Summer Internship with Inter American Development Bank
Juan Pablo Parra, Daytime MBA 2026
This summer, I had the privilege of working at IDB (Inter American Development Bank) Invest as a Trade & Supply Chain Finance Intern, focusing on financial products that enable private-sector development across Latin America and the Caribbean. My primary responsibilities included analyzing disbursement processes, contributing to product development, and evaluating the development effectiveness of transactions under the institution’s DELTA framework.
The experience allowed me to apply core skills from both my MBA and MPP programs. From the business side, I leveraged financial modeling and transaction structuring to identify opportunities for greater efficiency and scalability in trade finance operations. From the policy side, I connected these financial products to their broader development impact, ensuring that the solutions addressed not only profitability but also economic and social outcomes for underserved communities. By combining these perspectives, I was able to recommend ways to align operational efficiency with developmental goals, something I could only truly explore through this internship.
The lessons I gained will continue to shape my career path. I now see more clearly how finance can serve as a powerful tool for impact when designed intentionally. Moving forward, I hope to use this experience to bridge business and policy in roles that sit at the intersection of development finance, strategy, and social impact. The Fuqua Summer Internship Fund made this opportunity possible, giving me the chance to test and grow in a space I could not have accessed otherwise, and for that I am deeply grateful.
(Photo: With my fellow IDB Invest interns in the President’s office, enjoying the amazing views of Washington, D.C.)
This internship was supported by the Summer Internship Fund, which enables first-year Duke MBA students to learn about the rewards and challenges of using business to drive positive impact without making a significant financial sacrifice. The program enables organizations that otherwise could not afford to hire MBA student interns to benefit from students’ expertise. Funds are raised through student fundraising and from donors who believe in the mission of the program. If you would like to contribute, you can donate online using your credit card.