. Through skills developed in a Career Development course, I networked with a guest facilitator in the clean energy space, maintained that professional relationship, and communicated how my background and experiences aligned with the company’s work, ultimately opening the door to this opportunity.

In a few sentences, describe your responsibilities during the internship.

During my internship, I collaborated with cross-functional teams across project development, engineering, policy analysis, and marketing to support renewable energy projects and community engagement initiatives. I helped design region-specific engagement strategies, analyzed suitable sites for solar project development, developed a project data collection tool, and created stakeholder-facing dashboards to enhance transparency and decision-making. Additionally, I contributed to impact reporting by researching best practices, including GRI, SASB, and TCFD. I also supported community-centered solar deployment efforts in underserved areas.

Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your internship that had a significant impact on your professional growth?

One of my most memorable experiences was supporting community engagement efforts tied to the deployment of a solar project in a Louisiana community. I participated in a community event designed to understand local perspectives on solar energy, where I helped respond to questions and clearly communicated the benefits and product offerings associated with hosting a solar farm. Before the event, I compiled and organized stakeholder contact lists and developed tailored outreach messages for each group, ensuring communications were professional, targeted, and non-generic. I applied stakeholder-messaging strategies learned in my Communications for Managers course, which contributed to an 80% increase in event attendance. Seeing how data-driven outreach, strategic communication, and stakeholder collaboration translated into tangible clean-energy outcomes reinforced my desire to work at the intersection of analytics, sustainability, and social impact, while deepening my understanding of how inclusive energy solutions are designed and implemented in practice.

Were there any challenges or obstacles you faced during your internship? How did you overcome them?

A key challenge was navigating complex, cross-functional workflows in a fast-moving environment where teams had different priorities and technical perspectives. I addressed this by proactively seeking clarity, communicating consistently, and translating technical insights into clear, actionable recommendations for diverse stakeholders. Clearloop also provided us with the opportunity to have mentors from various departments of interest. This experience strengthened my adaptability and collaboration skills.

How did your internship contribute to building your career? Did it lead to any valuable connections or opportunities?

The internship significantly shaped my career path by deepening my understanding of community-centered clean-energy development and the role of data in driving sustainable outcomes. I built meaningful relationships with professionals across policy, data, and project development, gained mentorship from senior leadership, and developed skills that continue to inform my academic work and long-term goals.