From Website Design to Networking: How First Rate Connect Helped Me Grow Beyond My Comfort Zone

Summarize your overall experience in one sentence. 

This internship gave me the space to take ownership of my growth—both professionally and personally—by allowing me to explore new responsibilities and build meaningful connections with those around me. 

Highlight key tasks or projects you were involved in and what you learned from them.  

One of my main responsibilities was designing the company’s new website using Wix. I had zero experience with the platform before, so there was quite a learning curve at the beginning. Beyond learning how to make things look good and work smoothly, I also had to figure out how to structure information in a way that makes sense to others—not just to me.  

With the support from my managers through feedback and references, this project taught me a lot about prioritizing the user experience, balancing creativity with clarity, and managing multiple moving parts under tight timelines. When the site finally went live, it felt like a true milestone—not just because the project was done, but because I saw how much I had grown along the way. 

 Another highlight was conducting research on the ESG FinTech landscape in Sri Lanka. This was a completely new territory for me. As I dug deeper, I learned how to take complex, technical information and turn it into insights the company could actually use. More than that, the project challenged me to think critically from different stakeholder perspectives—startups, regulators, investors—and to connect the dots to form a cohesive storyline. It sparked a real interest in how FinTech and sustainability are reshaping economies, especially in South and Southeast Asia. 

Share new skills or knowledge gained.  

One of the biggest personal breakthroughs during this internship was learning how to network more confidently. It was something that used to really intimidate me. However, through practice, I realized that networking is not just about collecting contacts and transactional benefits—it is about building genuine relationships and being open to learning from others. It is still a skill I’m developing, but now I feel more confident initiating conversations, following up, and being present in professional interactions. 

Photos from APAC Redemptive Business Summit and NOCA x ASN AI Industry Mixer 

Reflect on a challenge you faced and how you navigated it.  

One of the biggest challenges I faced during this internship was learning how to use Wix. While the platform is fairly intuitive for basic design, I struggled with some of the more advanced features—particularly those that would make the site easier for others to maintain after my internship ended. To overcome this, I turned to YouTube tutorials and combed through Wix’s support guides and user forums. It was a steep learning curve, but it pushed me to take full ownership of the project from start to finish, and I gained a much deeper understanding of both the platform and the user experience behind a functional website. 

Mention a highlight/milestone or moment you felt proud of. 

The most notable moment that I felt proud of was seeing the website we designed go live for the first time. It represented months of continuous efforts, overcoming a steep learning curve and the efforts my managers put in to guide me with references and continuous feedback. 

Describe the working culture: how the team supported you, the environment, or a moment that stood out. 

What really made this internship special was the team. I felt like my input was valued. I was trusted to take ownership of real projects—from managing the social media calendar, building the site, to conducting ESG research. I was given space to ask questions, test ideas, and learn by doing. 

What stood out the most was how invested my managers were in my growth. Whether it was providing honest feedback, involving me in new calls with potential partners, or simply checking in, they made it clear that my learning goals mattered. 

Share how the internship impacted your thinking, growth, or future aspirations. 

This internship was a meaningful first step into the corporate world. Working in a startup like First Rate Connect that prioritizes community impact challenged me to think more deeply about the kind of career I want to build. Working alongside managers who actively give back to communities and founders who build with community in mind made me reflect on how I can align my work not only with my personal interests and values, but also with a broader purpose. I began to see my career not just as a personal journey, but as a platform to give back and create positive change