These new experiences pushed me well outside my comfort zone and taught me the value of saying yes to new opportunities
– Ethan Blair
Earlier this year, I was offered an internship with WeFi over my summer break. Given how far it was, and having never left the United States, I was on the fence about accepting. As a recipient of the Feinstein Memorial Scholarship at UNC, I occasionally grab lunch with Andy, and he gave me the final push I needed to get over the cold feet I had. I took a leap of faith and flew to South Africa, and I think it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I’m grateful to have completed an incredible two-month internship with WeFi in Stellenbosch. Although it was my first time living and working abroad, it ended up being one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, both professionally and personally.
Over the course of the program, Rufta and I worked in a series of focused development cycles. We started by building internal AI agents using Copilot Studio, then moved into quality assurance automation, where I earned a certification on the Mabl platform. From there, we developed scripts to automate regression testing and streamline workflows on the Izzi platform. In the final phase, we created a productivity management app designed to support future interns. The work was fast-paced and enriching. Thanks to Erick and the rest of the team, I walked away with a much deeper understanding of how to apply AI and automation in real-world environments.
Throughout these projects, I gained skills in agent creation, automated testing, and development. I learned collaboration in an agile environment, and I became more confident learning unfamiliar tools and platforms under deadlines. I’m appreciative to have these soft skills and technical experience added to my repertoire.
Outside of work, South Africa has as much to offer. From the scenery and weather in nature to the bars and restaurants around town, the innovation team made sure Rufta and I got the most out of our experience in South Africa. I got to go on a safari, saw the ocean for the first time, and tried just about everything I could: skydiving, spelunking, bungee jumping, kayaking, and the rich South African cuisine. I spent time in Stellenbosch with other students I met along the way, explored the local bar scene during Golden Week, and found some great wine spots. I even ended up spending a few nights playing pool with some locals at a social club.
These new experiences pushed me well outside my comfort zone and taught me the value of saying yes to new opportunities no matter how foreign or daunting they may seem. This is something I’ll strive to bring with me in both my professional and personal life moving forward.
As I head into my final semester at the University of Northern Colorado, I carry with me a deep appreciation for the experiences and lessons gained through this internship. It offered hands-on technical growth and broadened my global perspective. I’m especially grateful to Andy Feinstein, John Schmidt, Rob Knight, Erick Underhill, Hans Liebenberg, Shanaaz Bakharia, Ben Jonsson, Lawrence Coetzee, Jaco Briers, David Snyman, Ben Harper and everyone at WeFi who made this internship possible.
