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Where did you work this summer?

The State Government of Puebla, Mexico and at an electric vehicle (EV) company in Rwanda. In Puebla, I was a summer analyst for the and the . In Rwanda, I was a summer business strategy associate at an EV company. 

What did you work on?

For CIEN, I developed a model to assess and quantify the economic and social impact of their innovation programs, created a business model to diversify their agency’s revenue stream, built a budgeting tool, and established connections between CIEN and other invocation centers, Harvard institutes, and venture capital firms.

For AEEP, I assessed the state’s policy to make Puebla a hub for e-mobility, by building and refining financial models to assess the economic viability of EV charging infrastructure. I also proposed policy recommendations that focused on public-private partnership to enhance EV infrastructure in the state. I helped AEEP staff to understand the financing side of EV charging infrastructure and to facilitate communication and coordination between private companies and the agency.

At the EV company in Rwanda, I built relationships between the company and the city and national governments. I also engaged with other EV players in Rwanda, as well as EV experts and stakeholders from academia and nongovernment organizations, by gathering information for a comprehensive public-private partnership proposal with a full economic model to show the economic impact of partial and full EV adoption. In addition, I worked with other teams to focus on designing business expansion strategies, developed financial models—including discounted cash flow valuations—and created models to demonstrate the economic and financial benefits of different infrastructure projects and business models.

Overall, I have also employed econometrics to help agencies with understanding potential policy impacts in a quantitative manner.

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?

This summer showed me that with the right intention and incentives, policies and business strategies can be aligned to create mutually beneficial outcomes for the public. It is not easy, of course. It requires constant communication and the willingness to compromise at times but also stand firm on other occasions.

Bringing together the public and private sectors is an art—it can be nuanced and frustrating, but if you’re willing to talk to key stakeholders, you will find beneath seemingly conflicting interests, there are shared values and drives that bring people together. The important thing is to believe in positive change, stay hopeful, and be willing to patiently and persistently put in the hard work—qualitative and quantitative—to find the common denominators to bring people together and make things happen.

I also solidified my understanding of the importance of finance and communications in both the public and private sectors.

For example, in the public sector, infrastructure projects cannot proceed without sufficient funding. The primary goal is to serve the public, but inadequate or unclear communication, or lack of understanding of the technical aspects, can lead to unintended consequences or poor implementation. Convincing the public and government officials of a project’s value is essential. In the private sector, companies need to make profits and scale—to achieve this, investments, grants, and external funding are vital. It is also about convincing stakeholders with robust evidence and compelling financial projections. The procedures, purposes, and stakeholders in public and private finance may differ, but both require clear intentions, robust or compelling evidence, and the art of communication and persuasion.

Looking back, I walked away from this summer with better skills in research, strategizing, financial modeling, and econometrics. I plan to apply these skills and understanding in future roles where I can bridge the gap between policy and finance. 

What was fun?

The hands-on experience of working in two different emerging markets, each with its unique challenges and opportunities. I particularly enjoyed the process of creating models that had real-world implications, such as the EV adoption economic impact model for Rwanda and the business models for Puebla’s innovation center.

More than anything else, the most fun I had was with my co-workers. Although I worked with two groups of colleagues who speak different languages in very different countries and cultures, their hospitality, kindness, and drive to make positive change, and the willingness to share joy with others, are the same. I have created so many amazing memories with them and I am beyond thankful to them. 

What are you looking forward to most this fall?

I’m looking forward to starting the urban planning component of my combined degree this fall at . It will allow me to explore infrastructure and housing development and take a deep dive in creative design thinking that, I believe, are equally important to the public and private sectors. I will also have the opportunity to further explore affordable housing, real estate development, smart cities, sustainable development, and synthesize my diverse skill sets into problem solving. I’m eager to see how these fields intersect and how I can contribute to innovative solutions that benefit both the public and private sectors to create social goods in the process. 

Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience?

In addition to the two countries I worked in this summer, I got to visit many countries on the road, such as Guatemala, Kenya, South Africa, and Belgium. Through my travels, I developed a new understanding of the notion of service. In my opinion, there is no highest form of service. It comes in many forms that stem from empathy, compassion, love, and a sense of duty.

In Mexico, my colleagues in the Puebla government, many of whom are young and bright engineers or scholars, are determined to work for the state government, forgoing more lavish jobs in the private sector.

In Guatemala, I stayed with the most wonderful people—a local uncle who worked in the leather industry with the most heartwarming smiles and constantly helping his communities whenever he could, and his lovely wife—an auntie who works for a religious nongovernment organization that helps teachers and students.

In Kenya, I met with a small group of Chinese nonprofit founders who have lived in the country for more than a decade, helping youth in local slums by offering free school lunches, building new schools, and organizing talent shows.

In South Africa, I met with a professor of Nigerian origin at the University of Cape Town—I took her class when she was a visiting professor at Harvard. She not only bridges different cultures by teaching comparative laws, but also develops her own board games to educate people about the continent.

In Rwanda, I met hardworking American and German company co-founders who bring goods to the country with different entrepreneurial ventures, ranging from drone delivery, EV development, health tech, hospitality, and grid development. It was also there that I met my co-workers from Rwanda and Malawi who are creative, driven, and believe in a better future for the company and their own countries.

To paraphrase U.S. President John F. Kennedy: ask not what the world can do for you, ask what you can do for the world. In a time of such uncertainty and global conflict, everyone I met this summer exemplified the spirit of service and brought me strength and hope for the world we live in. 

Winston Tang MPP/MUP 2026 is among a number of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø 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.