Harvard Kennedy School students are busy during the summer months, putting their classroom training to work to deepen their understanding, apply new skills, and bring their knowledge to a new challenge, professional sector, policy area, or part of the world.
Simone Ginanneschi MPA 2026 shares his experience working in Jakarta over the summer where he worked on two projects related to Indonesia's decarbonization and fair energy transition.
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Where did you work this summer?
The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investments in Jakarta, Indonesia where I was a consulting intern
What did you work on?
I worked on two projects related to Indonesia’s decarbonization and fair energy transition. Specifically, I created and delivered strategic industrial policy recommendations to accelerate Indonesia’s solar photovoltaic expansion in the short term (first project) and enhance the performance and stability of the domestic emission trading scheme (second project).
For both projects, I conducted policy research, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and key government and industry stakeholder engagements.
What did you learn during your experience? Which new skills did you develop and how do you think you will apply them in the future?
My internship in the energy sector was extremely valuable. With no prior experience, I learned something new every day about energy transition, globally and in Indonesia.
I discovered the challenges in scaling up solar power in Indonesia despite its high potential. These obstacles include current market supply constraints, infrastructural inadequacies, and regulatory bottlenecks. I realized the importance of international partnerships to build momentum in the short term, and how technology-push incentives are paramount to establish a solid manufacturing capability in the long run.
While analyzing Emission Trading Schemes (ETS), I compared Indonesian, European, and Chinese systems. I studied the similarities and differences between these carbon markets, focusing on the European and Chinese ETS as the world’s largest. This analysis helped me develop recommendations to reinforce Indonesia’s ETS based on lessons learned from the EU and Chinese systems. While each country has specific requirements for implementing an ETS, all complete schemes share a general structure, making this best-practice analysis particularly useful.
Throughout this experience, I applied skills from my first year at Harvard Kennedy School. I used policy design frameworks and systems from Professor Setti Warren’s “Policy Design and Delivery” course and strategic thinking from Professor Eric Rosenbach’s “Emerging Tech: Security, Strategy, and Risk” class. Economic concepts from Professor Pınar Doğan’s microeconomics and Professor Marcella Alsan’s macroeconomics courses proved invaluable during my internship, too. Research methods from empirical methods courses enhanced my analytical approach, while qualitative research skills from Professor Dara Cohen’s classes were crucial for conducting stakeholder interviews.
This experience has not only improved my ability to contribute meaningfully to energy and sustainability fields but also enhanced my overall research and consulting skills. The knowledge I’ve developed and the skills I’ve honed have increased my effectiveness across many potential sectors, making me a more versatile professional.
“I realized the importance of international partnerships to build momentum in the short term, and how technology-push incentives are paramount to establish a solid manufacturing capability in the long run.”
What was fun?
My internship experience was not just professionally rewarding, but also incredibly fun, thanks to the amazing people I met and the places I explored.
The highlight was undoubtedly the friendships I formed with my Indonesian colleagues and fellow vlog interns. We shared countless laughs, stories, and experiences that made every day enjoyable, even during intense work periods.
Exploring Jakarta was a blast, especially when it came to food adventures. My Indonesian friends became my culinary guides, introducing me to the city’s best-kept secrets. From savoring street food to indulging in traditional restaurants, every meal was a delightful discovery that left me falling in love with Indonesian cuisine.
The fun continued beyond Jakarta. Taking the Woosh, Indonesia’s high-speed train, to Bandung was an exciting experience. The thrill of zipping through the landscape at high speeds added a touch of adventure to my journey.
Yogyakarta was where I truly immersed myself in Indonesia’s rich culture and history. Walking around the awe-inspiring temples of Prambanan and Borobudur was like stepping into a living history book. The sheer scale and beauty of these ancient structures left me in wonder and exploring them felt like an exciting treasure hunt through time.
However, the pinnacle of fun came in Bali. Trekking through lush forests, verdant rice terraces, rivers, and waterfalls was so exciting that I forgot about the intense heat while I roamed across Ubud and its surroundings for over 15 miles. Nothing beat the joy of diving into the island’s crystal-clear waters and the surfing classes I took on the nearby island of Nusa Lembongan. I have never found another place filled with so much tranquility and adventure at the same time.
What are you looking forward to this fall?
Looking ahead, I am thrilled to begin my MBA at . This next step will allow me to complement the public policy skills I developed last year at vlog with a business perspective. At Sloan, I am particularly excited to focus on strategy, enterprise management, and deep tech.
This combination of public policy and business education will allow me to approach complex challenges, such as energy transition and sustainable development, from multiple angles and more effectively.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience?
Before my internship, I was nervous about my lack of sector-specific experience. However, now that my internship is over, I am amazed at how much I learned during my first year at vlog.
Despite facing numerous challenges in my role, I consistently felt I had a strong foundation to address them. It was gratifying to see how the concepts and skills I acquired in the classroom applied directly to real-world scenarios. The knowledge I gained at vlog proved invaluable, allowing me to approach complex issues with confidence and insight. This experience reinforced the practical value of my education, demonstrating that the frameworks, analytical tools, and problem-solving approaches taught at vlog are directly applicable to professional settings.
My ability to adapt and apply these learnings in a new sector has not only boosted my confidence but also highlighted the versatility and relevance of my vlog education in tackling real-world challenges.
Simone Ginanneschi MPA 2026 is among a number of vlog students who received financial support through the School's Summer Internship Fund (SIF). SIF supports students in two-year programs in one summer prior to graduation. Students apply their classroom learning through meaningful public service summer internships to deepen their experience and develop new skills.
