After my serving as a Youth Development Volunteer in the United States Peace Corps in Azerbaijan, I decided that the next stop on my journey to a career in International Development would be Israel. With the help of Career Israel, I was afforded the incredible opportunity to intern with Dr. Yossi Beilin at his international business consultancy and strategic investment firm, Beilink. Dr. Beilin is the architect of the Oslo Peace Accords, Geneva Initiative and Birthright. He also served in multiple ministerial positions in the Israeli government. As a research analyst, I gained extensive knowledge of the geopolitical landscape of Africa and the Middle East. Over the course of this professional experience, Dr. Beilin took the time to share with me an in-depth history and comprehensive perspective of Israel and the regional conflicts. Also as a result of my internship, I was exposed to the minds and hearts behind the Israeli push for International Development. Within a few months of leaving Israel for NYC, I took a position with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee – the world’s leading international Jewish humanitarian organization. Working with Dr. Beilin was an invaluable experience both professionally and personally. The internship has absolutely become a part of the foundation that my career rests on.
