Post by Maria Martin Civiac, MBA

What do the London 2012 Olympic Games, FIS, and mentoring EPFL students have in common? More than you’d think. It was great to take part in this year’s EPFL College of Management of Technology MTE Mentoring Program and its last panel discussion to share a few thoughts on internships and the role they can play in shaping a career. For me, it all began at the London 2012 Olympic Games as an Assistant Venue IT Manager. At the time, it felt like an exciting opportunity. Looking back, it ended up being a real turning point that opened the door to a career in the sports industry. Two years later, thanks to a recommendation from Gianfranco Bombardieri to FIS, I had the chance to continue that journey in Switzerland after graduating. It’s a good reminder that careers aren’t built on qualifications alone. Opportunities, mentors, recommendations, and the connections we make along the way often have just as much impact. Gianfranco knew that skiing was my passion. So my advice to students was: find your passion early on, and communicate about it to others as well! And finally, could it be that I was paired with the best mentee in the program, Simon Streuli? A big thank you to the EPFL MTE team (Haoua Mahmoudi & Eugene De Groot), Valerio Pece, EMBA for the recommendation to join the program and everyone who helped make this year’s mentoring program such a rewarding experience ☺️